Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Coolies


Coolies

Written by: Yin
Illustrated by: Chris Soentpiet

Upper Elementary and Junior High Grades

"When the western line of the transcontinental railroad joined the eastern line at Promontory Point, UT, in 1869, the engraving commemorating the event left out an important group of workers-the Chinese. Derisively called "coolies" by their white overseers, these refugees from Southern China came to California desperate for any work that would help them feed their starving families back home. This picture book, cast as a story told by a modern Chinese grandmother, transforms the familiar ethnic slur into a badge of honor."

School Library Journal Review


Web Resources:
http://cprr.org/Museum/Chinese.html
http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/lesson_plans/lesson01.htm

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