A. BibliographyYep, Laurence. 2006. The Earth Dragon Awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 0060275243.
B. Plot Summary
The Earth Dragon Awakes is a historical fiction novel. The characters are fictional, but the book is based on the actual events that occurred in April of 1906 when the earthquake struck and caused "The Great Fire" of San Francisco. As stated earlier the setting of the book is in April 1906 in San Francisco. The book opens Tuesday, April 17th, the day before the earthquake hits. The novel is centered around two groups of main characters. The Travis family which lives in a well to do area of San Francisco. There is Mr. and Mrs. Travis and their son Henry. The other main characters are Ah Sing, who works for the Travises', and Ah Sing's son Chin. Ah Sing and Henry are Chinese immigrants. Henry's mother still lives in China and Ah Sing send money to her every pay day. Ah Sing and Henry live in Chinatown because "Ah Sing does not want Henry to forget he is Chinese." Henry and Chin are friends and share a love for "penny dreadfuls." They both feel their lives are boring and they enjoy reading about the exciting adventures the cowboys take, hoping that they could be like them one day. Little do they know their boring lives and attitudes are about the change.
On the morning of the earthquake, the Travises' are at their house and Ah Sing and Chin are at their tenement in Chinatown. The novel is divided as in journal entries with dates, times and locations where the next event is taking place. Once the earthquake strikes that dreadful morning, the next struggle both families face is to get out of there residence and finding a place to go. The Travises' escape to the street in front of their house where Mr. Travis begins to help his neighbors. Ah Sing and Chin, along with their friend Ah Quon are the only survivors of their tenement. They soon realize that they must move towards safer ground due to the aftershocks and the fires that have started all around them in Chinatown. All the time Chin is worried about Henry and Henry about Chin.
It is not soon after the Travises' and their neighbors soon realize that fires are starting to surround them as well and they must move or fall victim to the flames. Yep follows both families and their struggles and they begin to move towards a safer area and eventually to the bay to catch a boat to safer ground. In the end both families are reunited with each other and Ah Sing offers his cousin's house to the Travises' because Mr. Travis is determined to rebuild his house and San Francisco. Both Henry and Chin learn that their fathers are the real heroes and they don't need the cowboy's adventures when they have plenty adventure in their own lives.
C. Critical Analysis
Yep offers a poignant account of the historical events of the 1906 earthquake and fire, along with a story that is filled with cultural markers that help readers understand the similarities and differences between cultures. According to Dr. Vardell's lecture notes and Harris' book Using Multiethnic Literature in the K-8 Classroom, some realistic guidelines for evaluating Asian American literature include: "(a) culturally pluralistic theme, (b) positive portrayal of characters, (c) setting in the United States, (d) authentic illustrations, (e) strong plot and characterization, and (f) historical accuracy" (Harris, 1997, p.113). The Earth Dragon Awakes includes all six of these guidelines.
The main characters in the book are all positive, especially Ah Sing, Ah Quon, and Chin. Ah Sing demonstrates heroic qualities throughout the story. For example, when the earthquake first happens Ah Sing pulls Chin under a table because the entire ceiling falls on them. They have to dig their way out of the rubble. When they finally see light, the hole is only big enough for Chin tho escape. Ah Sing says, "Don't worry about me," urges his father."Save yourself." "I'll get help," Chin promises. "You're the important one," his father says. "Chin crawls through the passage, leaving his father behind. He would be scared to be left alone in the darkness. Until now he didn't realize how brave his father is. Or how much he loves Chin." There are example throughout the entire book of the positive qualities Ah Sing and Ah Quon demonstrate.
Another important guideline is the setting in the United States. As stated earlier the setting of the story is April 17, 1906 to April 29, 1906 in San Francisco, California. Along with the setting, other important guidelines are authentic illustrations and historical accuracy. Both of these guidelines are included in this novel. There are not illustrations in this novel, but Yep offers actual photographs of the aftermath of the earthquake and the fires in the back of the book. Also in the back of the book is the "Afterword." Here Yep presents many historical facts about the earthquake and fires of 1906. He also weaves in the characters throughout his afterword tying in historical facts and stating what the characters might have seen and done if they were involved in the situation. For example, in his afterword Yep states, "I have personal connections to the earthquake as well. Like Ah Sing, my grandfather was a houseboy. He had gone home to visit his family in China. He returned to America on April 19, 1906. In those days, Chinese landed at the pier of the Pacific Mail Steamship Line. They were kept in a building. Immigration officials would question them there." Not only does Yep bring in the characters he also connects his own story to the events that happened in history.
The final guideline Harris mentions in her book is strong plot and characterization. The novel achieves both of these characteristics. The plot is centered around this great historical tragedy and Yep has developed the characters to enhance the story and show the human side of this disaster. Not only do the characters enhance the story, but they offer a sense of resilience and "never give up" attitude that readers want from strong characters. I like the ending of the book when Ah Sing, Ah Quon, and Chin are helping Henry and his family move to tents set up in Golden Gate Park so they can start to rebuild. Along their way they find a "penny dreadful" magazine with a cowboy on the front. "Henry looks at their parents sitting on the wagon. They aren't dismayed by the wreckage. They're ready to rebuild their city. That takes more courage than capturing outlaws. The whispers to Chin, "And we don't have to look far for heroes. They were right under our noses all the time." This novel reaches across cultures and shares a time in history that is relevant to all people.
D. Review Excerpts
School Library Journal: "Yep looks at the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 from two points of view. Chin is a young Chinese immigrant whose father is houseboy for a prominent banker and his family. He has become friendly with young Henry Travis, the banker's son, through their interest in low-brow but exciting penny dreadfuls. The stories depict heroic people doing heroic things and, while both boys appreciate their fathers, they certainly don't regard them as heroes. Not, that is, until the Earth Dragon roars into consciousness one spring morning, tearing the city asunder and making heroes out of otherwise ordinary men. Yep's research is exhaustive. He covers all the most significant repercussions of the event, its aftershocks, and the days of devastating fires, and peppers the story with interesting true-to-life anecdotes."
Booklist: "On the evening of April 17, 1906, neither eight-year-old Henry nor his friend Chin is aware that the earth beneath their San Francisco homes is shifting. Devotees of "penny dreadfuls," both boys long for excitement, not their fathers' ordinary routine lives. When the earthquake shakes the city and the firestorm breaks out, Henry and his parents scramble in the chaos and battle the fire, but must ultimately evacuate their home. Chin and his father survive the collapse of their Chinatown tenement, and flee tot he ferry through the debris and turmoil. In the midst of catastrophe, the boys realize that their fathers are real-life heroes."
E. Connections
For more books from Laurence Yep, please check out the following books:
Yep, Laurence. Dragon's Gate. ISBN 0060229713.
Yep, Laurence. Dragonwings. ISBN 0064400859.
Yep, Laurence. The Serpent's Children. ISBN 0064406458.
Yep. Laurence. Child of the Owl. ISBN 006440336x.
No comments:
Post a Comment