Wonderfully written, fast paced story. I feel like the topic of Chinese laborers is not discussed often enough in our present time so it was nice to read a book that sheds light on this topic. Very interesting story, highly recommend. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

This was a really interesting look into a Chinese immigrant's experience working on the Transcontinental Railroad. From reading the author's note, it doesn't sound like there are many firsthand accounts from the time, but what she wrote is so detailed and descriptive, I would never have expected that. The plot moves at a quick pace as the stakes are high, between Ling Fan hiding her identity, taking some risks to earn money as fast as possible, and the inherent danger of the work they're doing. I enjoyed this and I wouldn't hesitate to read another book by this author.

First, I would like to thank NetGalley for an advanced copy of Gold Mountain.

I absolutely loved reading this historical fiction YA story set in China and California in 1867 when the Transcontinental Railroad was being built. Historical fiction is my favorite genre and Gold Mountain did not disappoint. The author weaves important and interesting historical context into a compelling story that I couldn’t put down. What I loved most was the main characters innate goodness, which didn’t fade even as the challenges she faced multiplied. I found myself routing for her with each page turn.

The plot synopsis from NetGalley is below:
In 1867 Fifteen-year-old Tam Ling Fan disguises herself as her twin brother, journeys from her village in China to California, and works as a laborer on the Transcontinental Railroad—where she faces danger on multiple fronts—to earn the money her family desperately needs.

The plot was gripping and kept me hooked. I stayed on edge with these questions running through my mind: Would she live or die? Would she return to her home with the money she needed for her family? Would the inhuman treatment she endured on the transcontinental railroad break her?

The writing was just what a YA should be. I felt close to the main character, as though I was sitting right next to her. The writing style was active and engaging.

The characters were relatable and fleshed out. Not one of them was one dimensional and all were multi-faceted and fleshed out. Even for the villains there were motivations and struggles behind them ‘going bad’.

I really enjoyed this novel, and recommend you buy it when released in April 2022!

This is a good YA historical fiction novel about Chinese immigrants working on the transcontinental railroad. It is moving and suspenseful. And it explores important issues such as the racism against Chinese laborers at the time.

GOLD MOUNTAIN is a gripping tale of Ling Fan, a strong-willed, determined teenaged girl whose desire to see her father safe drives her to disguise herself as a boy and join the sojourners laboring on the Transcontinental Railroad. There aren't nearly enough stories of this often passed-over part of American history, and I appreciate the author shining a spotlight on the grueling work conditions and racism the laborers endured. Also appreciated is Yee including the historical backdrop against which the Transcontinental Railroad was built: to lay the track, the Americans displaced and killed many Native peoples, a fact which also often goes unsaid.

I hope this title becomes a part of the American teaching curriculum, which is sorely in need of updating when it comes to Asian American history. I would have loved a book like this when I was young.

I was instantly immersed every time I opened this book. Betty Yee’s descriptions, writing, and details were wonderfully evocative. The story takes place in China and America during the building of the transcontinental railroad in the 1860s. There were more than ten thousand Chinese sojourners that worked to complete the railroad, yet little is known about them. In the Author’s Note, Yee says that she wrote the book because she wanted to tell the story of one of these nameless workers.

Yee chose the story of a fictional girl, Tam Ling Fan, who disguises herself as her dead brother so she can use his railroad contract to sail to America and make enough money to free her imprisoned father. It is a dangerous quest for a girl who is naively idealistic and loyal to a fault. And there were plenty of life-threatening scenarios and plot twists that kept me turning pages. But it was Tam Ling Fan’s inner conflicts—which she writes as messages for her dead brother and then burns to send them up to him—that were so poignant. Over and over I related to her struggles of reconciling her inner self with her outer one. It’s something we all confront on a daily basis, and I came away feeling as if Yee gave me new insight into it. Wonderful.

Set during the construction of the American transcontinental railroad, Gold Mountain focuses on the journey of one of the sojourners who helped to build it. This wonderful novel melds history and storytelling in a thrilling tale of courage, danger, betrayal, and love.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There are so many layers in it. After Ling's brother passes away from influenza, she disguises herself as him as she was always raised like a boy. She takes his contract to work in the railroads in America to make money for her family to free her Baba from jail. Ling's one goal is to make money. But as she makes friends along the way her situation becomes complicated. There are layers of racism and injustices in hard labor work that affects Ling's morale. She has a bit of a villain, selfish arc part way through which I appreciated because it made her reflect a lot on her values and made me root for her more. There is so much history in this story that I was not aware of and was so interested to learn more.

Something I wished we got more of was her struggle adapting to the hard labor. She had an existential crisis realizing that she is a woman who has never done hard labor or rough work before compared to her peers. Then when she gets to work, other than some aches she seems to magically fit in.

Tan Ling has always known a life of comfort and wealth, however her privileged life comes to a crashing halt when her father is imprisoned and her twin brother dies. Left with a railroad contract originally left for her brother Tan Ling makes a decision that will change her life and hopefully earn enough money to release her father from prison. Tan Ling disguises herself as her brother and makes the journey to America. Life is not easy on the Gold Mountain and not only does Tan Ling have to survive the arduous labor of the mountain, but racism as well on top of the fear of anyone finding out her secret.
Gold mountain was gripping read read chocked full of historical information that I was quite honestly not fully aware of. I connected with the main character of Tan Ling and genuinely cared for this character and rooted for her every step of her journey. Betty G. Yee is a superb storyteller and I hope to read more of her works and most definitely recommend Gold Mountain.