Dragon's Gate (Golden Mountain Chronicles, 1867)

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Summary: GREAT BOOK !
Review: I read this book last year. It's a very sweetand funny book. I do recomend this book for all ages!

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Summary: Dragon's Gate---A Book on the Dreams of a boy of China
Review: I really enjoyed this book. It's great. The characters are made almost real, and it does sound just like some people to give no credit to the people who are really behind some of the greatest things in Amerida, in this case, the Chinese's work on the railroad. I think it's outrageous how they were cheated out of less pay than the westerners when they were doing the dirty work. Another point is that the Chinese didn't stick up for themselves after their first strike. I sure wish they had, but I know that those people were intimidating. A great book. You've got to read it. If you don't want to buy it, get it from the library. They'll have it. Ours did, and our library isn't very big.

Rating:
Summary: Otter Vs. The Tiger
Review: Ok, I have to admit, I found this book to be incredibly boring but that's probably because I'm mostly a sci-fi/fantasy fan and I had to read it for school. It's not that I don't like historical fiction--I love it!--it's just that I only love certain time periods, such as the American Revolution, and the Elizabethan Era, and...this just doesn't appeal to me. If it had been about a boy fighting in the Civil War, I'm sure I would have liked it more, because the author had a easy to follow writing style, and found ways to add a little humor here and there. One thing I can say about this book is the description were very powerful. I was cold throughout the entire book, and I probably have a new found appreciation for the workers, but there's something about being required to write a essay/report that makes it impossible for me to like a book, and because I didn't like the overall plot and characters, I have to give this book 3 stars. Don't think it was a bad book, because it really wasn't, just stay away from it if you're someone like me! Happy readings!

Rating:
Summary: Look out sci-fi/fantasy fans...
Review: Ok, I have to admit, I found this book to be incredibly boring but that's probably because I'm mostly a sci-fi/fantasy fan and I had to read it for school. It's not that I don't like historical fiction--I love it!--it's just that I only love certain time periods, such as the American Revolution, and the Elizabethan Era, and...this just doesn't appeal to me. If it had been about a boy fighting in the Civil War, I'm sure I would have liked it more, because the author had a easy to follow writing style, and found ways to add a little humor here and there. One thing I can say about this book is the description were very powerful. I was cold throughout the entire book, and I probably have a new found appreciation for the workers, but there's something about being required to write a essay/report that makes it impossible for me to like a book, and because I didn't like the overall plot and characters, I have to give this book 3 stars. Don't think it was a bad book, because it really wasn't, just stay away from it if you're someone like me! Happy readings!

Rating:
Summary: A book with descriptive and graphic details
Review: This book illustrates the struggle that Otter, a Chinese boy goes through in America, mining the Appalatian mountains during the Civil War. This book is very graphic, shows great emotions, and goes where no book has gone. Yep shows his literary talent in this book

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Summary: A boy wants to conquer the Land of the Golden Mountain
Review: This book is SOOOOOOO neat!!! Besides being a Trophy Newberry Honor award, it was beautifully written. I recomend this book and also the sequel Dragonwings. It was also like this!!!

Rating:
Summary: Very discriptive and well written.
Review: This book was sad and made me cry at the end. At oter parts it made me smile

Rating:
Summary: An OK book, not the best for this author
Review: This is quite an adventure book, but it has crude humor and the adventure is, well, boring. The beginning got you into it, but at the end Yep slacked off. An excellent book, along with cons.

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Summary: Dragon's Gate by Laurence Yep
Review: This truly excellent book, Dragon's Gate by Laurence Yep, is a magnificently written book that most certainly deserves a five star rating. In this adventure filled-book, Otter, a boy from the Middle Kingdom, China, is forced to join his father, Squeaky, and his Uncle Foxfire in America, the Land of the Golden Mountain. Back in China, Otter's father and uncle were always beheld as heros and legends, but Otter soon learns the truth that Squeaky and Foxfire are no greater than the rest of the Chinese laborers working on the enormous task of completing the transcontinental railroad. To make matters worse, Otter has barely any friends, he gains no respect from the other workers, and has had no expirience with physical labor before in his life. In his time of need Otter's own uncle deserts him and refuses to help him in any way.
The headman of this massive project is an almost heartless man named Kilroy. Kilroy pushes the Chinese workers to exaustion and gives them a measly amount of supplies. When Otter's father is blinded by an accident on the job, Otter forces himself to work harder and help out more. Eventually Otter gains more friends, he earns respect from his fellow workers and also ajusts to the backbreaking work that he and the other workers have to do.
In the end, Otter and his uncle take on a mission that will determine the fate of the entire camp and change Otter's life forever in a way that Otter will never forget.
If you like to read adventure-filled, action-packed, stupendously written books, Dragon's Gate by Laurence Yep is the perfect book for you!

Rating:
Summary: The railroad to freedom
Review: This was an excellent book because the author explained the characters and the scenery very well. Even the minor characters were interesting, even though they were not that important in the book. The main character fled from China and joined members of his family in America because he thought it would help free his people from the Manchuu's. It also has a good dose of Chinese history in the Ming Dynasty. We learned a lot about the differences in wages and working hours between the Chinese and the Americans working on the Trans-Continental Railroad. We learned a lot about the tools and equipment that the workers used on the railroad. It was amazingly dangerous work. We would like to know more about what happened to the characters after the book ends. -- Newton Boys Book Circle