The Paper Daughters of Chinatown by Heather B. Moore

This is review 2 of 2; please read review 1 first.

This was recommended to me by Kym Powe of the CT State Library two years ago.  At the time, it was available as an ebook only.  I much prefer physical books, so when I saw this available as a hard cover from our vendor, I put it on our wish list for this school year.  

This is a fictionalized account of the life of Donaldina Cameron.  Cameron worked to save trafficked Chinese girls in late 19th century San Francisco.  Called "paper daughters" because their paperwork was falsified for entry into the United States, these girls were sold in servitude, often prostitution.  The novel is just a brief chunk of Cameron's life told through the lens of just one of the girls she saved.

This isn't an easy read.  It's history, and does not paint many in a good light.  But, it is a piece of history often left out of our textbooks and discussions.  

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.