Product Details
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Title: The Paper Daughters of Chinatown (Based on a true story)
- Author: Heather B. Moore
- Publication Date
:
September 1, 2020
- Print Length : 332 pages
- File Size : 2405 KB
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Publisher
:
Shadow Mountain (September 1, 2020)
- Text-to-Speech : Not enabled
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Language:
:
English
- ASIN : B08F1863SH
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***I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own***
Book Summary
A powerful
story based on true events surrounding Donaldina Cameron and other brave women
who fought to help Chinese-American women escape discrimination and slavery in
the late 19th century in California.
When Donaldina Cameron arrives at the Occidental
Mission Home for Girls in 1895, she intends to teach sewing skills to young
Chinese women immigrants, but, within days, she discovers that the job is much
more complicated than perfect stitches and even hems. San Francisco has a dark
side, one where a powerful underground organization--the criminal tong--brings Chinese
young women to America to sell them as slaves. With the help of Chinese
interpreters and the Chinatown police squad, Donaldina becomes a tireless
social reformer to stop the abominable slave and prostitution trade.
Mei Lien believes she is sailing to the
"Gold Mountain" in America to become the wife of a rich Chinese
man.Instead she finds herself sold into prostitution--beaten, starved, and
forced into an opium addiction. It is only after a narrow escape that she hears
of the mission home and dares to think there might be hope for a new life.
The Paper Daughters of Chinatown throws new light on the age-old scourge of human
trafficking. The heroes who fought this evil and the victims who triumphed over
it more than a hundred years ago offer a bright example of courage and
determination for anyone wishing for a better world.
My Review
When was the last time you were deeply moved by a story? When did a story stay on your mind day and night? The Paper Daughters of Chinatown by Author Heather B. Moore is a story that will stay with you and change your thinking about many aspects that still plague society today.
Readers are introduced to Donaldina Cameron who accepts a job of teaching young Chinese girls how to sew who reside at
the Occidental Mission Home for Girls in 1895. Little does Donaldina, also known as Dolly, realize that this job will forever change her life. This novel based on the true story of Dolly's life showcases a sordid part of American History where young Chinese girls were given false papers to come to America under the guise of becoming wives or workers to rich Chinese men. Once in America, they were sold into slavery to become servants or prostitutes. The Chinese Criminal Tong ran the back streets of San Francisco in the 19th century in California. No one wanted to mess with them but it didn't stop Dolly or other women who worked with her.
The Occidental Mission Home for girls was founded in 1874 by the Presbyterian Church. The mission home's purpose was to offer refuge to the young Asian girls caught in the "yellow slave trade". Dolly became a light of freedom and a mother to many of these young girls. Through her tireless efforts and brave stand, she faced down the evil tong and rescued many girls in the middle of the night with the help of a few San Francisco police officers. This book is not a light or pleasant read at all times. Though there are no graphic details, readers do learn of the physical and substance abuse that took place. It's so heartbreaking to read of and feel the despair that these girls and women went through.
This book actually took me longer to read because of me being a history nerd and I love reading chapter notes. Once I read chapter notes then I go down another rabbit hole with something I read in the notes. Then eventually I'd get back to the story. Huge props to the author for the extensive research she did on this topic and on the life of Dolly.
I also loved the side story of the fictional character, Mei Lien, whose story showcases what happened to many of the girls who were lied to, brought to America, sold, and abused. I was so glad that this part of the story was told even if it was a fictional character.
The Paper Daughters of Chinatown is a story that must be read and talked about. The terrible tragedy of human trafficking is still happening today. This novel brings to light an issue that all people must be aware of and help and support those who are warriors today still fighting for those who can't help themselves. One line in the story really hit me that Officer Cook said to Dolly at the end of the novel and it's something we all should remember,
Officer Cook said, "We might live in the land of the free, but none of us are truly free as long as slavery exists in our society."
Author Heather B. Moore has written another compelling novel that I highly recommend to other readers. This story of courage and selflessness will touch you and illuminate the struggles still happening in our world today.
Meet Author Heather B. Moore
Heather B. Moore is a USA Today bestselling author of more than fifty publications. Her historical novels and thrillers are written under pen name H.B. Moore. She writes women's fiction, romance and inspirational non-fiction under Heather B. Moore. This can all be confusing, so her kids just call her Mom. Heather attended Cairo American College in Egypt, the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in Utah. Heather is represented by Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1344869.Heather_B_Moore
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/37783537691/
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Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Heather-B-Moore/e/B007HLYZ6A/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1
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