Book Description

Moon shadow is eight years old when he sails from China to join his father, Windrider, in America. Windrider lives in San Francisco and makes his living doing laundry. Father and son have never met.

But Moon Shadow grows to love and respect his father and to believe in his wonderful dream. And Windrider, with Moon Shadow's help is willing to endure the mockery of the other Chinese, the poverty, the separation from his wife and country'even the great earthquake'to make his dream come true.

1976 Newbery Honor Book
Notable Children's Books of 1971–1975 (ALA)
1976 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award Honor Book for Fiction
1976 Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book)
"Best of the Best" Children's Books 1966–1978 (SLJ)
Outstanding Children's Books of 1975 (NYT)
1976 Children's Book Award (IRA)
Children's Choices for 1976 (IRA/CBC)
Notable 1975 Children's Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC)
1976 Carter G. Woodson Award (NCSS)
1976 Jane Addams Children's Book Award Honor Book
1979 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award
Children's Books of 1975 (Library of Congress)
1979 Books for the Teen Age (NY Public Library)
1995 Phoenix Award (Children's Literature Association) ... Read more

Reviews (66)

Dragonwings
During the Tang period, a Chinese boy named Moon Shadow immigrates to America. He meets and lives with his father, Windrider, who is an absolute genius. Windrider is said to have encountered a dragon, who instructs him to pass several tasks in order to be reincarnated as a dragon. Inspired, both father and son build a flying machine, and, with some help from their Chinese company and two good, American friends, they fly the plane, thinking that this is one of the tasks needed to be fulfilled for the dragon. In the end, however, the flying machine breaks apart, but Windrider decides not to work on it ever again. Somehow, the whole experience seems to bring everyone together again. Even Moon Shadow raises enough money for his mother to join them in America.
I greatly enjoyed this book very much. The detailed description made it sound like I was in the book. It was easy to read, and I did not have much difficulty trying to figure out the main point of the story. I saw that the book had a well-thought-out plot, because it all fitted together nicely. The cover was quite interesting.
The part of the book I enjoyed reading was when Windrider flew his huge flying machine outside against the strong winds. The book described it so well, I thought I was flying myself! When Windrider finally crash-landed, I could not tell whether I really did experience it or not. Laurence Yep is quite an amazing writer. Overall, I know that this book will always be one that I would greatly enjoy reading once more.

illustrates varities of themes.
This book, Dragonwings, is full of emotions, including sadness,happiness, fighting, suffering, perseverance, dream, and comedy. It expresses some stereotypes about americans ,and it also points out the good relationship between Chinese immigrants and Americans. The main theme mentions about one Chinese immigrant, who had left his family to work in Demon land. He was full of dreams ,and he believed that he was a dargon in the past life. He tried to construct his dream to become true with builted glider and plane. He wish to fly as a dragon. However, finally, he had knew that nothing was more important than his family. I can learn the ideas of different culture that help me open my mind widely.I like this book. It is useful to read it- good novle.

Dragon Wings
This book is about a white boy who learns to fly kites using a stick and a paper. HE learns thet white people are the best and christians are not bad.

I want to get away, I want to fly away
No one melds fact and myth into seamless storylines of historical fiction quite like Lawrence Yep. Like many of his tales, the remarkable, "Dragonwings", reflects on the Chinese experience in America. Says Yep in his author's note, "I have tried to make some of these dry historical facts become living experiences". The result is a book that certain kids will grow attached to and respect. Admittedly, it is not a book for all children, but for what it offers it is an impressive work.

The plot follows Moon Shadow, a boy sent from his native China to live with his father in the Land of the Gold Mountains a.k.a San Francisco in 1903. While there, Moon Shadow learns a great deal about the ways the white settlers (referred to in this text, without exception, as demons) reacted to the Chinese in California. Yep does not play down the characters' difficulties, but Moon Shadow and his father, Windrider, learn the ways in which they may live their lives acceptably. They befriend their white employers, survive the great San Francisco earthquake, and finally Windrider follows his dream of making a flying machine just as the Wright Brothers did. This portion of the book is based on the true story of a Chinese immigrant that on September 22, 1909 flew from the hills of Oakland, California. As Yep points out in his author's note, this book is a historical fantasy and not an actual factual construction. Nonetheless, Windrider's quest is such that you feel just as caught up in the excitement of the moment as he is when at last he is able to test his creation.

What is so impressive about Lawrence Yep's writing is how he accepts that there are no hard and fast rules about the ways in which people act and react. The Chinese are constantly set upon by the white majority, yet there are good Tang people and bad Tang people just as there are good whites and bad whites. The sentence that really drilled this home for me was one referring to a white female friend Moon Shadow and his father made the acquaintance of. Miss Whitlaw befriends our heroes, as well as the patriarch of their company, referred to mostly as "Uncle". The section I love reads, "I won't say that Miss Whitlaw and Uncle became the best of friends, but they came to like each other as much as two such difference people could". To me, this is an eloquent description of how two people from remarkably different backgrounds can become close without ever reaching the closeness that comes from being with someone like yourself.

So here's the real test of this book; Do kids actually like reading it? Published originally in 1975, I remember hearing about this story when I was in elementary school. And, admittedly, I never so much as picked it up. For those kids that do glance through it, or are assigned it in school, what is their reaction? Honestly, I thought the book began rather slowly. Yep is introducing his subject honestly and with tact and feeling, all of which make the beginning a small slog for the average child reader. Those kids that stick with it, however, will find fights, natural disasters, and attempted throat slittings galore. To my mind, Yep's "Child of the Owl" is a lot more kid friendly than the well-written but ultimately measured "Dragonwings". So if I were to give a child I knew a good, if more contemporary, book reflecting the experiences of Chinese-Americans, I'd probably offer them the former. None of this is to say that there aren't children out there that consider "Dragonwings" to be their favorite book ever. I just suspect they are a minority.

In the end, "Dragonwings" has won more awards and garnered more praise than I think Lawrence Yep could have ever hoped for. It is a fine noble creation and well deserves the attention it has received. Whether kids will ever willingly open its pages is open to debate, but it is definitely a fascinating look into the lives of a people that could well have remained unknown but for the superb prose and experienced writing of one of the finest American writers of our day and age.

dragon wings reivew
...BR>I didn't like this book at the beginning, because I thought it was boring. After I read and I found that it was pretty interesting. In this book, I learned a lot of things, such as vocabulary, what is important in life, and how to make it easier, etc. Laurence Yep mentioned detaily in people's emotions and their different characters. Yep listed out how people felt after they left their home, and went to a different place for work. In addition, he also stated how was a life for a little boy, and how he managed it. In general, it was a little bit long. Finally, according to the last chapter of the text book, I knew the "Family" is the most important in life ... Read more

Book Description

In 1867, Otter travels from Three Willows Village in China to California -- the Land of the Golden Mountain. There he will join his father and uncle.

In spite of the presence of family, Otter is a stranger among the other Chinese in this new land. And where he expected to see a land of goldfields, he sees only vast, cold whiteness. But Otter's dream is to learn all he can, take the technology back to the Middle Kingdom, and free China from the Manchu invaders.

Otter and the others board a machine that will change his life -- a train for which he would open the Dragon's Gate.

Reviews (19)

Dragon's Gate by Laurence Yep
This truly excellent book, Dragon's Gate by Laurence Yep, is a magnificently written book that most certainly deserves a five star rating. In this adventure filled-book, Otter, a boy from the Middle Kingdom, China, is forced to join his father, Squeaky, and his Uncle Foxfire in America, the Land of the Golden Mountain. Back in China, Otter's father and uncle were always beheld as heros and legends, but Otter soon learns the truth that Squeaky and Foxfire are no greater than the rest of the Chinese laborers working on the enormous task of completing the transcontinental railroad. To make matters worse, Otter has barely any friends, he gains no respect from the other workers, and has had no expirience with physical labor before in his life. In his time of need Otter's own uncle deserts him and refuses to help him in any way.
The headman of this massive project is an almost heartless man named Kilroy. Kilroy pushes the Chinese workers to exaustion and gives them a measly amount of supplies. When Otter's father is blinded by an accident on the job, Otter forces himself to work harder and help out more. Eventually Otter gains more friends, he earns respect from his fellow workers and also ajusts to the backbreaking work that he and the other workers have to do.
In the end, Otter and his uncle take on a mission that will determine the fate of the entire camp and change Otter's life forever in a way that Otter will never forget.
If you like to read adventure-filled, action-packed, stupendously written books, Dragon's Gate by Laurence Yep is the perfect book for you!

Dragon's Gate
Have you been searching for a book that helps you learn on what to do to become a man? Look no further because Dragon's Gate is a book that you can't put down!
A teenage Chinese boy named Otter lives with his Mother while his Uncle Foxfire and Father go to "The Land of the Golden Mountain" [also known as America] to help build a transcontinental railroad. When Otter kills a Manchu, he gets in trouble and will not go to America. Somehow, he escapes with strangers and he went there because he wanted to avoid his punishment. He also wanted to see his Father. As Otter progresses in building the railroad, he developes character and really impresses his Father. Otter fights for rights to be able to have less work and larger breaks, but the atrocious Kilroy [the "Master"] does dreadful things. The only way to find out the horrible actions and the rest of the rest of the inspiring story [the consequences of Otter's actions and the way he talks about his Uncle] is to read Dragon's Gate!
I highly recommend kids from grades 5/up to read this book because it is very advanced. The events that I like this are the decisions Otter tried to work out and the hard work Otter demonstrated when he did work. I liked these events because Otter's character really developed. Dragon's Gate is an amazing book. If you want adventure, Dragon's Gate is the specific book to choose!

An OK book, not the best for this author
This is quite an adventure book, but it has crude humor and the adventure is, well, boring. The beginning got you into it, but at the end Yep slacked off. An excellent book, along with cons.

A great adventure book
What would you do if you were fighting for freedom just like this this kid was? His name is otter. He and his companions are trying to acheive some thing everybody wants. Do you think he will acheive what he is looking for or will he fail and accept what is about to hapen? He gets in to some hastle on the way but this is a great book, so i encourage everybody to read this book and find out!

Otter Vs. The Tiger
Dragon's Gate is a great book about a Chinese boy named Otter who travels to America to fight a mountain called the Tiger.
...
I think that this is a great book. It shows how people will put others in front of themselves to help everybody else. This book is very interesting because it shows how people where treated when they first came over to America and how employers and other Americans treated them. But the part I liked the most about this book was when Otter was hated and nobody cared what happened to him or his family and he had no friends. He kept trying and working hard and he eventually earned some people's trust and respect. Then they worked together, and they all gained something that they all could use. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A review by Chun Wen Huang from P.S.-42
Do you know anything about the atom bomb? This book has facts about the atom bomb and what happened during that day the United States dropped a bomb in Hiroshima, Japan. Sachi, the main character of this story lost her sister and father. She was really sad about it. That means that the atom bomb is really powerful and affected other people's lives.

I really like this book after I was done with it. By the look of this cover, it looks really boring. When you actually open the book, you can't stop reading it. There are some interesting facts in this book such as how much the atom bomb weighs and how many people died when the bomb dropped.

Riko, Sachi's sister died from the bomb. Does it hurt to die? Why did the book not explain how it felt to die? Sadako Sasaki, a little girl who also died from this bomb folded 934 paper cranes because if she folded 1000 of them, the gods would make her healthy again. I think this is an interesting idea but there is no such things as magic so it wouldn't work. If you want to learn more about Sadako's life, you should read Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr.

Recently, I heard that Suddam Hussein, expresident of Iraq was hiding or coming up with ideas for another atom bomb. What if he drops it in the United States? Is it as powerful as the first one that dropped in Hiroshima?

I recommend this book to anyone that reads or likes historical fiction and facts about the atom bomb because this book really has great facts. You should also read other books by Laurence Yep such as The Star Fisher, Child of The Owl, Dragon's Gate and American Dragons. Laurence Yep's drawings are very unique from other illustrators because his drawing look Chinese, like me! Do you want to know more about Sachi's life, well what are you waiting for? Pick it up!

HIROSHIMA
Brandon Brown

HIROSHIMA
by Laurence Yep

From the author of Dragonwings (1975) a new book is here called Hiroshima, taking place in 1945 during World War 2. Laurence Yep takes you through Hiroshima and the life of a girl named Sachi who lives there. Suddenly someone from the town yells "B-29 B-29." After that day will 12 year old Sachi ever see her family again in the smoke and radiation filled air.
The war genre takes your mind deep into the war setting. The explosions ring in your head. Closing the book is not an option.
"When the bomb's uranium breaks up, bits of atoms zip away. They go right through peoples skin and hurt the bodies inside." illustrates the horror experienced throughout that time.
Twelve year old Sachi and her friends from school tear down houses to contribute to the war effort. Suddenly a blinding light like the sun and a boom like a base drum. The bomber called the "Enola Gay" dropped an atom bomb on Hiroshima.
To find out if Sachi ever sees her family again and if her father comes home from the war. You will have to read Hiroshima!
The major theme of Yelp's epic masterpiece is "When things get tough bounce back and rebuild!"You have to find out if they do.
Laurence Yep (the wonderful author of Hiroshima) was born and raised in San Francisco, California. In addition to his novels Laurence Yep has also written plays. Now he lives in Grove, California with his wife, fellow author Joanne Rider.His parents are Thomas Gim Yep and Franche Lee Yep.

Hiroshima...from those that experienced it!
Ground Zero is a phrase that was coined long before that ill-fated day in September. The thousands that perished or survived that hell of August 6, 1945 in the city of Hiroshima are testaments to the horrors of war.

Yep's brief story is the perfect catalyst to spark discussion about war and how lives and countries are forever altered. It is indeed worthy of inclusion in every American classroom, especially in light of the turbulent times of today.

Hiroshima by Laurence Yep
This is an excellent companion to Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr. The details of the day's events during the attack on Hiroshima and the years after bring the reader closer to understanding the surprise of the attack, and the devastation that followed for years. My sixth graders read this book in conjunction with their Social Studies class and the study of World Cultures. They love it. This is truely a book to be added to any classroom library!

Touching Perspective
My 8 year old son is completely enamored by all things war -- typical boy behavior at this age. When the teacher assigned a "multi-cultural" book for this month, I purchased "Hiroshima" in an attempt to show my son two sides of war -- heroism and horror. The writing in the book is lovely and touching and you can't help but become involved in the life of the little girl injured by the bomb blast, her loss and her ultimate recovery. This is a wonderful little book and one you will be glad to have your child read. ... Read more

Book Description

Twelve-year-old Casey is waiting for the day that Barney, her father, hits it big -- 'cause when that horse comes in, he tells her, it's the penthouse suite. But then hr ends up in the hospital, and Casey is sent to Chinatown to live with her grandmother, Paw-Paw. Now the waiting seems longer than ever.

Casey feels lost in Chinatown. She's not prepared for the Chinese school, the noisy crowds, missing her father. But Paw-Paw tells her about the mother Casey never knew, and about her family's owl charm and her true Chinese name. And Casey at last begins to understand that this -- Paw-Paw's Chinatown home, her parents' home -- is her home,too. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

The Novel of a Young Girl
Child of the Owl, written by Laurence Yep is an amazing book, filled with intriguing stories about the history of a young Chinese, American girl named Casey and about how her mother and father lived when they were children. Her grandmother Casey lives with her former gambling, poor father told this. Her mother Jeani is dead. Her father gets hurt, so she is sent to live with her relatively wealthy uncle and his family. Eventually Casey crosses the line and is sent to live with her grandmother, in China town. Casey calls her grandma Paw-Paw. The minute Paw-Paw opens the door, of her old, little apartment; she throws her arms around Casey and hugs her. Casey isn't used to having a lovey, kiss, kiss relationship between her and her relatives but once Casey hugs Paw-Paw she feels a sudden connection. Like there's something there wasn't there before. This is a very strong novel and it captures it's time and setting really well. The story is strong because it illustrates Casey's emissions and has excellent examples of how she feels. The book almost shows a picture of her life; that you see threw her eyes. Another reason this book is so mind absorbing is it really captures the setting and it's time, even though the book was written 30 years after the its setting. The book shows the setting by giving little clues, such as how people talk to each other and what band people listen to. Over all you can see why this story of a girl might draw a reader into it. This book was spectacular but it did contain a minor throw off. In about the first 5-10 pages the book was terrible. It seemed long and tidies and as though the whole book would consist of this writing style, which some might like but not many of the age the book looks for. But trust me I was wrong. The book was written in a way that pulled me into the story, while I read it I felt like I was there, in the book, along with Casey, Paw-Paw, Barney and the rest of the characters. Even though the first time you look at this book, it might seem silly or stupid pick it up and give it a try if after the first 20 pages it doesn't appeal to you put it down; It's not your type of book. But if you like reading in general I can almost guaranty you that you that you will enjoy this book. Also I greatly dislike reading in most cases but as you can see I loved Child of the Owl.

from washington irving high school
Hi, my name is He; this review is from NYC of New York. This book named child of the owl. The author's name was Laurence Yep. The main characters were Casey, Barney, and paw-paw.

The place takes in Chinatown, San Francisco of California in 1964. Barney's gambling got beat up in the hospital. So Casey moves to her uncle Phil. She doesn't like live with Phil and Phil doesn't like her too. Phil sends her to his mother in Chinatown. Casey fell lost, sad and lonely in Chinatown and she couldn't spoke Chinese, when paw-paw read s story of the owl for Casey. She felt warm inside. Every week, a person gave 5 dollars to Casey. When paw-paw and Casey after finished the movie and went home. The thief got into paw-paw's apartment. They have a fought. The thief got away and the charm was stolen. Who stole the charm? I knew was paw-paw's relative? Think about it.

I will go to recommend this book. It's good to learn about Chinese culture. I will s gave 4 stars to this book

childs owl
Child of the Owl
Child of the Owl is an average book, it's about a Chinese girl that isn't wanted anywhere, and she loves her uncle. His name is Barney. He is a gambler, and he just lost big to big Mike. So she goes to paw paws house and lives there for a while. Many interesting things happen to Casey. Barney eventually gets his money back, and Casey lives with him. I did not like this book very much because, it got a little boring while Casey was at paw paw's house, there where a few interesting parts though, like when she went to her aunts house, her aunt had a husband and lots of other people in her family and they kept getting mad at Casey they thought she was dressed poorly and even thought she was a hoodlum. That was probably the most exciting and must interesting part in the story it was also very funny this books vocabulary was a little easy, and the author didn't use very many exciting words.

Excellent, superb, and other words of adulation
Here's the first sentence of "Child of the Owl":
"It was hard to understand Barney with the air tubes up his nose".

And from that sentence on it this book becomes one of the most readable I have ever encountered. Have you ever entered into a book, not knowing what to expect but suspecting that it's not going to retain your interest for very long? Knowing what little I did about "Child of the Owl", I walked into this gem of kiddie lit with more than a little trepidation. What I found was a story that was funny, touching, and ultimately informative. I'm naturally wary of books that are supposed to be "good" for children. That will teach them lessons about diversity while maintaining a sticky sweet didactic tone. But "Child of the Owl" isn't like that at all. Instead, it is honest-to-goodness gold.

The plot is especially good. Young streetwise Casey must leave her gambler father to live with her Grandmother in San Francisco's Chinatown for a little while. Laurence Yep has effectively written a tale that captures the spirit of a person never fully feeling as if they fit in. As the blurb on the cover of the books says, sometimes, "you can feel like a stranger, trapped in the wrong place, in the wrong time, even in the wrong body". What makes the book so eminently readable, however, is the care with which Yep has drawn upon his own experiences in 1964 Chinatown, to explain and examine Casey's reactions to life in that once tiny neighborhood.

Now if I was going to make a collection of Top Ten Children's Books Set In San Francisco, "Child of the Owl" would be number one. It would also be number one of Top Ten Intergenerational Children's Books and Top Ten Children's Books Containing Sarcastic Wisecracking Kids. Sorry Gilly Hopkins. Casey's got you beat. As a heroine she's funny, smart, and filled with reactions appropriate to a pre-adolescent. I highly recommend this book to any child wanting to learn more about the Chinese-American experience of living in America. The book speaks volumes to those living then and now. It is a book to be remembered.

it was okay
I read this book a long time ago in middle school and personally was able to relate to some of her Casey's feelings and experiences but I don't really remember what happened in the story. Don't take my word for it because I never paid that much attention to what I read back then. It was okay and she resembles some of my cousin and me when we were younger but I guess my parents would've thought she was silly. Thats all I remembered about it and the rest was okay but I guess its been too long ago since I read this book to write a review for it anyway. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Princess Red Bird, 16-year-old daughter of the Hsien king in 6th centurySouthern China, has been born into a world of dispute and violence. When she issent to a Chinese colony to be educated, she must contend with the disdainfulattitudes of her hosts, who consider the Hsien to be savages, even as both theChinese and the Hsien are at constant risk of attack from the truly savageneighboring people, the Dog Heads. In reality, the princess is a fair and wiseleader, even at a young age, with a brilliant mind for military stratagems. Herleadership skills are put to the test when war breaks out and the Dog Headsbegin to move in.

Prolific Newbery Honor author Laurence Yep (Dragon's Gate) contributes aremarkable tale to the Royal Diaries series. This fictionalized account of thereal-life princess will introduce young readers to a long-ago land with afascinating culture and edge-of-seat adventures, and will certainly inspire someto delve deeper into Chinese history. As in all the titles in the series, asection in the back provides context and historical background. (Ages 8 to 14)--Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (44)

A must for the Royal Diaries collection and Laurence Yep fan
The year is 531 A.D., southern China. A sixteen year old Princess Red Bird (later Lady of Ch'iao Kuo) of the Hsien people is living through a time when China is slowly gaining back power and where land is always fought over. Red Bird is an educated princess as she is sent often to learn chinese and academics from a chinese colonist family lead by Master Chen. As she is the only one in her family who can speak and understand chinese, she is imperative for diaplomatic missions as an interpreter. As the Dog Heads, an enemy people of the Hsien and Chinese, start attacking, Princess Red Bird must help her people survive. She wants to join two cultures in an alliance, the Hsien and the Chinese. With her effort and wise, natural leadership skills she will shape her people.

I might be biased when I say I love this book as I am from Southern Asian descent. However, Laurence Yep gives his smooth historical fiction effort as usual and if you have a penchant for his books, it's a definite read. For everyone and the Royal Diaries fan, this shouldn't be a miss. It is far more longer than most of the other Diaries and has more plot incidents than many of the others. A very educational read for anyone interested in asian history. It's a definite recommended read. Go for it!

A Girl Looks For Peace
This book is about a Hsien Princess who goes through troubled times. She is sent to a Chinese settlement to learn how to speak, read, and write Chinese from her teacher, Master Chen. At the town she is named Princess Redbird, but is regarded to as a savage. Soon a hostile tribe called the Dog Heads start attacking the Hsien and the Chinese colonists. Princess Redbird is called upon to be an interpreter.They form an alliance but soon find there is a traitor in thier midst; For Princess Redbird's father's group is ambushed and killed. Her brother, Little Tiger, is named king. Soon the Chinese settlement was overrun by the Dog Heads. She sneaks there to find her Chinese family had been enslaved or killed, including her beloved teacher, Master Chen. Princess Redbird has to collect the broken pieces, defeat the Dog Heads, and uncover the traitor. During all this she finds time to read. She reads about Master Meng and how he describes peace, though it doesn't seem real to her. In her reading she was able to come up with an idea to defeat the Dog Heads. All she needed was careful planning and a little bit of magic. You must read this book to see how the brave princess defeated the Dog Heads and bring peace to her people and the Chinese. I never knew there had been a South China monarchy. I also didn't know there had been feuding tribs in South China. This book is a great learning source and I would recommend it to any reader.

Amazing!
When I first read this book I thought, how boring, it's just a bunch of rambling about war and junk. Well I decided I'd give it another chance and I think it's fabulous. I guess that now that we are caught up in a war ourselves I can really relate to what she is saying. This book has humor, action, adventure, and really corrosponds to what is happening in the world today. I reccomend this book to everyone and encourage those of you who disliked it at first to give it a secound chance.

excellent!
Another awesome addition to the Royal Diaires! Lady of Ch'iao Kuo is great. The charecters are well developed and interesting and the story is excellant. You really feel as if you are taken back in time and are standing right there with her. A few probs with this book.
1. The begining is slow but hang in there ok, it gets good twards the middle.
2. Why is it special edition? It's just longer.
3. Epilougewas too short.
But a great thing about this book is after the diary is done you find out she was a great ruler, who kept peace in her kingdom. For once someones life didn't end tragicly! Proof that if girls ruled more in history the world would be a better place!

One of the Best books I've ever read!
I loved this book. The characters were so real and funny. I also liked the emotions and the research that the author did. I think this book is a must-have for every avid reader. At the beginning I had a little trouble understanding the story, but at the end it's real good. I also liked the plot of this story and the way the Lady strives for peace. ... Read more

Book Description

Can Ursula ever show her face again?

Ursula always wanted to see the circus. That is, until she caught smallpox. Now all she wants is to hide her scarred face from everyone. But Ah Sam, her parents' Chinese cook, has other ideas.

One day Ah Sam surprises Ursula by bringing a circus to town, but there's one problem -- there's no music. Ursula is the only one who can play the harmonica, but that means she'll have to go outside and face the world again. Will Ursula save the circus or will she hide forever?

Reviews (2)

When the Circus Came to Town
When the Circus Came to Town
By: Laurence Yep
...

The story is about a girl named Ursula who has always wanted to see a circus. That is, until she caught smallpox, which made small holes in her cheek. Now all she thinks about and wants is to hide her scarred face. All this changes when Ursula's parents hire a Chinese cook named Ah Sam. He brings to town a magical circus and finds a way to give Ursula the courage she needs to face the world. After the circus Ursula confidently goes outside knowing nobody will laugh at her anymore. She sees that Ah Sam is unhappy and asks why. He replies with the blizzard he won't be able to go to China to celebrate Chinese New Year. Ursula decides to repay Ah Sam for his kindness and creates the biggest, best Chinese New Year celebration that Whistle, Montana, has ever seen.

I have many reasons why I liked this book. One of the reasons I liked this book is because Ah Sam taught Ursula that it does not matter what you look like on the outside.The second reason I liked this book is because Ursula knew that Ah Sam helped her a lot by giving her the confidence to go outside so she repaid him by creating the Chinese New Year in Whistle, Montana. The third reason I like this book is because it teaches you that you shouldn't judge a person by their nationality because in the story Ursula thought all Chinese people were bad, but Ah Sam proved her wrong with his kindness.

The fourth reason I like this book is because Ursula got to experience a different culture or style of life. For example on Chinese New Year they had to cut a little bit of their hair, do Chinese dances, parade around in a dragon, light up fire crackers, and feast. The fifth reason I like this book is because I like circuses, which are amazing and have things like acrobats, jugglers, clowns, animals, and animal trainers. If I had to grade this book on a scale from 1 to 10 I would give this book a 10.

My favorite part of the book was when Ah Sam's cousins came to town to put on the circus. Their names were Ah Bing, Ah Loo, and Lung. On the day of the circus Ah Loo stuck a sword down her mouth and pulled it back out without cutting her insides. Then she spit fire out her mouth. Ah Bing pulled eggs out from behind people in the audience's ears. Ah Sam juggled balls, knives, a boot, a turnip, and a hat all at one time. For the grand finale Ah Bing, Ah Loo, and Lung began to turn into letters. All together they spelled out "Thank You, Ursula."

Chinese New Year in Whistle, Montana
When the Circus Came to Town is a quick, enjoyable read. The illustrations are well done and the setting of Whistle, Montana comes to life with Yep's vivid description of the people and the surrounding mountains. The story has two main characters. Ursula is a young girl who at the beginning of the story leads her friends in adventures and play. She calls herself "Pirate Ursula." Ah Sam is a Chinese immigrant who comes to help Ursula's parents as a cook for their restaurant and stage coach depot. Early on in the story Ursula becomes sick with the smallpox. Her face is disfigured, and she refused to leave her room. Her friends come to the window and beg for "Pirate Ursula" to come and play, but her fear of being stared at makes her stay inside. Ah Sam, who also endures taunts and stares for being Chinese and looking different, befriends Ursula and teaches her how to cook. As Ursula becomes more and more confident in the kitchen she begins to come out of her shell. During the course of the story Ursula and Ah Sam exchange gifts - the most elaborate gift comes from Ah Sam in the form of a Chinese Circus. To bring Ursula outside Ah Sam asks his cousins to come to Whistle to perform. The show is quite a hit, and the townspeople welcome the Chinese performers with open arms. When the weather turns bad the performers cannot leave in order to arrive in San Francisco for Chinese New Year. Ursula and the townspeople work together to put on a Chinese New Year in Whistle. When the Circus Came to Town is well written and the dialogue flows smoothly. Tom, the Native American stagecoach driver, is an interesting character. Yep wrote the story based on events that really happened. ... Read more

Book Description

"Culled from 69 stories collected in a [1930s] WPA project, [these 20] tales are organized into sections with themes like 'Tricksters' or 'Virtues and Vices,' each with a thoughtful introduction placing the individual stories in the context of feelings and background of the original tellers.Yep's telling is vigorous, often poetic, imbued with earthy humor and realism touched with fatalism.A handsomely designed collection." —K.

Notable Children's Books of 1989 (ALA)
The USA Through Children's Books 1990 (ALA)
1989 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award for Nonfiction
1990 Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book)
1989 Children's Editors' Choices (BL)
Notable 1989 Children's Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC)
Children'sBooks of 1989 (Library of Congress)
1989 Children's Books (NY Public Library)
"The Best Books" 1989 (Parents Magazine) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Source of Chinese and Chinese American Tales
Yep for the most part retells and combines stories collected by Jon Lee in a 1930's WPA project in Oakland's Chinatown from Chinese who would trace their ancestry to Kwangtung, China. (xi)

The stories are broken up into Tricksters, Fools, Virtues and Vices, In Chinese America, and Love tales. Each section has a brief introduction which contains some history and cultural information as well as additional source information.

Each story has a bookmark size brush and ink illustration. The illustrations add a glimpse into the stories.

Yep's stories are very readable, but might need a little trimming for telling. These stories are interesting and offer a look into the lives of the earliest Chinese Americans.

Teaching Tales
Getting students to see the connection between their classes is often difficult. Students in middle school do not see that Literature and Social Studies are interconnected. Yep's tales help suppliment an often "boring" unit on Ancient China. ... Read more

Book Description

A buggy sequel to Later, Gator.

Teddy's brother, Bobby, is a real pest. Not only is he sickly sweet and good with adults, but he has some strange friends-bugs. So when the school bully singles out Bobby for some special treatment, Teddy is reluctant to come to his rescue. But that's what big brothers are for, right?

Soon Teddy realizes that Bobby can save them from the bully. Bobby has a pet cockroach that will keep anyone at arm's length; or perhaps the answer lies in a batch of mysterious cookies from Bobby's creepy friend, the Bug Lady.

Filled with humor and warmth, this creepy-crawly tale is a tribute to resourcefulness and the unique relationship that only brothers share. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

wonderful brother tale
I am an adult who loves children's books and I found this one charming.It reminded me very much of my nephews, both the portrayal of the complex of sibling rivalry -- the older brother here thinks he is the only one with the right to beat up the younger one so he protects him from bullies while reserving the right to whack at him himself, the contrasts in the two boys' personalities, the way the younger one loves bugs while the older one is horrified by them.The relationship with the bully rings true for school boy fights as well as the discovery the brothers make about why the bully is so mean and the truce they develop with him.Lots of humor and gently affectionate, I can't wait to read it to my nephews.

A warm, involving story.
Streetwise Teddy avoids bullies and trouble but his younger brother seems to invite them and Teddy finds himself on the losing end of a bully's wrath in this gentle story about brothers, friends, and pets. Add a Chinese family's interactions and you have a warm and involving story.

bugs to bullies!
Bullies are a problem in schools and Yep's gentle story of two brothers working together to outwit the bully works on many levels.Using the fascination with insects is an effective plot device that will keep 8 - 10year boys interested in a story that could help their social skills. ... Read more

Book Description

The outlawed princess of the Dragon Clan and her young human companion undergo fearsome trials in their quest for an evil enchantress. ‘Dramatic tension stays high. Weaves Chinese legend into an exciting tapestry of myth and folklore.’ —BL.

Notable Children's Books of 1982 (ALA)
100 Favorite Paperbacks of 1989 (IRA/CBC) ... Read more

Reviews (23)

The tale of an exiled dragon...
This is a story for all Fantasy-Fiction lovers. It is about an exiled dragon who has lost her home (the Inland Sea). She is on a quest to recapture the mist stone (the gem containing the sea by magic) from an evil witch named Civet. The dragon, whose name is Shimmer, has a human boy companion, and they go through all sorts of adventures fighting magical paper cutouts, battling mages and witches etc. I guarantee that you will like this book if you like reading about dragons.

A fantastic story
There is quite some confusion about this book. Recently, I've reread the book, and now I've got a different view on it. It is a fantastic story.
Shimmer is a royal, female, dragon. She was exiled from her clan and is forced to live among humans as a human. She teams up with a boy, Thorn, but she didn't like it at first. Her sea was lost, captured into a small blue pebble by Civet. Shimmer and Thorn fight for their life and for Shimmer's sea. They jouney through many places, even the grounds of which the sea used to be, only salt now. Thorn, although a small and young boy, has a big heart. That is why he was able to journey with a dragon, and prove not to be useless.

Worth Reading
Dragon of the Lost Sea is, ultimately, nothing more than a quest adventure, but it is elevated by its surprisingly lovely, elegant writing, and distinguished by a Chinese flavour.

If you enjoyed this, but would like something more grownup/meatier/cleverer/funnier, definitely check out Barry Hughart's "Bridge of Birds" for a more rollicking adventure in a never-never China, an absolutely terrific book.

Note: 3 stars, for me, is a pretty good review, 4 is for extremely distinguished works, and 5 only for those I consider classics. Most of what is published is, unfortunately, a 2 or less.

A Good Book
Dragon of the Lost Sea is an excellent fantasy book. It's not too in-depth, but it's still very good. It's told from the dragon's point of view, which would seem odd, but somehow Yep has made it not childish at all. There are some dry parts, but most of this book is very interesting and I would recommend it to anyone 12 or older, because everyone will like it.

One of my all time favorites
I picked up this book at a second hand store one day when I was about eleven, mainly because it looked like a good book. I was absolutely awestruck. I am now sixteen and it remains one of my favorite fantasies. I have read it at least ten times, and never get bored. The book is all about a dragon princess named Shimmer who is in exile for stealing a magical stone (the dream pearl) and while in exile, a witch steals the sea which is her home. Now she is searching for the witch so she can get back the sea in hopes for redemption, in a sense. She also has to team up with a young human boy named Thorn. This rubs her the wrong way because dragon's have very high egos and are very proud beasts. Well, anyway, the book basically recounts the adventures until she finds Civet (the witch). I know, it sounds like a simple plot, but it is really very good. I recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy books. Also, I'm so stoked! There are sequels! I never knew there were sequels, now I'm happy. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU READ THIS BOOK!! *walks off to read sequels, making odd "squee" noises* ... Read more

Book Description

Will the Lees celebrate Christmas?

Everyone else in their small town in West Virginia is getting ready for Christmas, but Joan's parents won't let her and her siblings celebrate: Christmas is not Chinese. Then their father finally promises they can go to a neighbor's Christmas party, but only if none of them misbehaves at all in the weeks before the holiday. If only he was as generous as Joan's friend Victoria's father!

Continuing the story of the Lees begun in The Star Fisher, Dream Soul is a touching story of love, loyalty, and the importance of family.

Reviews (1)

Wonderful!!!!
The main character in this book, Joan, is a young Chinese-American girl trying to fit in with the rest of the children her age.She has chores and responsibilities that her American friends do not have.She also does not have as much money as some of the snobby girls she goes to school with.Her and her little brother and sister want to have Christmas more than anything.Their nosey neighbor Miss Lucy (a retired teacher) asks the children to have Christmas with her.Their father tells them they can only have Christmas (since it's not a Chinese holiday) if they behave perfectly up until Christmas.This story is a wonderful example of why children should appreciate their parents.Although Joan's father is not like American father's, he does love her and he shows that love by working hard to provide for the family.This book has many exciting parts as the children are trying to not get in trouble.I liked the book so much I couldn't put it down.The book provides a real insight to what it is like to live within a minority culture.It is also just a wonderful and entertaining story for anyone looking for a good book! :) ... Read more

Book Description

Monkey tells the tale as he joins the dragon princess Shimmer, and, along with two feisty humans, they embark on a mission to recover the dragon homeland. It has been Shimmer's personal quest for years, ever since Witch Civet stole the sea, and the dragons were evicted from their magnificent palaces of coral and pearl. Now the archenemy Civet is repentant, and she too has thrown in her lot with this fearless band.

Key to their success is the magic of the dragons' cauldron. But he cauldron is cracked, and to mend it they must reach the enchanted traveling mountain and engage the help of the fabled Snail man and the powerful Smith. Since the war against all dragons as escalated under the rule of the human king, Butcher, their journey is a dangerous one. The obstacles are endless, but so too are theqesters' determination and resourcefulness. just when they think hat they are within reach of their final goal, they face the biggest challenge of all....

Reviews (7)

A highly unique fantasy true to characters and storyline
Much as I love all types of books, fantasy has been my favorite for as long as I can remember. So, considering that I have read extensively in this field, I have read all the cleshaes to the point where I can almost guess the ending two chapters into most books. This series I'm happy to say, is in a league all it's own. It's completely unlike any series I've ever read before, and I have to say I'm releaved that there actually is a fantasy series where male and female characters treat each other equaly, and female characters can be just as strong as male characters. Anyway, in this book (which is third in this incredible series) Monkey tells the tale as the book picks up basically where the previous one (told by Shimmer) left off, as they continue their quest to try to restore the inland sea. At first I was a little irritated at having Monkey tell this segment of the adventure; I wanted more Shimmer! but I quickly warmed up to him, and to the hillarious irony with which he tells the story. This book was also largely character based, focusing a lot of the interrelations of the characters, as Monkey begins to build a bond with Thorn, a saintly young human boy, who is very jealous of Shimmer's favoritism to newcommer Indigo. (a human girl) This book also has plenty of exciting action and adventure scenes though, and tons of suspense, so fans of action will not be dissapointed either. I would recommend reading the first two prior to this one, since it will make a lot more sense that way. Also, I would recommend these books to anyone from ten years old one up since in my opinion they are quite timeless.

3rd book out of a great series....
The 3rd book out of a great series thata started with "Dragon of the Lost Sea", and "Dragon Steel". It uses a famous chinese character called monkey,(from "Journey to the West" {an 100-chapter book written during the chinese dynasty. *rare!*)Wise-cracking, witty, and unpredictable monkey tells the story from his point of view. Great fun, a good storybook to cuddle up with. I recommend reading the first book first to understand what is going on.

Good book
This was an extremely good book. it was a fantasy, but it had a little human touch to it. For example, two of the main characters, a monkey and a dragon, constantly tease each other. The author is very skilled, making even a monkey seem wise and dignified. The storyline is a bit overwrought, relying wholly on constant action rather than suspense. However, many people enjoy that more. All in all, I would say that it was better than a similiar book, Dragon of the Lost Sea, which happens to be by the same author. The books even have the same characters. Dragon Cauldron, however, used the mystery of magic to the better advantage of the story. This adds more fantasy to the sroryline, but it also makes parts of the book extremely confusing. In all, it was one of the best fantasies I have ever read.

Dragon Cauldron
The 3rd in a great series, Dragon Cauldron is the further adventures of the exiled dragon princess Shimmer and her 4 companions; the Monkey wizard, Civet the Witch, and human children Thorn and Indigo. I really enjoyed this book, though I dislike the way that Shimmer played favorites with Thorn and Indigo. It's all right to help a friend feel better, but not at the expense of another friend's feelings. I recommend this book to anyone enjoys a good tale of magic and dragons.

Dragon Cauldron
Dragon Cauldron

The main characters of the book are five companions, a dragon princess named Shimmer, a monkey called Monkey, a former servant boy called Thorn, the girl with blue spikes know as Indigo, and a witch stripped of her powers, Civet. Together they stride to restore the Inland Sea to its rightful place after Civet in vain moved all the water to flood and destroy a powerful city. In the previous books (Dragon of the Lost Sea and Dragon Steal,) the companions stole King Sambar's magic cauldron. While being chased through the sea, Shimmer accidentally cracks the cauldron on a rock. The book opens in the Green Darkness, a great forest that runs for miles upon miles. Together the companions trek across the land in search of the Smith and the Snail Woman, the only people who can possibly fix the magic bowl. The Smith and the Snail Woman live in a magic volcano that can be transported. They are also the last of the great masters still living in the present world. In the process, they inadvertently release the greatest evil the world has ever seen, the Boneless King and his faithful sidekick, Snowgoose. According to Civet's prophecies, two of the characters must make the ultimate sacrifice, and the whole world will bow to Thorn. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great!
I read this book,and loved it.The characters were interesting,the setting exotic and the plot exciting.The Now&Then section was very nice.You learn a lot about life from this book.

True Chinese Sensibility
While this is a story which can be appreciated simply for the feisty character of the girl Spring Pearl, a poor scholar's orphan who goes to live in a rich patron's house at the height of the Opium Wars in Canton, it is so much more. Kind of a primer in Chinese culture which immediately raises modern questions as well. There are challenges to the system of values prevailing in the rich man's house, an understanding of the frustrated aspirations of adults as well as the difficulties of a girl's adolescence in a male-dominated society. But it is done with imagery not just wordy ideas, and this plays into the Asian sensibility to indicate rather than to assert boldly.I just loved it, and would recommend it for anyone from a precocious 8-10 year old, through to adolescence and beyond.I am eager to see the writer's series about the Chinese who came to America, the Golden Mountain.This is a superb introduction.

Another bonus is that it shows the true face of mercantilism and also of the internal politics of China in response to it. For those concerned about universal human rights, it definitely provokes thought. For those who think that merchants are just trying to strike a sincere bargain all the time, the fairy tale believers, it should also provoke thought.

Outstanding Book
My 11 year-old daughter loved this book. She raved so much about it, I began to read it. From the very first page, one is drawn into the story of this very likeable girl. I highly recommend it.

A great charector
I love Spring Pearl's book! It taught me some much about the Chinese culture.I like how she acted around the people she was with,she didn't go off and start yelling like we usually do.She has a great charector trait of patience.
I also liked how everybody thought she was worthless and couldn't do anyhting,but in the end she proved how useful she really was to them.

Spring Pearl-Story of a brave and stubborn girl
Spring Pearl, by Laurence Yep, as part of the Girls of Many Lands series from American girl, is a book about a girl living in 1850's China .Her mother and father are dead and she has to go and live with a friend of her father's . The friend's family is very rich and is not used to doing things for themselves, unlike Spring Pearl. Many times in the book her strong education gets her outof trouble.This book will make you feel like you are right there in the 1850's in China during the Opium wars.Spring Pearl is anoutstanding story for girls who like books about brave young women.This story made me have a fondness for historical fiction. ... Read more

Book Description

Returning to her underwater dragon kingdom expecting to be rewarded for capturing an enchantress, Shimmer and young Thorn instead must continue their quest to restore the dragon princess’s clan to its ancestral home. A tale of dungeons, sea monsters, and magicians, this sequel to Dragon of the Lost Sea "will lure even more readers to [Yep's] legion of followers." —V. "The novel's fast pace [and] exciting action sequences mark this as a tale sure to delight fantasy lovers." —The ALAN Review.

... Read more

Reviews (7)

ace shooters review
The author of this book is Laurence Yep, The name of this book is Dragon Steel. And it was publicist by Harper trophy. And this is a Fiction Fantasy book that takes place in mythevil times.

The main characters there was a very big and powerful dragon named Thorn. She was a good dragon with a nice family. One day she found out that some bad people captured her family. She vowed that it is time to find her relatives.

Thorn set out to look for her family. She searches all through the mountains and over the oceans. One day while she was searching over the ocean she came upon a little boy and little girl. Thorn asked them if they knew anything about her family. She told them the story about her family and what happened. The children said they knew about a king who captured these dragons and is holding them in his palace way far away in the country as slaves. Will Thorn find her family? Or will she give up?

My opinion of this book is that I did not like the book because I did not know that there was a book before I read Dragon Steel. And that the first book tell the begin of the story. So you should read the first book before you read this one. So read the first book or the book will not make that much cents to you, like what happen to me.

Dragon Steel
Dragon Steel is one of the most excellent books written by Laurence Yep.
I chose this book to read because we had a book assignment and I like stories about Dragons.
The story is about a princess that turns herself in to a dragon so she can get her house back in an under sea world from the evil Civet along with her two sidekicks Thorn and Indigo. Indigo is a girl. It is hard for her to admit that she can make any sort of mistake. Her mother died shortly after they went to the palace and Indigo said it was of heart failure. Then four years later her father died. I don't have anything about Thorn except that he is a boy because it really didn't tell much about him. In the middle of the book Thorn, Indigo, and Princess Shimmer get captured and thrown in the dungeon but the princess is tied up a wall with chains that is made from dragon steel that can't rust or bend because it has a spell on it. Also in the story is Lieutenant who is mean because he said that Indigo should be with her own kind and not with Thorn. Another Character in the story is the Grand Mage who is on the bad side and he tries to take the mirror from Indigo because she might break it and then it would be chaos in the vault.
I thought what magical thing worked the best is Princess Shimmer turning herself in to a dragon. What I thought was weird is Monkey spit on hair from his tail and turned in to many small monkeys. Another thing that I thought was weird is when the flame bird approaches the ocean and the ocean swell swept underneath and put out the fire on the flame bird that had neither flesh nor blood. My favorite part of the story is when Indigo and Thorn became very close to each other like brother and sister.
What surprised me is Indigo became a bit more talkative about her past when she and Thorn were in a storage room near her old home. One more thing that surprised me about Indigo is she became mean when she threatened to take off the paw of the dishwasher with a meat clever who had tried to steal her dinner.
I thought the book turned out to be really good with many surprises.
What I learned from the book is that you can become best friends with your worst enemies and that you have a reason to get mad if someone tries to steal from you.
One of my favorite characters in the book is Monkey because he does many different kinds of magic tricks like turning a needle in to a rod.
To find out if Princess Shimmer is going to save her house and the undersea world you'll have to read the book.

The Sequal
This book is the sequal to Dragon of the lost sea. I Liked this book better than the Dragon of the Lost sea because it had more adventure.I read this book right after the first book. I liked this book and would recomend this to people who like fantisy and adventure books. I thought this book was easy reading and very entertaining.

Best Magic Book Ever!
I just read this book for school and I love it.I think it is the best magic related book out there,Harry Potter is O.K. but I like this book a ton better because it is a fight of what you believe in and Pincess Shimmer trying to restore her home with the help of Thorn and Indigo mainly and Monkey and the Lord.I like how they can change shapes and look like other people and or dragons.FACT-It is the #1 magic book ever!

A book that which will make you stop doing everything!!!
I'm always play game and think that reading is wasting my time, until I met this unique book. Its title is name Dragon Steel. At first I chose this book because it's not really thick and some people said that this fiction book is fantastic! Then I started reading it and realize that... THIS BOOK IS FUN. I liked Dragon Steel because there are many random instant sentences, which I love, and I also will gladly recommend this book to all people. When you read this book, it will be very difficult to put this book downs, this book will make you stop doing everything. I will be waiting for this author's book because his writing is really touching. To me, evil will succeed if good is down. ... Read more

Book Description

"This poignant, gently humorous novel is about prejudice and acceptance....15-year-old Joan Lee is a child of two worlds. As a Chinese American, she has never felt her separateness more than now, in 1927, in this new place in West Virginia. Only Miss Lucy, their landlord and neighbor, seems welcoming....There's nothing coy about Yep's portrait of prejudice, which he sketches from several angles."--Booklist. "A pleasure to read, entertaining its audience even as it educates their hearts."--Horn Book. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

I think this was an excellent novel
This book is about a fifteen year old girl called Joan. She is from Ohio and came to West Virginia to make a new life. When she first came right off the train there were no greetings instead they got bad comments. A lot of people did not treat the Lee's like Americans, although Joan, Bobby, and Emily were born in America. People made fun of the Lee's because they are chinese. Sometimes in the story Joan would compare herself with the star fisher, which is a chinese folk tale. After a pie social, the Lee's start to feel more accepted by more than just a few town members. One thing because they are the first chinese- americans Clarsburg has ever seen doesn't mean that they have any differences, they are still humans they have feelings too.

Discovering Star Fishers even in America
Fifteen-year-old Joan, a Chinese-American girl from Ohio, travels to a rural village in West Virginia in 1927. This daring move makes her family the first Chinese people this town has ever seen. She and her parents immediately discover how odd they are as viwed by prejudiced bums and snobby schoolmates. The Lee family has staked everything on this gamble to unknown territory--without any extended famly to help--where they plan to open a laundry business, as they did in Ohio. Will the townsfolk flock to this new establishment, or continue washing their own dirty shirts?

The first week is a terrible strain on both the parents but especially for Joan, suffering the pangs of teenage acceptance at school and justified rebellion at home. Deeply hurt by rejection from the town in general and a snobby clique at school, Joan feels she just can't fit in, and will never be accepted, although she is praised by her teachers. Then too, she makes a tactical error by befriending a red-headed outcast whose family are Performers! Despite repeated vandalism and hate slogans on their fence, the Lee family refuses to give up and leave. Can a gracious, retired school teacher, with no family of her own, be accepted and adopted by suspicious Chinese parents--who refuse to accept charity from their kind landlady? How far will adults and even their children go to keep from becoming objects of town ridicule or bringing shame upon their family's strict code of honor? We mark Joan's budding maturity, as she recognizes that she is not the only Star Fisher (reference to a Chinese Folktale which is presented in detail) in town. An excellent introduction to culture clash in America.

The Star Fisher - Book Review
"I thought I knew what green was until we went to West Virginia." That's how Star Fisher, by Laurence Yep, starts off. The book is about a Chinese - American family who moves from Ohio to West Virginia in the 1920' s. They start a laundry bussiness, and try to fit in. Joan Lee (the main character) finds new friends and finds a new relationship with her mother.
I thought the book was good. My favorite character is Joan' s sister Emily, because she was funny, smart, and brave. She always says what she feels. Some parts were sad. Like when she gets into a fight with her mother. Although I thought it was sad, their fights drag on and on. Other than that I enjoyed reading The Star Fisher.

The Star Fisher
The one-sentence summary I found in the book is the following: "Fifteen-year-old Joan Lee and her family find the adjustment hard when they move from Ohio to West Virginia in the 1920's." Joan and her family are treated badly by most people, because of their race and also because they are new to that town. Then, Joan's mother bakes an apple pie for a church social. When the other town people find out how good the pie tastes, Mrs. Lee becomes modest and says that she had a good teacher, Miss. Lucy. Because of the apple pie, and Joan's friend's curiosity, the others accept the difference of the Lee's and they treat each other equally.

What a realistic story!
This book let me feel that Chinese are aspiring and adaptable. They are brave to attempt in order to have a better life, starting their business from zero in somewhere they don't know.
The story is about a Chinese-American girl, Joan, moving from Ohio to West Virginia with her family in order to start a bigger successful laundry. At first, they had to face many problems, for instance, they were discriminated because of their eastern appearance. But finally, the problems were solved by the help of Miss Lucy, the owner of their property.
From Joan¡¦s mother, I can see that how a mother love her children. Joan¡¦s mother was a traditional Chinese woman who would never tell her children directly that she loves them.However, she would show it by taking action, such as Joan¡¦s mother didn¡¦t know how to cook and communicate with others in English. Because of the mind of loving her children, she didn¡¦t give up any chance of studying from Miss Lucy, although she felt that it is a shame to be helped by the others.
The story is similar to the experience of Yep's family, the author, which makes me feel that it is realistic, not a story. It deserves to be read. ... Read more

Book Description

When villagers call Cassia and her brother, Foxfire, "the serpent's children," they mean it as an insult. But to Cassia it is an honor, for legend says that once a serpent sets her mind on something, she never gives up. And in a time when famine, drought, and violence mark her family's life, Cassia has nothing less than survival to fight for.

Their father is a revolutionary, determined to free China from invaders. Foxfire, certain he'll find a mountain of gold, flees to a faraway land. Cassia will need all of her strength and wisdom to keep her family together, and to prove that she is truly the serpent's child.

Reviews (1)

Restore the Light
The Serpent's Children is the coming of age story of Cassia, an atypical Chineese girl. She struggles to keep the family together while her father is off fighting the people they call the demons. This book gives insight into what Chineese life was like, on both sides of the ocean. It is a good read, although sometimes a little dry. I enjoyed other books by Laurence Yep more than this one, but it is still a powerful story and one worth reading. ... Read more