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The Paper Daughters of Chinatown: Adapted for Young Readers from the Best-selling Novel | Historical Fiction Hardcover – April 11, 2023
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When Tai Choi leaves her home in the Zhejiang province of China, she believes it’s to visit her grandmother. But despite her mother’s opposition, her father has sold her to pay his gambling debts. Alone and afraid, Tai Choi is put on a ship headed for “Gold Mountain” (San Francisco). When she arrives, she’s forced to go by the name on her forged papers: Tien Fu Wu.
Her new life as a servant is hard. She is told to stay hidden, stay silent, and perform an endless list of chores, or she will be punished or sold again. If she is to survive, Tien Fu must persevere, and learn who to trust. Her life changes when she’s rescued by the women at the Occidental Mission Home for Girls.
When Dolly Cameron arrives in San Francisco to teach sewing at the mission home, she meets Tien Fu, who is willful, defiant, and unwilling to trust anyone. Dolly quickly learns that all the girls at the home were freed from servitude and maltreatment, and enthusiastically accepts a role in rescuing more.
Despite challenges, Dolly and Tien Fu forge a powerful friendship as they mentor and help those in the mission home and work to win the freedom of enslaved immigrant women and girls.
- Reading age12+ years, from customers
- Print length240 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade levelKindergarten - 6
- Dimensions5.8 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
- PublisherShadow Mountain
- Publication dateApril 11, 2023
- ISBN-101639930949
- ISBN-13978-1639930944
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From the Publisher
Editorial Reviews
Review
From the adult edition: “Recommend to fans of compelling, character-driven historical fiction inspired by true events, such as Lisa Wingate's Before We Were Yours (2017). YAs will be drawn to the dramatic stories of the young Chinese women brought to America.” ―Booklist, starred review
“Despite the disturbing subject matter, meticulously researched book is unputdownable. The book is as much a history lesson about a shameful piece of American history as it is a glimpse into the life of a heroine whose legacy lives on today: the mission home is still in existence, renamed the Donaldina Cameron House. Readers will come to care about all the women featured in the book and will marvel at the extraordinary accomplishments of a determined woman ahead of her time. Based on true events...Fascinating.” ―Historical Novel Society
“Many readers will find Dolly's bravery and commitment to her faith inspirational, and Moore's impressively detailed research makes this a good introduction to this often neglected chapter in American history.” --―Library Journal
About the Author
Allison Hong Merrill was born and raised in Taiwan and came to the US at twenty-two as a university student. She holds an MFA in writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts and writes both fiction and creative nonfiction in both Chinese and English. Her work has won both national and international literary awards.
Product details
- Publisher : Shadow Mountain
- Publication date : April 11, 2023
- Language : English
- Print length : 240 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1639930949
- ISBN-13 : 978-1639930944
- Item Weight : 12.8 ounces
- Reading age : 12+ years, from customers
- Dimensions : 5.8 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
- Grade level : Kindergarten - 6
- Best Sellers Rank: #171,584 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #155 in Children's Books on Prejudice & Racism
- #181 in Children's 1800s American Historical Fiction
- #4,246 in Children's Friendship Books
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors

Heather B. Moore is a USA Today bestselling author of more than ninety publications. Heather writes primarily historical and #herstory fiction about the humanity and heroism of the everyday person. Publishing in a breadth of genres, Heather dives into the hearts and souls of her characters, meshing her love of research with her love of storytelling.
Her ancient era historicals and thrillers are written under pen name H.B. Moore. She writes historical women's fiction, romance and inspirational non-fiction under Heather B. Moore, and . . . speculative fiction under Jane Redd. This can all be confusing, so her kids just call her Mom. Heather attended Cairo American College in Egypt and the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel. Despite failing her high school AP English exam, Heather persevered and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in something other than English.
Please join Heather's email list at: HBMoore
Website: HBMoore
X: heatherbmoore
Instagram: authorhbmoore
Facebook: Heather B. Moore All About Books
And yes, the Blog still lives: MyWritersLair
Literary honors: 2020 Goodreads Choice Award Semi-Finalist, Foreword 2020 INDIES Finalist, ALA Best New Books - September 2020, 6-time Best of State Recipient for Best in Literary Arts, 2019 Maggie Award Winner, 6-time Whitney Award Winner, and 2-time Golden Quill Award Winner.
Heather is represented by Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret.

Allison was born and raised in Taiwan and arrived in the U.S. at age twenty-two as a university student. That’s when she realized her school English wasn’t much help when asking for directions on the street or opening a bank account. By recording each of the classes she took––including physical education––and reviewing the tape every night for a year, she eventually learned English well enough to earn an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. But please excuse her if she misuses the verb tenses or mixes up the genders in third-person pronouns when she speaks. It’s no secret––English is a hard language to learn.
Allison writes in both Chinese and English, both fiction and creative nonfiction, which means she spends a lot of time looking up words on Dictionary.com. She is a Pushcart Prize nominee and her work has won both national and international awards, including National Championship in the Life Story Writing Contest (Taipei, Taiwan), Grand Prize in the 2019 MAST People of Earth writing contest, the inaugural winner of Sandra Carpenter Prize for Creative Nonfiction, first-place in the 2019 Segullah Journal writing contest, and first-place in the 2020 Opossum Prize. Her work appears in both national and international publications. Her memoir, Ninety-Nine Fire Hoops, is forthcoming from She Writes Press, on September 21, 2021.
Allison is an instructor at Sotrymakers Writer's Conference. Aside from writing, she also models and acts for print and film. But her greatest joy is sharing her life with her husband and their three sons. Visit her at www.allisonhongmerrill.com where you can sign up for her extremely short monthly email.
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- Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2023Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseREVIEW OF The Paper Daughters of Chinatown: Adapted for Young Readers by @authorhbmoore @allison.hong.merrill
READ IT FOR THE
🏮History--the actual events that happened in our country
🏮Perspective--for those who have endured hardship we have not
🏮Emotion--from heartbreak to hope
🏮Impact--take what you feel and learn and use it to make a change where you can
BRIEF REVIEW
All the feelings. The deep and dark themes of this story are still there, but clearly softened for the sake of younger readers (and readers like me!).
I thought religion was naturally but subtly woven into the story; it didn't feel preachy, forced, or over- or under-emphasized. I liked to see the development of Tien Fu and Dolly's relationship.
While the book take place over a relatively long period (about 12 years), the author did a great job reminding of us of the setting through chapter headings and frequent reference to Tien Fu's age (which also helps with perspective).
To an adult, some of the sentences may come off as too short/choppy, and some of the time jumps as too abrupt, but I don't have a real problem with this because adults are not the exact intended audience. I think the structure would work just fine for the intended audience.
I'm the type of reader who reads cover-to-cover, including supplemental material. There are a map, Character Chart, Historical Timeline, and Readers Questions & Answers sections, which I appreciated.
BRIEF CONTENT GUIDE
😘Forced prostitution is alluded to; characters work/have worked in brothels. The topic is prevalent but dealt with in a softer way.
🙊Mild or no swearing
🍷Mild substance use but with softened acknowledgement of more severe drug use (i.e., opium).
🤕Light-moderate on-page violence and illness.
Other: Gambling. Tien Fu's own father sold her into slavery.
BOTTOM LINE
I recommend this book and think it would impact readers' lives.
FULL REVIEW AND CONTENT GUIDE available on blog Better Book Bureau via Weebly
Thank you to the authors for a complimentary hard copy of this book.
#thepaperdaughtersofchinatown #thepaperdaughtersofchinatown #youngreaders
- Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2023Format: HardcoverWhat is a “paper daughter?” A “paper daughter” is a girl who is a daughter on paper only. She was most likely kidnapped or sold from her family in China and sent to San Francisco to work at a brothel or as a slave.
The book tells many of the same stories that were told in the original book, but it follows the story of a different paper daughter. This girl was sold into slavery instead of prostitution, which is better for the YA audience. Dolly and her colleagues still go into some pretty sketchy situations to save girls from slavery and prostitution. The YA version does not go into great detail about these rescues, but they are included in the story.
The cover of the book says that it’s “Adapted for young readers.” In my mind, young readers are more middle-graders, but in my opinion, this book is not appropriate for middle-graders. The whole premise of the book is too much. Some 4th-6th graders probably don’t even know what a brothel or prostitution is.
Also, keep in mind that the story is based on true people and events. Young girls are kidnapped and sold from China and are sent to San Francisco under the guise of getting married or going to visit a relative. Instead, they are sold as slaves or are sold into prostitution. Kind women at the mission home go and rescue these girls from sketchy brothels, gambling halls, and homes. The lives of the girls and women are constantly in danger because the owners of these girls do not want to lose their property. People die trying to save these girls.
In my opinion, this book is appropriately adapted for YA readers (13-18 years old).
The Paper Daughters of Chinatown (YA Version) is such a great book, for the correct age group! It’s based on real people and events and can be a great tool for learning about empathy, courage, patience, and helping those in need. The characters become your best friends! I learned so much about what these women went through, and my heart breaks for them. I’m grateful there were women like Dolly Cameron who could help them.
Content Rating: PG-13
Profanity: None
Intimacy: Moderate (There are no scenes, but some of the girls have been sold into prostitution—it’s part of the premise of the story.)
Violence: Moderate (A few characters die, at least one of them graphically. Some of the girls are beaten and abused.)
Age Recommendation: YA (13-18 years old) and up
4/5 Stars!
- Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2024Format: KindleVerified PurchaseThis was a wonderful, clean, thought provoking book that needs to be read and discussed worldwide. The evils of human trafficking are unfortunately still strong in our day, and I think the more light that is shed upon the subject, the better we can understand how to deal with and someday rid ourselves of it.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2023Format: KindleVerified PurchaseI'd read the version for adults several years ago and regret that I am just now finishing the edition for Young readers. What took me so long????? This beautiful adaptation is uplifting, inspiring, and seriously wonderful. Thanks Allison and Heather for this journey.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2023Format: HardcoverAt age six, Tai Choi is sold by her father and then several other adults in rapid succession. They take the legacy of her family by unbinding her feet, they take away her country when they sell her in America, and they take away her name. Dolly (27yo) is excited for the opportunity to teach sewing skills to Chinese girls who have been rescued from trafficking, and she quickly becomes more involved in the rescue process – even as it threatens her life.
Based on a true story, this book has been adapted for young readers. The pain and sorrow and hope and triumphs are still moving, despite knowing this is the watered-down version. Knowing that human trafficking did and does happen makes readers more grateful, encourages readers to not lose hope in the face of their difficulties, and inspires readers to find ways to do good. We can be strong. We can become advocates for good.
All of the characters mentioned are either Chinese or White. The mature content rating is for mentions of brothels and prostitution, human trafficking, innuendo, and mentions of drugs. The violence rating is for child abuse, gun use, and murder.




























