The Dragon's Child

Yep, Laurence. The Dragon’s Child: A Story of Angel Island. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 2008.

In the introduction to the text, Yep explains that his grandfather was born in America, as he was there with his own father, who was working on the transcontinental railroad in the late 1800s. Yep’s grandfather returned to China at the age of 13 where he married and had children. Eventually he returned to America to work, and would send money home to his family. The Dragon’s Child is a fictionalized account of Laurence Yep’s father’s journey from China to America. Yep asserts that the book is highly researched and is based off conversations he had with his father as well as immigration records. The back of the book even has photographs of his father and grandfather from national archives. The novel begins with a scene where ten year old Gim Lew Yep is struggling in school - he stutters and uses his left hand and for that he is punished. The other students envy Gim Lew because his family is “rich” and his father works on the “Golden Mountain” in California, so called because of the gold rush. Most of the village is in ruins - extreme weather has ruined crops and bandits frequently loot homes. One day, Gim Lew’s father returns from America and there is a great celebration; Gim Lew is informed that he will be traveling with his father back to America. Gim Lew does not want to leave his village but prepares with his father for the interrogation he is to receive at Angel Island. On the journey to America, Gim Lew learns that his father is not a rich important man in America as many people think, but works as a servant/cook in an American household. Even though Gim Lew and his father are American citizens, the immigration officials will quiz them upon entry about their life in order to find a way to deny entry. After a long journey, Gim Lew is able to overcome his stutter and eventually gain passage into San Francisco.

This quick read is of an appropriate interest and readability level for 6th grade students. There is nothing controversial in the book, save perhaps hints toward inhumane treatment and detention of immigrants at Angel Island. The book would be of interest to boys and girls alike as it deals with issues such as fitting in at school and growing up and leaving home. It could easily be tied into a social studies unit about immigration into Angel Island.