The Case of the Goblin Pearls (Chinatown Mystery , No 1) (Paperback)

by Laurence Yep (Author), Nicholas Krenitsky (Illustrator) "Though Chinese New Year was a month away, kids had already begun setting off firecrackers..." (more)
Key Phrases: ugly blouse, real pearls, mop handle, Tiger Lil, Lion Salve, New Year (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Yep (The Khan's Daughter, reviewed above) is off to a roaring start with this launch to a mystery series set in San Francisco's Chinatown. As it begins, 12-year-old Lily's glamorous great-aunt ("Tiger Lil") comes to visit from Hollywood. A whirlwind of energy, the 60-something former film star ropes Lily and her family and friends into helping with a float she's been hired to organize for the Chinese New Year parade. In the process, Lily learns a great deal about her personal and cultural heritage, and she and her "auntie" help unravel an insurance scam involving a stolen pearl necklace, as well as uncover a sweatshop operation at which the mother of one of Lily's school friends is haplessly employed. Snappy dialogue, realistic characterizations and a plot with lots of action keep the pages turning, and the layers of social relevance (the sweatshop story line; Lily's growing realization of the complexities of her Chinese heritage) add substance. Readers will look forward to more installments featuring this spunky heroine-not to mention her wisecracking auntie. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal
Grade 4-8. Lily's Auntie Tiger Lil comes to stay with the girl's family while organizing a float for the Chinese New Year's parade in San Francisco. A street gang called the Powell Street Boys threatens to disrupt the parade and steal the "Goblin Pearls" worn by Miss Lion Salve, and so sets the scene for the suspense. Although too many characters are introduced and not fully developed, this first title in a new series has real possibilities. The two heroines, Tiger Lil, a fading Hollywood star, and her niece and namesake, Lily, carry the story. The mystery involves the pearls, Chinatown, and a local sweatshop called "Happy Fortune." The bad guys aren't obvious right off the bat, but clue follows clue as events unfold and even though Lily doesn't intend to get involved, she is the one who pieces the truth together. There is a lot of culturally specific material nicely introduced as Lily discovers her heritage and makes connections at the same time that readers do. Some of the unfairness of the sweatshop seems overly dramatized, especially when the workers are so kind as to share their nearly nonexistent wages with a stranger. But there are some nice touches, such as tidbits left hanging in the air for youngsters to puzzle over before being explained. With enough fun and intrigue to keep the pages turning, this is a worthwhile series title.?Carol A. Edwards, Minneapolis Public Library
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (January 3, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064405524
• ISBN-13: 978-0064405522
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,137,065 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Life in China Town and a Mystery about Goblin Pearls, January 5, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Case of the Goblin Pearls (Chinatown) (Hardcover)

The Case of the Goblin Pearls by Laurence Yep is an exiting, well-written, fast-paced book that draws the reader into an intricate plot. Lily, a 12-year-old Chinese American girl, is drawn into a mystery when her great aunt, a famous old movie star, comes to plan a float in the New Years parade. The Goblin Pearls, famous for their size, are stolen during the New Years parade and it is up to Lily and her great aunt to solve the mystery. Meanwhile, Lily discovers what life can be like for a poor family from China who desperately need money while she makes a new, unexpected friend. I would recommend this book because it is exiting and teaches you about Chinese immigrants. This book gets really exiting when Lily finds one of the pearls that came off the chain. She is in a restaurant and she wanders to the ladies room down a dark hall. No one knows she is there. She has just entered the stall when the lights go out. In the following scene, a mysterious person tries to kidnap her and get back the pearl. In the less fictional aspect, Lily makes friends with an immigrant girl from China. She lives with her mother and siblings. They are very poor and the mother has not been paid for three months. Altogether, this book rounds up excitement, mystery and truth in one. This is why I recommend it. Some people might not agree that the book is very informative about Chinese-American culture. They might think this because the book is mostly a mystery. I still believe though that the book tells a lot about what life is like for poor Chinese immigrants. It also tells about some rich Chinese in America. Not only does the reader learn about Chinese Americans and China Town, but they also learn about different of Chinese that is spoken. So if you enjoy a mystery while learning, this is a great book for you.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Filling a gap in Asian American lit, December 16, 1999

By	Noah H-D (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

While this book is far from being one of Yep's best works, it is a very important book and not a bad read at all. While focusing on the mystery at hand, Yep includes many details and authentic attributes of Chinese American culture. With so few books of varying genre available by minority authors, this is a great one to read.

3.0 out of 5 stars The Goblin Pearls are stolen and Lily has to find them., November 29, 1998

By A Customer

The plot line of the story is that the ancient Goblon Pearls are stolen at the parade and it is up to Lily to find out who stole them. I personally thought this book was too short and didn't be very descriptive.