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Escape to Gold Mountain: A Graphic History of the Chinese in North America
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About Escape To Gold Mountain: A Graphic History Of The
Product Description This is a vivid graphic history of the Chinese experience in North America over the last 150 years, beginning with the immigration of Chinese to "Gold Mountain" (the Chinese colloquialism for North America) in the 1800s that resulted in decades of discrimination, subjugation, and separation from loved ones. Based on historical documents and interviews with elders, the book is also the epic story of the Wong family as they traverse these challenges with hope and determination, creating an immigrant's legacy in their new home of North America. David H.T. Wong is an architect and historian. From Booklist The tortuous path to assimilation taken by Chinese immigrants to North America over the last 150 years is movingly depicted in this graphic novel relating the story of the fictional but representative Wong family. The saga begins in 1845 when Wong Ah Gin stows away on a ship bound for San Francisco. Other Chinese, including members of the Wong clan, follow in his tracks to work on the Transcontinental Railroad; but once that’s completed they’re seen as economic competitors, leading to the racist Chinese Exclusion Act, which prompts many to move to Canada or elsewhere (Ah Gin heads for China, where he teaches English to Sun Yat Sen). The story follows subsequent Wong generations as they work in fisheries, open restaurants, fight in WWII, and become lawyers and physicians. Some readers might find the rough-hewn drawings and one-dimensional characterizations unnuanced, but the directness will appeal to teens who are likely to be unfamiliar with the history. While the work may be artistically blunt, it resoundingly succeeds as an educational and inspirational effort. Grades 8-12. --Gordon Flagg Review "Eloquent, lyrical black-and-gray panels that conjure the environment and living conditions as well as the people." ― Library Journal "The author's panel work makes an at-times painful history easily read [. . .] The comic is really a jumping-off point for those interested in the subject matter -- the epic research that Wong put towards the book made for enough bibliography and reading resources to launch a thousand syllabi, or at least a sense that an important portion of history may have been missing from your childhood textbooks." - The San Francisco Bay Guardian "This book is an excellent introduction to the complex issue of Chinese immigration as told from the Chinese point of view." ― Seattle Post-Intelligencer "Wong proves that pictures can indeed hold thousands (and thousands!) of words, capturing 200+ years of history in as many pages; he also includes a 'Chinglish' glossary, a timeline that overlaps China and Gam Saan, maps, extensive notes, and a thorough bibliography." ― Book Dragon blog from the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center " Escape to Gold Mountain is forgotten history, and all the more important for teen readers in particular, because it has been so overlooked. Wong does a solid job of bringing his characters to life and making the narrative both informative and emotional ... As a fan of both American and Canadian history, I found this graphic novel compelling and perfectly suited for the illustrated form." ― Bookslut "This is a moving book that deserves to be read." ― VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates) Magazine "Eloquent, lyrical black-and-gray panels that conjure the environment and living conditions as well as the people." Library Journal "The author's panel work makes an at-times painful history easily read [. . .] The comic is really a jumping-off point for those interested in the subject matter -- the epic research that Wong put towards the book made for enough bibliography and reading resources to launch a thousand syllabi, or at least a sense that an important portion of history may have been missing from your childhood textbooks." - The San Francisco Bay Guardian "This book is an excellent introduction to the complex issue of Chinese immigration as told
