EXCLUSION AND THE CHINESE AMERICAN STORY (Race to the Truth), by Sarah-SoonLing Blackburn, Crown Books for Young Readers, March 26, 2024, Paperback $8.99 (ages 10 and up)
Go beyond the building of the Transcontinental Railroad in Exclusion and the Chinese American Story, by Sarah-SoonLing Blackburn.
If you’ve learned about the history of Chinese people in America, it was probably about their work on the railroads in the 1800s. But more likely, you may not have learned about it at all. This may make it feel like Chinese immigration is a newer part of this country, but some scholars believe the first immigrant arrived from China 499 CE — one thousand years before Columbus did!
When immigration picked up in the mid-1800s, efforts to ban immigrants from China began swiftly. But hope, strength, and community allowed the Chinese population in America to flourish. From the gold rush and railroads to entrepreneurs, animators, and movie stars, this is the true story of the Chinese American experience. —Synopsis provided by Crown Books for Young Readers
Exclusion and the Chinese American Story is part of Crown Books for Young Readers’ Race to the Truth series. The series “Tells the true history of America from the perspective of different communities. Each book tells the story of our country from its very beginning to present. These books correct common falsehoods and achievements. They encourage readers to ask questions and approach new information thoughtfully.” Other books in the series include Borderlands and the Mexican American Story; Colonization and the Wampanoag Story; and Slavery and the African American Story.
In the case of Exclusion and the Chinese American Story, author Sarah-SoonLing Blackburn is from a mixed-race Malaysian Chinese and white American family. In her note to readers at the beginning of the book, Blackburn explains how the lack of representation in school lessons made her feel invisible. Though it’s impossible to cover every piece of Chinese American history, Blackburn has focused on “some of the important stories, the lesser-known stories, and the stories that will inspire you to want to learn more.”
And Blackburn has done just that. As readers delve into Exclusion and the Chinese American Story, they’ll gain a greater understanding of the racism and hardships Chinese Americans have faced and continue to encounter.
Blackburn’s writing is clear and conversational. She moves from topic to topic with ease, making it a good choice for older middle readers, ages 10 and up, as well as teens and adults. With lots of black-and-white photographs and an extensive bibliography, Exclusion and the Chinese American Story would make an excellent supplement for public or homeschool classes.
About the author:
Sarah-SoonLing Blackburn is an educator, speaker, and professional learning facilitator. She was born in Bangkok, Thailand, to a mixed-race Malaysian Chinese and white American family. A classic “third culture kid,” she grew up moving between various East and Southeast Asian countries and the Washington, DC, area. Her experiences first as a classroom teacher and then as a teacher educator inform her beliefs about the role that education can and must play in the realization of social justice. She has an MA in social justice and education from University College London’s Institute of Education. Her doctoral research at Johns Hopkins University explored strategies for retaining rural educators, and her EdD specialization was Instructional Design in Online Teaching and Learning. She is based out of Oxford, Mississippi. Learn more at sarahsoonling.com.
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