Book Review: Historical Fiction
The Earth Dragon Awakens by Laurence Yep (117 pages)
1. Bibliography
Yep, L. (2006). The earth dragon awakes : the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. Harper Collins Publishers.
2. Plot Summary:
In this book you follow the stories of Henry and Chin. Henry is from a wealthy American family and Chin is not. He is a Chinese immigrant and his father being employed by Henry's family. The earthquake and fire of 1906 destroyed both of their homes as it covered a 2,000 acre area. This book is entertaining and to the point. You will leave reading this book knowing more about how the earthquake and fire of 1906 devastated this whole area and reflecting on how Chinese immigrants were treated poorly.
3. Critical Review:
This book is an amazing and interesting way to teach students about the earthquake and subsequent fire in San Francisco in 1906. This book is written and presented in a very digestible way. With the chapter title of time and place, the reader is able to follow along chronologically. There are facts interspersed along with a fictional story making it feel almost as if it is of a nonfiction account. The way the author portrays the perspectives from different people of different socioeconomic levels, you see that this event was an unexpected and unimaginable tragedy to all. Saying this is a piece of historical fiction in undeniable.
4. Review Excerpt/s:
Newbery Medal Honor Book
Texas Bluebonnet Award
"It is notable especially for the attention paid to the experience of San Francisco’s Chinese immigrants, and a good choice for reluctant readers." (Historical fiction. 8-12) - Kirkus Reviews
5. Connections:
A related website to explore when reading this book: Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco - 1906 Earthquake and Fire
http://www.sfmuseum.org/1906/06.html
Read alongside the book: You Are There: San Francisco 1906 by Kenneth C.H. Walsh
Book Review by Barbara Jean Thompson.
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