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Junior Library Guild
Gold Standard
Gold Mountain
Growing up in 1860s China, Tam Ling Fan has lived a life of comfort. Her father is wealthy enough to provide for his family but unconventional enough to spare Ling Fan from the debilitating foot-binding required of most well-off girls. But Ling Fan’s life is upended when her brother dies of influenza and their father is imprisoned under false accusations. Hoping to earn the money that will secure her father’s release, Ling Fan disguises herself as a boy and takes her brother’s contract to work for the Central Pacific Railroad Company in America.
Life on “the Gold Mountain” is grueling and dangerous. To build the railroad that will connect the west coast to the east, Ling Fan and other Chinese laborers lay track and blast tunnels through the treacherous peaks of the Sierra Nevada, facing cave-ins, avalanches, and blizzards―along with hostility from white Americans.
When someone threatens to expose Ling Fan’s secret, she must take an even greater risk to save what’s left of her family . . . and to escape the Gold Mountain alive.
Praise
“An exceptionally told story that will satisfy readers of history, mystery, and adventure while providing food for thought.”
–BOOKLIST, starred review
“A thought-provoking adventure that adds more nuance and complexity to the history of the building of the transcontinental railroad.”
–SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
“In a world conditioned to see everything in black and white, Yee challenges readers to see the nuance of life, especially when it comes to the motives of other people. Perfect for fans of Jamie Ford and Stacey Lee, this young adult novel is highly recommended for teens and adults alike.”
–HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY, editor’s pick of the month
“Ling Fan felt like my indomitable best friend—I was rooting for her as she faced impossible stakes and truly terrifying villainy. I loved this book!”
—Karen Bao, author of THE DOVE CHRONICLES
“Gold Mountain is the unforgettable tale of Tam Ling Fan: a story of strength, courage, and resilience that not only brings the past to vivid, complex life, but has much to say about the present. Set within the perilous world of nineteenth-century Chinese sojourners building the Transcontinental Railroad, Ling Fan’s journey is thrilling, engrossing, and moving. I couldn’t put it down.”
—Kate Racculia, author of TUESDAY MOONEY TALKS TO GHOSTS
“An adventure-filled glimpse into history through the eyes of a determined daughter.”
—Kirkus review
