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The Paper Daughters of Chinatown

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The Paper Daughters of Chinatown

By: Heather B. Moore
Narrated by: Nancy Wu
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About this listen

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.

©2020 Heather B. Moore (P)2020 Shadow Mountain Biographical Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction United States Women's Fiction World Literature Biography China China Town
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I learned a lot about the history of the Chinese in America The suffering of the children and women was appalling
I did not enjoy this narration unfortunately and this brought down my enjoyment of the book

Enlightening story

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Enjoyed the story but the narration grated on me with bad accents and emphasis on words.

Good story terrible narration

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Actually really loved this book. Found the narrators voice a bit annoying and her accents not so good at first. Got used to it as I became immersed in the story. Lovely well fleshed out characters. Donaldina, the main character was an amazing woman. You could see it all from her perspective and feel her love and compassion for "her daughters".

Exceptional Read

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I love historical novels where you feel like you actually learn about the subject matter, and this book delivers. The information seems well researched and the characters are brought to life. It is a horrifying part of US history, approached with care and compassion. Well worth the listen.

An almost forgotten part of history

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We follow an Inspiring woman through turbulent times…I knew nothing about the sex slave trade of young Chinese girls into Sam Francisco in the late 19th C before

I love a true and inspiring story in historical fiction format

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Interesting story that keeps you listening, but tends to ram home Christian conversion morality with the subtlety of a sledgehammer.
Perhaps this is accentuated by the narration, which is appalling. It is like being read to by a kindergarten teacher who wants to make sure you understand how important the story is. Awful accents as others have said.

Enjoyable story, painful narration

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It opened my eyes to the world that I would never thought existed essentially in US. Beautiful writing although it was sad and difficult to listen. Good performance other than the Irish accent.

A sad, well written story

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The story of life in downtown San Francisco during these violent times is well written and well told but it is ruined by the overt christian propaganda. And if the author thinks that coercing Chinese people to convert to christianity or else they are not allowed to marry is a good thing, I don't. I think it is utterly unethical. It's a pity plugging the faith is so heavy handed that it spoils the book.

A story sadly spoiled

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