Review: The Paper Daughters of Chinatown by Heather B. Moore

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

A powerful story based on true events surrounding Donaldina Cameron and other brave women who fought to help Chinese-American women escape discrimination and slavery in the late 19th century in California.

When Donaldina Cameron arrives at the Occidental Mission Home for Girls in 1895, she intends to teach sewing skills to young Chinese women immigrants, but, within days, she discovers that the job is much more complicated than perfect stitches and even hems. San Francisco has a dark side, one where a powerful underground organization--the criminal tong--brings Chinese young women to America to sell them as slaves. With the help of Chinese interpreters and the Chinatown police squad, Donaldina becomes a tireless social reformer to stop the abominable slave and prostitution trade.

Mei Lien believes she is sailing to the "Gold Mountain" in America to become the wife of a rich Chinese man. Instead she finds herself sold into prostitution--beaten, starved, and forced into an opium addiction. It is only after a narrow escape that she hears of the mission home and dares to think there might be hope for a new life.

My Review

This is a review I should have written ages ago, but it's been intimidating to find the words to encompass how I felt while reading the book. I'm filled with admiration for Donaldina Cameron and those she worked with. The impact of the book was even greater for me because she was a real person and this account is meticulously researched, while still reading as easily as a novel. The author explores beyond the heroism of Donaldina- we see the humanity and reality and struggles and flaws and choices. The evil she confronts and fights against is unimaginable, but was all too real in our history- and sadly continues to this day. Through the trials and difficulties of the home and the girls in it, the overarching feeling of hope brought light and reassurance that they were making a significant and priceless difference. It was so heartwarming to read and think about the influence Donaldina had on generations to follow. This book is perfect for fans of both historical fiction and real historical accounts, and would make a wonderful book club featured book. I can't recommend it highly enough. It stayed with me for weeks after finishing it!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.