Title: The Paper Daughters of Chinatown
Author: Heather B. Moore
Major Themes: China, California, Chinese Immigrants, Human Trafficking
Synopsis: For years after being sold to pay her father’s gambling debts, Tien Fu couldn’t trust anyone; what would break through her emotional walls?
Historical fiction has always been my favorite genre, and I think I like children’s historical fiction better than that written for adults most of the time. Most of the time, books written for children tend to be cleaner, and without romance. When I saw The Paper Daughters of Chinatown, I was a little bit leery of it being too explicit. I decided to give it a chance, however, and I’m glad I did.
Tai Choi was only seven when her father in China sold her to pay his gambling debts. She was torn away from her loving mother and thrust into a new life of uncertainty. After being sold several times, someone from the Occidental Mission Home for Girls in San Francisco, California, found her and rescued her from her abusive situation. Soon after this, Donaldina Cameron arrived at the mission home.
It took many years of patient kindness on Dolly’s (Donaldina’s) part until Tien Fu, as Tai Choi became known, could trust her. During that time, Dolly went on many hair-raising rescues to save other girls who were being mistreated and abused.
I had no idea, before reading The Paper Daughters of Chinatown, that so many Chinese girls were smuggled into California with fake papers. Of course, most of them ended up in brothels. I appreciated the way this author described a brothel in this children’s book—“a place where men paid money to visit girls who were trapped in a bad life.” Some of the physical abuse is described in slightly more detail than that. On the whole, this is a book I would not hesitate to let my 12-year-olds read. It would be good for parents to read ahead, in order to be prepared for questions that might come up. It is a beautiful story of people showing God’s love to those who desperately need it. I also really liked that this story is based on real people and real events. There are extensive author’s notes to explain the historical part.
Note: There is also an adult’s version of this book. I have not read that.
I received a review copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.
WARNING: See the last paragraph.
Age levels:
Listening Level—Ages 10 – 12, 12 – 15
Reading Independently—Ages 10 – 12, 12 – 15, 15 and Above
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Kindle | Hardcover | Audible Audiobook (unabridged) | Audio CD | MP3 Audio CD
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
Book Depository: Hardcover | Audio CD (unabridged)
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