Book: Dragonwings (1975)
Author: Laurence Yep
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: MG, Historical [1900s]
Newbery Honor Book (1976)
Opening Lines of the Book…
Ever since I can remember, I had wanted to know about the Land of the Golden Mountain, but my mother had never wanted to talk about it. All I knew was that a few months before I was born, my father had left our home in the Middle Kingdom, or China, as the white demons call it, and traveled over the sea to work in the demon land.
MY THOUGHTS…
Dragonwings is the story of a young Chinese boy who comes over to live with his father, leaving his mother in China (which is how it worked at the turn of the 20th century). I did find the beginning part a little slow, especially as Moon Shadow navigates through the laundry with all his “uncles.” However, the pace picked up once he and his father moved to work for Miss Whitlaw. I think this is partly because of Miss Whitlaw’s niece, Robin (who happens to be the same age as Moon Shadow). I loved their interactions, as Miss Whitlaw and Robin share what it’s like to be American, AND Moon Shadow shares his own Chinese culture to them!
Also, very interesting, is the part where Moon Shadow’s dad writes to the Wright Brothers about building his own flying machine. And Orville Wright writes back! Everything comes to a dramatic head with the 1906 earthquake that hits San Francisco.
NEWBERY VERDICT…
While it took a little time to get into the story, I really did enjoy this book! I loved the history. And it’s great to see a book from the perspective of a Chinese immigrant written in 1975!
YOUR TURN…
Have you read this book? What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments!
Newbery Verdict Reading Challenge: This is a personal challenge for me to read books that have either won the Newbery Medal or are a Newbery Honor book. The Newbery is named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery. Since 1922, this annual award has given to the author of the “most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.” A Newbery Honor book is given to the runners-up. (Note: This year is the 100th Anniversary of the Award!)
Note: I’m posting this for Greg Pattridge’s Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday…