Tales from Gold Mountain - Softcover

Yee, Paul

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1554981255 ISBN 13: 9781554981250

Publisher: Groundwood Books, 2011

Synopsis

This collection, by noted historian and children's author Paul Yee, is based on the tumultuous and brave history of Chinese immigrants to North America. Drawing on the real background of the Chinese role in the gold rush, the building of the railway and the settling of the west coast in the nineteenth century, Yee has created eight original stories that combine the rough-and-tumble adventure of frontier life with the rich folk traditions that these immigrants brought from China.
In "Spirits of the Railway," a young man appeases the ghosts of dead Chinese railroad workers who were never properly buried; in "Forbidden Fruit," a father's prejudice prevents his beloved daughter from finding happiness with a man of another race; in "Sons and Daughters," a wealthy merchant finds that his obsession to leave his business to sons has tragic results; and in "The Revenge of the Iron Chink," Chinese salmon cannery workers achieve sweet and shocking revenge after they lose their jobs to an automated canning machine.
These tales are funny, sad, romantic and earthy, but ultimately, as a collection, they reflect the gritty optimism of the Chinese who overcame prejudice and adversity to build a unique place for themselves in North America. Accompanied by stunning and dramatic paintings by award-winning illustrator Simon Ng, this collection is a reminder of the important role the Chinese have played in the history of this continent.

About this title

About the Author:

Paul Yee was born in Spalding, Saskatchewan, and grew up in Vancouver's Chinatown. A former archivist, he now writes full time. His books have won many awards and honors, including the Governor General's Award (Ghost Train), the Ruth Schwartz Award (Ghost Train and Roses Sing on New Snow), and the Canadian Library Association Book of the Year Award (Tales from Gold Mountain). He has won the Vancouver Book Award and been shortlisted for the BC Book Prize, and his books have been named to several lists, including NYPL Books for the Teen Age (Dead Man’s Gold), ALA Notables and Booklist's Top Ten Historical Fiction. Most recently, Paul’s young adult novel Money Boy was named a Stonewall Honor Book and he won the Vicky Metcalf Award for a body of work. Paul lives in Toronto. Simon Ng was born in Brunei and immigrated to Toronto as a teenager. His illustrations have appeared in many North American newspapers and magazines, including the Boston Globe and the New York Times Magazine. His books include Out of the Everywhere: Tales for a New World by Jan Andrews and Tales from Gold Mountain by Paul Yee, which has been named a Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book and the Parent's Choice Honor Book as well as winning the Violet Downey Book Award and the Sheila A. Egoff Children's Book Prize. Simon Ng lives in Toronto.

Review:

· Winner of the IODE National Chapter Award, 1989

· Winner of the IODE Violet Downey Book Award, 1989

· Winner of the Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Award, 1989

· "Ng's cool, brooding full-page paintings have an intense presence that enhances the stories' exotic flavor, and the overall design is elegant. A book not to miss." — Booklist, starred review

· "Handsome format; compelling reading." — Kirkus

· "With its excellent writing and deeply symbolic illustrations, this book is highly recommended." — Rutgers

About this edition

• Publisher: Groundwood Books
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1554981255
• ISBN 13: 9781554981250
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 64
• Illustrator: Ng Simon