Dragonwings

Yep, Laurence. 1975. Dragonwings. New York: Harper & Row.


Dragonwings is about a young boy named Moon Shadow who immigrates to San Francisco to join his father who had been living there for eight years prior. The story centers around Moon Shadow's adjustment to American culture at the turn of the 20th century in addition to getting to know his own father for he had not met the him before coming to America. Originally, Mood Shadow and his father live in Chinatown, usually associating with only the Chinese. However, through a series of events, they are forced to leave their home and move to a part of the city that is all White. The father and son grow close in the pursuit of their dream to create a "flying machine" similar to the one that the Wright Brothers were working on in the Midwest at the same time. The San Francisco Earthquake of 1905 has a a major impact on their story as well.

A big idea throughout the novel is the acquisition of language within a new culture and the power that it gives that person. Moon Shadow learns the English language at a faster rate than his father, though he's been in the country a shorter time period, which gives him many advantages. The ability for Mood Shadow to be able to read and write is the spark for many of the important plot points as well as one the central aspects of the relationship that he develops with their White neighbors. Moon Shadow and his father must also overcome the obstacle of achieving a dream when nobody else believes in them.

This novel is teachable. It involves the classic adolescent literary theme of the outsider coming to a new place and adjusting to the culture. It is incredible to see San Francisco through the lens of 1905 as well as from the point of view of an immigrant. If you are teaching this book to a majority White class, be aware that the most common word used by far is "demon," which is referring to White Americans, good or bad. That word is associated in Chinese with White people and is used frequently throughout the story.