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Ten original ghost stories by Paul Yee dramatize the history of Chinese immigration to North America, from poor villagers who first came searching for gold in the late 1850s to new arrivals from Hong Kong. Told in the style of traditional Chinese folktales, they are illustrated with moody, abstract drawings by Harvey Chan. In the title story, two friends seek gold, but the precious metal brings riches to one man and a curse to the other. In "Seawall Sightings," young lovers kept apart by immigration laws have a tragic reunion. In "Reunited," a spoiled teenage boy leaves Hong Kong for North America, only to find that his new life is not the glamorous one he had been expecting. The stories describe the struggles, dreams, and resilience of people making new lives for themselves in a strange land, while retaining strong links to China and the past. In keeping with authentic Chinese ghost stories, wherever they go, the immigrants are followed by the curse of a friend, the ghost of a faithful spouse, or the spirit of a dead parent.
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.
Summary
These ten original ghost stories dramatize the history of Chinese immigration to North America -- from the poor village men who first came searching for gold in the late 1850s to the new immigrants who arrived from Hong Kong in the wake of the Cultural Revolution. These stories describe the resilience and struggle of people trying to make new lives for themselves in a strange land. But these are also ghost stories, a popular narrative form in China. Though men and women seek their fortune in the New World, the links to China are strong.
Wherever they go, the Chinese immigrants are reminded of their home country -- the curse of a friend betrayed, the ghost of a faithful spouse, the spirit of a dead parent. The tales describe the plights and dreams of men and women, rich and poor, greedy and good, young and old. Together, they tell the tumultuous story of 140 years of Chinese immigration to North America, creating a New World mythology of immigrant stories.
