The Journal of Wong Ming-Chung: A Chinese Miner, California, 1852 (My Name is America) (Hardcover)

by Laurence Yep (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
It is 1852, and 10-year-old Wong Ming-Chung, or Bright Intelligence--or Runt, as he is most commonly called--has arrived at the gold mines of California after a dangerous journey from China. Exchanging the famine and war of his native country for the brutal bullies and grueling labor in America, Runt joins his uncle and countless others in the effort to strike it rich on the great "Golden Mountain." Unfortunately, he, and most of the rest of the dreamers, soon discover that there's no such thing as a Golden Mountain, only dirt, mud, and tiny, occasional flecks of gold dust--flecks that are to be turned over to the owners of the mines, in return for barely livable wages. However, someone as clever and resourceful as Runt can still find true opportunity in this land. He and his uncle team up to find ingenious new ways of making money, and to defend themselves against the bitter, racist white Americans. Along the way, Runt develops lasting friendships with many people from all over the world, learning ways to communicate with them in spite of cultural and language differences.

A thoroughly engrossing addition to the Dear America series, this historical fiction is written in the form of a diary. Laurence Yep has proven himself a master in his art, with such titles as the Newbery Honor-winning Dragonwings, among many other tales about the Chinese immigrant experience. A fictional epilogue, photos from the gold rush era, and a historical note round out this fascinating page-turner. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter

From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8-Through his diary, a 12-year-old Chinese boy nicknamed "Runt" shares his thoughts, fears, insecurities, and adventures. When Runt's older brother, Blessing, is summoned to California by his uncle, his parents choose to send their younger son instead. Runt learns the hard way that although the Golden Mountain brings the promise of prosperity to his family in China, it also brings hardship, racism, and even death to the "guests" mining for gold. Despite the many difficulties that he is exposed to, however, Runt always has a positive outlook on life. The engrossing story involves readers from start to finish. Yep deals with timely issues, including racism, bullying, and trying to find self-worth. A historical note about the Gold Rush and black-and-white photos and illustrations of actual Chinese miners are appended. An engaging book with strong characters that successfully weaves fact with fiction.
Mercedes Smith, Bishop Kenny High School, Jacksonville, FL
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 219 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Inc. (April 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590386077
• ISBN-13: 978-0590386074
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #459,064 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This item is part of The My Name Is America Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating fictional account of the Gold Rush., August 7, 2000

By	Rebecca Herman (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Young Bright Intelligance (who's usually called Runt because of his small size) and his family live in grueling poverty in rural China in 1851. Hoping to make a name for himself and earn a fortune, Runt's uncle sets out for the gold fields of California. Soon, Runt joins him. He is horrified by barely endurable conditions on the ocean voyage and by the cruelty with which the American miners treat the Chinese. And he soon learns that mining is mostly working long, hard hours for just a small ammount of gold. And the predjudice of the Americans soon escalates into violence. Still, through it all, Runt holds on to his hope of discovering gold and earning a better life for his family. Told through Runt's diary, this book showed what a young immigrant miner in California during the gold rush might have seen, encountered, thought, and felt. An excellant addition to the My Name is America series.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent way to learn about California history., April 2, 2000

By A Customer

I loved this book. It allows the reader to live through the gold rush. It would be especially appropiate for fourth graders studying California history and Chinese immigration. I highly recommend it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars DanielKimP3, June 4, 2002

By	DanielKimP3 (Cerritos, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This book is about a little boy who wrote in a journal about his life. He started off in China with all his family. Then his uncle left to went to America to become rich and also to make his family rich because they thought he was bad luck. His uncle sends for him to America, so he goes and starts to mine. They don't find much until they start to find gold on the floors of old shacks that were abandoned by miners that thought that the golddust that they left on the floor wasn't very important. Then the gold started to become scarce and the golddust was actually worth something when there was alot of it.
This book was very good because it tells how a boy survived in the time where almost everything was a little bit harder. The words in this book are very well understandable. The book is simple and it explains everything very plainy that helps the reader to understand. The words in the book help the reader to know what the author is trying to tell them.
My favorite part in the book was when uncle and runt go to the old shacks and find the golddust. I like this part because it shows when someone actually finds some kind of gold. How they find the gold is very interesting. How the sun sparkles off the cabin floor and makes the gold shine. This lights up the whole cabin and blinds uncle and runt. They become rich and send alot of money home.