Scan barcode
mrsbond's review against another edition
3.0
Tale of two brothers who leave famine in China to work on the railroad in San Francisco. Provides a glimpse into the hard work and danger involved in building a railroad. The harsh treatment of workers and their protest is also mentioned. Beautiful illustrations depict the people and landscape. Author's note; Bibliography.
eirenophile's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. First, and inescapably, what great illustrations. They lent both a sense of isolation, vastness, intimacy, solidarity, and concreteness to a story that demanded all these things and yet could easily have failed to provide them. Second, this story was stark and unflinchingly real but still accessible because it was framed as the memory of a family's history. I think this is truly exceptional in a book about American history, about Asian American history, and about racism (which too often lose their place in feel good progress narratives or, more rarely, impersonal realism). I do not know, though, whether this story, in all its length and its lack of some key tropes, would really be a kid favorite (and not having kids, can't test this). Nevertheless, it is a really good one.
watkins's review against another edition
3.0
This book is about two brothers who left China for America in 1865. They go to work on the intercontinental railroad. It has detailed pictures that present the treatment of the Chinese railroad workers and the conditions in which they worked. It's a good historical fiction that tells the story of a lesser-known part of American history.
Themes -- Immigration, racism
This would be a good addition to American history.
Themes -- Immigration, racism
This would be a good addition to American history.
lara_lleverino's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully illustrated picture book about the Chinese laborers of the transcontinental railroad in the US. The brutal treatment two brothers received is juxtaposed by their love and care for each other.
wordnerd153's review against another edition
3.0
Engrossing account of how Chinese immigrants helped build the railroads. Lots of text, so better for upper elementary and middle school readers.
pussreboots's review against another edition
2.0
Coolies by Yin is about two brothers who leave China and arrive in California to seek a better life. The only work available is on the transcontinental railroad. They face hardship, danger, poor working and living conditions and mistreatment by the Americans.
The vibrant watercolor illustrations make up the best part of the book. By themselves they paint the story of the Chinese who built the railroads and the terrible sacrifices they made in the process.
The story of Shek and Little Wong would stand alone fine but it's framed with a modern day scene where a child asks her mother or grandmother (I forget exactly) a grumpy question about a shrine set up to honor the ancestors. This part of the book feels forced and weakens the poignancy of Shek and Wong's story.
The vibrant watercolor illustrations make up the best part of the book. By themselves they paint the story of the Chinese who built the railroads and the terrible sacrifices they made in the process.
The story of Shek and Little Wong would stand alone fine but it's framed with a modern day scene where a child asks her mother or grandmother (I forget exactly) a grumpy question about a shrine set up to honor the ancestors. This part of the book feels forced and weakens the poignancy of Shek and Wong's story.
More...