4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A reminder of the past and a teacher for the future, August 6, 2008
In 1922, 10-year-old Gim Lew Yep lives in a small village in southern China. His family owns a rice farm, but it doesn't produce nearly enough money to support them. So Gim Lew's father and older brothers work in other parts of the world and send money home. Gim Lew barely knows his Chinese-American father; he has only met him once, which was the last time his father came home for a visit from San Francisco, two years ago. But then the family receives a letter announcing that his father is coming home again. Usually, he waits approximately seven years in between visits, so they suspect he has a big announcement to make. Gim Lew works extra hard on correcting his stuttering and using his right hand instead of his more natural left to please this man he doesn't know.
When Gim Lew's father finally arrives back home in China, the family hosts a huge celebration with a feast and gifts. But the celebratory feelings quickly die off when they learn the motivation behind his early return: He wants Gim Lew to come back to America with him to work. Everyone knew it would happen eventually, but they didn't think it would come to fruition until Gim Lew had grown older. But new immigration rules forming would make entrance to America even more difficult, so he wanted to get him in while he still could. Gim Lew bids farewell to his mother, sister and homeland, with doubts of ever seeing them again.
Gim Lew and his father board a ship bound for America. While packed tightly in the bowels of the ship, Gim Lew gets to know his father while they study for the exam that awaits them. Immigration officials intensely interrogate each returning Chinese American to confirm that he is indeed the same fellow who left. As a son, Gim Lew will undergo the same test. If he fails, then he will be returned to China, sodden in shame. Gim Lew studies hard and focuses on improving his stuttering. He refuses to be a disgrace to his family. Slowly, he begins to accept having to leave China and starts looking forward to the adventure that awaits him.
Laurence Yep has written over 60 books for young people, winning many awards along the way. His newest story is historical fiction based on his own ancestors --- Gim Lew is the author's father. Much of his research came from the immigration records used to test the returning Chinese Americans. Yep has done a brilliant job weaving fact and fiction into this poignant story. He brings to life the harsh treatment these people had to undergo just to be a part of both their Chinese and American worlds.
As Yep writes in his Author's Note, "...historical fiction is more than a record of dates and statistics: it should be a dialogue with the dead." He also has a vivid grasp of description, bringing his pages to life ("I loved to watch the crops grow and ripen until the land was covered by a living green fur. Then, when the water was drained away, the fur turned a beautiful gold. And when the wind blew, it was like a giant hand stroking a lion.").
THE DRAGON'S CHILD is more than just an entertaining story. It is a reminder of the past and a teacher for the future.
--- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman, author of FINDING MY LIGHT and THE BLACK POND
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
"Dragon's Child" is Okay, December 7, 2008
"The Dragon's Child" by Laurence Yep is a historical story that's based on true things that happened to the author's grandfather when he was 9 years old. He went with his father to America on a ship and to get into America back then if you were Chinese you had to pass a test on this place called Angel Island. So the kid is really worried about getting ready to take the test.
Some good things about the book are how the boy and his father get to know each other and start to like each other even though the father has been away for the boy's whole life. Plus there is some really good historical stuff if you want to learn about history.
The bad thing about the book is that it isn't all that exciting even though it's kind of interesting. This would be a good book for teachers to make their students read to learn about history, but it might be too boring for most kids to want to read on their own.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Historical Fiction at Its Best, October 14, 2008
The Dragon's Child is another great book for young people by award winning author, Laurence Yep. This book is historical fiction based on his own family, Gim Lew being his father. Yep did an awesome job building this novel, basing the story on facts such as the harsh treatment Chinese Americans had to endure while they tried to hold onto traditions of their homeland while fitting into American culture.
While The Dragon's Child is an entertaining story, it is also education at it's best.
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