San Francisco in the late 1800's and early 1900's was an interesting place. I would assume there were wonderful parts of it, but this book is mostly in Chinatown where a travesty of women was taking place. This book shows the amazing work of a woman who gave her life to saving women of all ages from slavery and prostitution. The book was not graphic, but the points were well made. The use of opium, prostitution, and abuse are in this book, and it is not without its sorrow as the reader delves into the lives of some of these women.

I appreciate the authors class in bringing this subject forward. It was written without vulgarity and tastefully done. I appreciate how you followed a few of the women through a longer period of their lives and watch the changes they made.

I would recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction and those who appreciate history of strong women.

This evocative novel tactfully deals with the sensitive issue of human trafficking, weaving well researched details into a cohesive and compelling narrative.  Heather B. Moore does an excellent job with telling the human side of the history, from an angle of hope and redemption.  Although losses are acknowledged and this is a very dark and disturbing subject, the author has focused her narrative on successes and this book brings with it a feeling of light.  Historical notes and experiences from the life and perspective of Donaldina Cameron, tactfully covering years of her early experiences at the Occidental Mission Home, are woven throughout the book with a fictionalized compilation of experiences told to give us an insider's perspective of the slave trade.  This character's experience draws you in and helps you feel the depths that these courageous women were rescued from and the heights they were able to reach with the loving support and care of a heroine and her group of dedicated individuals. This story will stay with me for a long time! This was a standout among this prolific author's impressive works.

I received a complimentary book.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

I loved this book! Heather B. Moore is such a genius in researching the history, geography, and people in her books that they become real (of course in this case they are real) and relate-able. Donaldina Cameron was a real person who truly lived and worked and prayed for and Loved the “Paper Daughters” who were stolen or tricked away from home and family and forced into slavery, servitude, and often addiction to opium which was one more tool of control by the wicked people who bought these children and women.

With such a dark setting, in less capable hands, this could have been a very dark and scary story. Ms. Moore beautifully shares the humanity, care, and love that Donaldina “Dolly” had for the children and women she helped to rescue and teach, and they loved her, too! Dolly was a spinster who never had children of her own, yet she was mother to many, both legally through guardianship papers as well as through loving care. This story begins in 1895 with Dolly’s arrival at 920 Sacramento Street, San Francisco, at the Occidental Mission Home and chronicles how she learned the work of both teaching and going on raids to rescue slaves. Dolly’s adventures carried her through fighting for her girls against the Tongs, political and legal challenges, plague, earthquake, and fire.

I appreciated learning more about the history of San Francisco through the eyes of Dolly and some of her girls. My heart was touched as I learned more about this time period and the challenges these women faced as they continued the fight against slavery well after the civil war ended. This book was well researched, well written, and engaging to the heart as well as the mind.

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for an Advanced copy.
What can I say? I loved this story. I had never heard of Donaldina Cameron and her fight to help those that were lied to about a better life upon arrival in the United States. She did so helped so many succeed in life. Most of the characters are real and the fictional characters were a great addition to the story. The author did a wonderful job telling the history of Donaldina Cameron.
"A powerful story about Donaldina Cameron and other brave women who fought to help Chinese-American women escape discrimination and slavery in the late 19th century in California." This is the description of the book and yes, it is, indeed a very powerful story.

Wow, such an excellent book. This book was extremely well-written and intriguing, based on the life of Donaldina "Dolly" Cameron, who worked tirelessly to rescue Chinese slave girls/women/prostitutes from the Chinese tong in Chinatown in San Francisco from the late 1800s/early to mid 1900s. The author chose to focus the book from when Dolly arrives at the mission home to the rebuilding of the mission home after the San Francisco earthquake and fires in 1906, ending in 1908. However, she prefaces and ends the book with extensive documentation about the facts of Dolly's life and which characters in the book are real and which are based on stories of other characters. I was completely unaware of this human trafficking/slave trade going on in the United States during that time period and the underground of San Francisco's Chinatown. Moore's extensive research shows through her writing and her efforts to be historically accurate while still taking (what seem to be mild) liberties with her story. A large portion of the book shifts timeline/focus back and forth between Dolly's humanitarian efforts and Mei Lien (whom is a made-up character based off of a compilation of real experiences and real women Moore encountered in her research). We follow Mei Lien's journey from leaving her mother in China with her new "aunt" and "uncle" to come to America for what she believes to be a golden opportunity to come to America as a bride-to-be, even up to the point where she is placed on display naked before her potential buyer, when she finally realizes everything her "aunt" and "uncle" told her and her mother was not to be. This book offers the perspective of what some women went through in the lies they and their families were told in order to get them to come to America, the buying and selling of them once they reached America, the pitiful amount of money their families received for them (if any at all), their forced addiction to opium, abuses, etc. I'm not sure why Moore chose to focus on a woman who was in a better circumstance than most in a high-end brothel rather than the more destitute prostitution cribs and harsher circumstances, though maybe it's because she brings Mei Lien's character back into contact with her madam, Ah-Peen Oie (a real-life character) at the end of the book. Moore does touch briefly on those harsher circumstances in some of the rescues that Dolly and the other mission home translators/Chinese women and the cops go on to help the women of Chinatown. Dolly's own personal heartbreaks in her life are mentioned. She comes alive as such a real woman with her own desires for her personal life and love but also her drive to help these women, youth, and children affected by such a horrid business by the Chinese tongs to dominate and take advantage of unsuspecting women, as well as their families back home, who believed they were providing their daughters with a better life in America. The book ends with hope for what Dolly and the mission home provided for these women but with a clear impression that their work was continuing on and by no means complete.

In her afterword, along with notations and documentation of her extensive research, Moore mentions the atrocities of human trafficking that are still going on today and the many organizations that are fighting against it. This is not new to our society, unfortunately, but through this book Moore documents and brings awareness to such a sad time period of this Chinese slave trade and the fight of Ms. Cameron and many others who worked/work tirelessly to help as many as they could.

Content: A clean read, with no bad language. The mentions of the harsh conditions, sex, drugs, abuse, etc. are not graphic or heavily dwelt on, just enough for you to know what's going on.

This magnificent book highlights the plight of Chinese and Japanese young girls who were lured into slavery in the United States. This rendition of the selfless courage of the people who sought to save these hapless girls and give them light and courage to grow as worthwhile women has deeply touched me. To bear witness to such humility illuminates what we can do if we will hold hands and not turn our cheeks.

This is a very well written book. I think it’s extremely difficult to take a hard topic like this and make it interesting (albeit sad) rather than horrifying to read. Heather Moore has a gift for this kind of writing and historical fiction in general. I appreciate the research that she puts into her writing and the character development is always good in her books.

Excellent and well-written story of Donaldina Cameron, a true-life hero.. Ms. Cameron worked at a girls mission beginning in the late 1890’s in San Francisco. She and her team risked their lives to rescue Chinese girls who were lied to, their parents/family lied to at home, given money, and the young girls brought overseas and forced into prostitution. I thought the delicate subject was handled with care and sensitivity. While the subject matter is difficult, the stories were told with respectful. These rescued girls were given a home, compassion, dignity, hope, and love, where otherwise they likely would have died in the streets. Many were forcibly addicted to opium to make them more compliant. We need more Donaldinas in the harsh world today, as human trafficking continues worldwide. This is a true story interwoven with some fictional characters. If you like history and humanity stories you will enjoy this one. I’ve read other books about the mis-treatment of the Chinese who came over here to help build railroads in San Francisco and were treated quite brutally; this book targets a specific population and one person who took it upon herself to help solve a problem that seems never ending. Highly recommend.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

ASTOUNDING! Gave me a new view on the Chinese experience at the turn of the 1900s. WOW! The story was so moving and powerful. I thought that the author was brilliant by giving two sides of the equation...the rescued and the rescuer.
I absolutely loved the fact that it was based upon historical fact.
This book should be mandatory reading for any human trafficking class.
The only downside is that I thought that the should have ended the story when Huang Sun came back. The rest of the book did not add anything significant to the overall story. Very minor, but annoying.
Overall a fantastic book and one that was hard to read at times.

This was a fascinating read based on the life of Donaldina (Dolly) Cameron. This book is historical fiction and was well researched with an interesting story. Dolly worked hard to protect the lives of Chinese-American women and girls who were sold into slavery in the late 19th century. Dolly started out as a young teacher and eventually became the director of Occidental Mission Home for Girls. The young ladies that were sold into slavery were treated poorly. Dolly and her team recued many young ladies from the horror of prostitution, drug dependency, and deplorable conditions.

Other story lines in this book are about the girls that were recued. Many were kidnapped in China or sold by their parents with the promise they would marry a wealthy American. The book tells the story of several of the paper daughters. The book is hart wrenching as well as uplifting. Some of these young ladies showed such courage and resolve to change their situations with great personal dangers.

I really enjoyed this book and would like to read more about Dolly. This book only covers part of her life. I would like to thank #NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.

A fascinating look into a horrifying world - I couldn't stop reading this book. The story was so rich and beautifully told, it made a perfect escapist read during these crazy times, I can't wait to share it.

This is a must read! This book delves into the human trafficking trade in the late 1800's-early 1900's in San Francisco. It was very eye opening and heart wrenching, as well as being very uplifting. I was unaware of Donaldina Cameron. I am so grateful for people like her who give so much for the welfare of others. I know that human trafficking is still going strong today, which is terrifying. This book is a clarion call to all of us to do something. Whether it is financial or physical, we can all make a difference. I would highly recommend this book. It is a book that will stay with you for a very long time.

I am a total clean romance junky, so I was unsure about this book. But i absolutely love this author and everything she writes is well thought out and researched, so of course I requested, and boom another fabulous job. This book was fascinating, sad and fully inspiring. I was unable to put it down and finished in a few days. I love learning about real people who have changed even a small part of the world. And this woman did so much for the Asian community in San Francisco at the turn of the last century. I thoroughly enjoyed this story!

I was fascinated by this story about the Chinese slave girl trade in San Francisco, a topic I was unaware of even though I grew up in California and studied the early history of the state. I knew about the poor treatment of the Chinese in general, but this story came as a surprise. The author does a wonderful job of centering the story around Donaldina Cameron's work in rescuing these slaves during the late nineteenth century. The author also brings in a fictional character, Mei Lien, who brings in the point of view of one of the girls taken from her home in China and deceived into the San Francisco sex trade.

The story only captures a slice of Donaldina's life and work, but it is enough to build a solid story around. I highly recommend this book. Well researched and well written.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher, Shadow Mountain, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book is based on the true story of Donaldina “Dolly” Cameron and the Occidental Mission Home for Girls. If you enjoy historical fiction, this is a book you should pick up. Dolly and the Mission Home rescue, aid and assist Chinese women in the San Francisco area who have been sold into slavery through deception. The parents of most of the women believe they are sending their children to a better life. The courage and stamina of Dolly is amazing. The trials and tribulations, mental and physical, that these young girls and women endure is horrific. “The younger girls were more prone to tantrums and arguing, whereas the older girls struggled with seeing the light through all the darkness they’d been through.”

Throughout the book, I found myself cheering for Dolly. The sacrifices she made endear the reader to her. The challenges she encounters with evil people and legal system are heart wrenching. The deep compassion and kindness Dolly and the Mission’s staff provided to the frightened girls was remarkable. As one character described Dolly: “…you are an avenging angel. You are the light among the darkness of Chinatown.” The challenges the Mission had to overcome and tremendous.

I highly recommend “The Paper Daughters of Chinatown.” It was well written and researched.

The Paper Daughters of Chinatown by Heather B. Moore was amazing. The main person Donaldina Cameron nickname Dolly goes out to California to teach Paper Daughters sewing. In result of the Chinese Exclusion act resulting in false papers a lot of women ended up in slavery situations where they were falsely lead to think a better life awaited them through marriage.
They were rescued through a Presbyterian Mission as Act of kindness and to stop this horrible acts. By risking their own lives also in exchange. However, the exchange was to let the women know there is a better life out there and to not get rid of hope. Donaldina Cameron was amazing to read about. Also I really teared up.

4/5 Stars. When I was in elementary school, I read a LOT of books about missionaries, so "The Paper Daughters of Chinatown" was very much a blast from the past. (Considering that I would've been graduating from high school in two weeks were it not for COVID-19, that seems all too fitting.) I had no idea who Donaldina Cameron was before I read this book, nor did I know anything about the prevalence of human trafficking in Chinatown at the turn of the 20th century, so this one was an eye-opener. Its writing was a bit overwrought and clumsy at times, but its story had undeniable power and significance. This was an important story to tell, and I enjoyed it in spite of its flaws.

Stop everything and slow your roll. This book is a must-read. Not because it is some love story that makes you feel good, but because it is a gripping story of a woman who devoted her life to saving Chinese girls and women from slave and prostitution trade. The emotional connection I felt to this historically based novel was unbelievable. I could not stop myself from reading it; I was so engrossed I found myself telling my family about it while reading it. Donaldina's story is one of heartache, love, service, and family. The people came to life and I felt each loss, each victory, each scenario Donaldina experienced. A lot of people may feel shying away from this story because it is a difficult topic. But Moore tells it in a tactful yet compelling way that keeps you reading until the end. And when I got to the end I wished there was more to read. To think that this is only a snippet of Donaldina's life and the impact she had on her Chinese daughters is mind-blowing. The Paper Daughters of Chinatown is moving and is something that everyone should read. Everyone. Bravo Moore for researching and sharing such an important story with us. I received a copy of this book for free; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This beautifully researched novel introduced me to a time in history I knew little about. I had never heard of Donaldina Cameron prior to reviewing this ARC and I found her tale quite fascinating. I enjoyed the mixture of fictional characters mixed in with the historical characters. It really gave you a sense of what life was like for these paper daughters of Chinatown and everything they were put through. Heather did a fantastic job of introducing us to Donaldina and her life’s work of rescuing and bringing light to so many of these girls lives. Thanks to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain for sending me a copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

I love learning about new-to-me aspects of history, so getting to read about Donaldina Cameron's work as portrayed in Heather B. Moore's excellent writing style was a pleasure. While thinking about the women and girls who suffered so horribly was painful, the look at Dolly's efforts to help as well as the way the girls and women who were rescued grabbed onto fresh hope, was inspiring and uplifting. The research that Moore did for this book clearly shows, and a difficult topic is written about so skillfully. This is an eye-opening book that would be particularly good for book clubs, as there is much that could be discussed.
4.5 stars.
I read an ARC provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
#Netgalley. #Heather Moore #paperdaughters

We live under this belief that the sex slave trade is something newer to the history of our country. This could not be further from the true. The sale of young women into the life of prostitution is something as old as this country and beyond. This book tell just one part of the continual fight against sex slavery in this country. Set in San Francisco during the late 1890s-early 1900s, this book tells the story of Donaldina Cameron and her tireless efforts to free the sex slaves of Chinatown in San Francisco. This book as sorrow, heartbreak, forgiven and most of all the unwavering determination of doing what is right. You get caught up in this story and you want to go right in with Dolly to save these paper daughters. I highly recommend this book!

This was really good. I knew the Chinese people were treated badly when the cane to the US but I had no idea this stuff happened. Now I want to look up
More info about it. This is not my typical lighthearted read, but well done Heather.

This is a very very well researched book that I appreciate the author taking the time to research and write about. This is a sensitive subject but one that is still very much alive today.

I thought this was a very well written story. The research that was done to write this novel about Donaldina Cameron was intense to say this least. The author, Ms. Moore, did a fascinating job of telling about the Chinese sex slavery trade in the 1900's of San Francisco Chinatown and how Ms. Cameron saved and help hundreds of children and young women get away from that life. The terribly sad part is that it was the country men of these Chinese children and young women that were buying, selling them. It was wonderful to read how a number of these girls turned there lives around completely. Marriage, children of their own, college. It just goes to show how strong we as women can be and that there are wonderful people in this world to help.

A highlight of my reading year! Initially set around 1882 when “undesirable” Asians were banned from entering the United States unless they had family or were married to a citizen. To get around this Act “Paper Daughters”, wives on paper only, travelled by ship with instructions to memorise in fine detail information about their new families in order to fool the authorities. Unfortunately the only fools were they themselves, thrown into a life of slavery and prostitution. A Presbyterian mission home becomes a haven of safety for these women run by a Donaldina Cameron. Without fear for her own life, she responds to calls for help and with the help of her staff and the local police she rises up against the Chinese tong slave masters. Based on Donaldina Cameron herself, Heather B. Moore has given us a graphic tale of 19th century life in San Francisco.

Thanks to Netgalley the author and Shadow Mountain publishers for an ARC of this book.

I loved this book! It reminded me of Lisa See's novels which I also love. I had no idea that Chinese girls were being trafficked in San Francisco at the turn of the century, and this story taught me about a brave, amazing, real life hero. I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more of this author's work. I received a copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest feedback.

This book was an interesting and solid read about a piece of history that was new to me. For this reason, I liked it. It felt a bit like a teaching moment or young adult novel but I felt like I was learning so much by reading it that I found it to be compelling.

I love a great historical fiction novel and The Paper Daughters of Chinatown by Heather B. Moore is a book I think you will love as much as I did. I appreciate a beautifully written story that entertains and teaches me something new, especially when it’s based on true events like this one. It reminded me of when I read about Georgia Tran, an evil woman who abducted children and sold them, a prolific child trafficker. When I learned about her, I listened to every podcast and read everything I could.

Now, learning about Dolly and her work, I am intrigued and need to find out more. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Take a look:

When twenty-six-year-old Donaldina Cameron arrives at the Occidental Mission Home for Girls in 1895, she intends to stay for only one year to teach sewing skills to young Chinese women. Within days, she discovers that the job is much more complicated than perfect stitches and even hems. San Francisco has a dark side, one where a powerful underground organization—the criminal tong—buys and sells Chinese girls like common goods. With the help of Chinese interpreters and a local police squad, Donaldina works night and day to stop the abominable slave and prostitution trade.

Mei Lien believes she is sailing to the “Gold Mountain” in America to become the wife of a rich Chinese man. Instead she finds herself sold into prostitution—beaten, starved, and forced into an opium addiction. It is only after a narrow escape that she hears of the mission home and dares to think there might be hope for a new life.

Before starting this book, I knew nothing about the trafficking of Chinese girls in San Francisco. Rich details plus facts, and excellent research make this novel an absolute must-read. As heartbreaking as it is, it’s important to learn about the history that wasn’t taught in school. Now I want to learn more about Donaldina “Dolly” Cameron.

Another excellent book! Be sure to read this when it comes out on September 1. Pre-order here!

I think this book was the best book I have read recently. The story makes me want to continue. How she saved so many young women from abuse. I would follow this author.

WOW!! This is a beautifully written heartbreaking story about human trafficking. It is a clean well written book that is full of emotions. If you like historical fiction you will love this book. It is a Must Read! Thank you Shadow Mountain Publishing via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

It is the marker of a good book when one picks it up to read after midnight to relax, then turns the final page at 4am.

The Paper Daughters of Chinatown was that kind of book. The novel is based on the life story of Donaldina (Dolly) Cameron, who ran a missionary home in San Francisco at the turn of the century.. Her job was helping to rescue the young Chinese girls and women that were being held as sex slaves and prostitutes in San Francisco's Chinatown, after being brought over as "paper daughters" to get around the various immigration acts. The young women were abused, assaulted, and often addicted to opium, when they finally find refuge at the home. The novel tells of her journey from joining the home on a one year contract to teach sewing skills to becoming the director and chief rescuer to her role as a surrogate mother for the young girls and women in her care.

While I had hear the term paper daughter before, I had only known it as a means of bringing others to the United States, but not the conditions that were the result. The novel is well researched and allows the reader a deeper look at a much less well known time periods than most current historical novels. The story is definitely a page turner, as my one-night-read can attest to.

San Francisco and the story of human trafficking. Believing that she is coming to America to become the wife of a rich chinaman, Mei Lien is sold into prostitution. An amazing novel of historical fiction that was only too real. Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a well written book on a difficult and heartbreaking topic. I'm aware of human trafficking, but I've never heard of Donaldina Cameron before. The book is based on facts with fiction woven throughout, creating a book that will stick with the reader after the final page. The excerpts from newspaper articles and Dolly's journal at the beginning of each chapter brought the book to life, sometimes in a shocking way.

Thank. you for the advanced e-ARC win exchange for my honest review. I will post my review on Goodreads and Amazon.

This book will linger in my thoughts for a long time. Never having heard of Donaldina Cameron and only vaguely aware of the human trafficking/slavery involved in Chinatown in San Francisco, I was both horrified by the concept of “paper daughters” and heartened by the strength and bravery shown by Donaldina. Seeing the journey from China and the expectations of a wonderful life ahead in Mei Lien’s mind was so well depicted that I grew to feel so fond of Mei, which strengthened my connection to the book. A few laughs, many tears, and a true respect for both the young women and Donaldina and her staff, especially Mei and Tien. I so appreciated the tremendous research that must have occurred to breathe life into the story. I read every word and learned so much about the infamous tongs and the power they held in Chinatown. This is my favorite genre, historical fiction, and this book is one of the best I have read. Many many thanks to Heather B. Moore for sharing Donaldina’s story, Shadow Mountain for publishing, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read an arc of this unforgettable story, to be published in September.

~ I received an ARC copy of The Paper Daughters from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~

As a student and teacher of history, I'm always hesitant to pick up the narrative of any figure that involves themselves in the work of aiding minority groups in the United States. I will say that the life and efforts of Donaldina Cameron were inspiring and reminded me of the hundreds of faces we don't see that are doing the hard work to ingratiate those who have suffered injustices into society and preparing them for a new life.

This is a story that needed to be told. The subject matter is difficult, but anything worth exposing and correcting is going to be difficult. The handling of the subject of the trafficking of women and girls in this book was masterfully done. Heather B,. Moore showed it from the perspective of those fighting trafficking and one who was experiencing it.

I found myself intrigued by the subject matter and found it applicable today as people are still being trafficked. If we are going to talk about slavery, we need to talk about the abuses to these people that find themselves the victims of evil people.

This story was also about healing, not overnight, but a slow healing over time that can only happen through love and forgiveness, When I say forgiveness, I mean the victims forgiving themselves,. I was pleased that the format of this book was a. Novel. I find that I am able to better personalize history with a narrative and characters I can connect with, in this Heather B. Moore succeeded. The history was well researched and presented.,

While this wasn’t one of my fastest reads, it was definitely worth the read to learn a part of history that I had heretofore overlooked. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more of the sordid history that has gone too long overlooked.

I received and early copy of this book from NetGalley and this is my review.

I really enjoyed this book. I have never heard of Donaldina "Dolly" Cameron or the Occidental Mission Home, and was fascinated with her courage and with all the work she did to help the Chinese girls and women escape their horrendous circumstances. I especially loved that it was told in dual perspectives of Dolly and of a young Paper Daughter. The view from both sides of the story made it a well-rounded experience. The topics in the book are handled very tastefully. It could have been vulgar but it was not and because of that, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in historical fiction, the history of the Paper Daughters, or anyone interested in stories about strong, influential women in history!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Amazing. Heartrending. Incredible.

It took me awhile to get into this book, mainly because the subject matter is so intense and quite heavy. But it is excellently written and brings to life real people that lived and fought for the freedom of others. Donaldina Cameron was a remarkable woman, as were the women she worked alongside and the daughters she rescued. She sacrificed so much for her girls, yet there was no resentment, only occasional sadness when she felt lonely, but also overwhelming peace with her choices.

Mei Lien amazed me. She was an incredibly strong young woman and this shone through in the book. She is truly an example to everyone, no matter the struggles and trials they have experienced.

I loved seeing Tien blossom and grow through her experiences, becoming another remarkable young woman as she learned to trust and to want to be trusted herself.

This was an emotional read. No question. But absolutely worth it to become more educated on the plight of women and children around the world - past AND present, because things like this still happen today.

#ThePaperDaughtersOfChinatown #NetGalley

This novel based on a true story, was well written and I had a hard time putting it down. The Chinese law, up until 1911 forbade women emigrating to America, until a law was passed to allow them into the country under the pretense of labour laws. Chinese women were given forged paperwork to migrate and promised husbands or jobs. Once they arrived the women thinking they were to meet their new husband, were sold as slaves or prostitutes by the Chinese criminal tung. The story is told through two characters, Mei Lein a young Chinese woman and Dondalina Cameron.
Dondalina (Dolly), comes to work at the Occidental Mission Home, a home that provides refuge for Chinese women, taken from places of Iill repute. These Chinese women were broken and also addicted to opium. Some as young as six years old, were forced to work in abusive situations or sold as prostitutes. These Chinese women would contact the Mission Home through a code and the Mission Home, would come and rescue them from their deplorable situation. Dolly become an advocate for these Chinese women and worked tirelessly to make a better future for them.
Mei Lein, is one of the paper daughters, whose story we read about, from before her arrival in America. It was one that broke my heart.
The author did extensive research and told a well written story. Sadly this form of muliputive acts, are still alive today, in the big business of sex trafficking.

This was a fascinating look at part of Donaldina Cameron's mission in life and the people she helped. Heather Moore effortlessly wove historical facts with a fictional story that was intriguing.

Tien Fu Wu stole the show as a secondary character. Her passion and determination were inspiring, as was her growth throughout the book.

This book discussed a lot of touch topics well, including prostitution, racism, abuse, drug use, and slavery. No graphic details were given, which is why I would rate this book as PG-13

Moore delivers a tremendous read about an important part of California, San Francisco, and US history. The fight against slave trafficking of young Asian females during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, I had never heard of Donaldina Cameron. She was one hell of a woman. Decided, determined. Dedicated, and infatiguable she directed the Mission for close to forty years, battle she the sex traffickers, and was mother to numerous refugees. The author provides excellent background information, informative citations, and a good bibliography. This one is is not to be missed.

Moore's story of Donaldina Cameron's work at the Occidental Home for Girls and its many Chinese residents is both dramatic and compelling. It covers a period of national shame--when Chinese immigrants were barred from entering the US, with an exception for Chinese women who were promised to be married to US residents. Fraud was rampant, and large numbers of Chinese women arrived only to realize they had been duped into sexual slavery. Donaldina Cameron came to work at the home for a brief period, but discovered she had a passion for the work of caring for and rescuing the Asian women who had been so exploited, and so worked there for many years. I was skeptical when I first approached this book because it seemed to have the stereotype of the Helpful White Lady all over it. And having finished it, I wonder if the story might have been better focused on the home and its Asian residents, rather than as seen through Cameron's eyes. That said, Cameron, along with her police contacts, many of the residents, and sympathetic San Franciscans of all races, did very important work in caring for and liberating exploited women and children. It would be a great disservice to discount that work--and this book--because of Cameron's race. Cameron is shown to be both compassionate and practical in her service, which may be why she was so successful and beloved. I was particularly drawn to Tien Fu Wu, who began the story as a damaged, troubled teenager, and grew to be one of the home's most valuable rescuers. Her growth within the story was a firm through point that carried the book to its triumphant end, even more so than that of the fictional Mei Lien. Readers should take particular care to read the excellent Author's Note before reading the novel so they can appreciate it in its important social and political contexts. I also very much liked the epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter, and the corresponding notes at the end are not to be missed. Recommended for lovers of US history, immigration, and even crime stories. The prose is clear and direct, and definitely appropriate for YA readers as well as adults.

I was provided with a free copy of THE PAPER DAUGHTERS OF CHINATOWN by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

here is so much history in this novel I don’t even know where to begin. The author’s attention to detail, and countless hours of research is evident on each and every page. Yes, it was a hard read at times. But all history isn’t cheery and roses. It is tough. It is hard to swallow. But at the end of the day, it still provides hope, which is exactly what Moore has done here.

Donaldina, “Dolly”, is a character we can all connect with – a girl who wants to help out, thinking she is brave enough to handle it. A girl with a big heart, trying to make a difference. Sound familiar? Yeah, it does to me. As we often find in life, Donaldina found that the work she was doing wasn’t really what she had in mind, and was much harder than she ever thought. But that didn’t stop her. In fact, she found herself doing things she never dreamed of, and that in itself was inspirational.

The Paper Daughters of Chinatown is a poignant story that had me reaching for the tissues. The stories of the things these young woman (and girls) went through absolutely broke my heart. The addition of Mei Lien to the storyline was perfect. She provided a POV that I was nervous about reading, but found myself clinging to every scene. Again, it was hard to read, and I know there were women in much worse circumstances than her. It really makes you think about things, about life.

If you are looking for a historically accurate read that will open your eyes and take your breath away, I highly recommend this book. It is full of emotion, sadness, and darkness. But I find that you can always find a little light in a dark world, and that’s exactly what Moore does. She brings readers hope.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This story brought to life for me a world that I didn't even know existed. While I know that human trafficking is a problem in our world, I didn't know about the paper daughters in San Fransisco. At first, I didn't know if I would be able to handle reading about the subject matter. However, I trusted Heather B Moore to tell the story in a real yet non-graphic way. I learned so much!!! The notes and research are outstanding. These people came to life for me. The last chapter made me cry happy tears to see how far they had come. What an incredible journey. The depth of these characters and this story takes my breath away.

This novel by Heather B Moore captivated me. I was honored to learn about the fearsome and dedicated Donaldina Cameron who helped so many Chinese women who had been sold into slavery or forced into prostitution when they came to the United States. This wonderful fictional story was based on the true events of Donaldina (Dolly) Cameron as she first becomes a teacher at the Occidental Mission Home for Girls in San Francisco, and then served as director for many years.

Under Heather B. Moore's talented writing skills, she brought Dolly's story alive, woven with the heart breaking stories of so many children and women the Home, under her direction, were able to rescue from the Chinese tong.. I cried several times during the reading of this novel! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel!

Spoiler Alert:

Dolly may never have married and had children of her home, but she had many "daughters" she had saved, and the tender stories she has woven about this girls and women really touched me.

This is a story that stays with you long after you've read "The End" and closed the book. That's one reason why Heather B. Moore is one of my favorite authors. She did a lot of heartbreaking research to tell the story of Donaldina Cameron who started working as a sewing teacher (in 1895), and later became the director of the Occidental Mission Home for Girls in San Francisco (from 1900-1934), saving thousands of Chinese girls and young women from prostitution, slavery and abusive situations.

The author weaves the true story of Donaldina's (Dolly) work with the Occidental Mission Home with the fictional story (based on true events) of Mei Lien, one of the "paper daughters" brought from China, who thinks she's coming to America for an arranged marriage to a Chinese man already in the U.S. Soon Mei Lien finds herself being sold to the highest bidder, locked in a room, and addicted to opium.

Once I got into the story and was able to keep the characters straight, I was completely absorbed into the lives of these women. This book brought out so many emotions--fear for Dolly as she went on rescues for the young women who asked for help, and fought the powerful tong; sadness for Mei Lien and the other women as they discovered they'd had been lied to; rage that people (especially other women) could do that to their fellow human beings.

I admire Donaldina Cameron for dedicating her life to these girls and women who had been abused. She not only gave them an education, she taught them life skills, got them to trust again, and loved them as if they were her flesh and blood. They truly were her daughters. Hers is an amazing story and it couldn't have been told by a better author than Heather B. Moore.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and the publisher, Shadow Mountain. All thoughts and opinions expressed in my review are my own.

This story was so good! I didn’t know anything about the paper daughters before reading this, and it was shocking and horrifying to learn about. I found myself putting the book down more than once to find out more about things, such as the Chinese Exclusion Act and foot binding. Donaldina Cameron was a saint, and I was continually amazed at her strength and perseverance, even when she was terrified.

I found myself wishing we could have learned more about officer Cook. He was such an integral part of the story, and I wanted to find out more about his background .

This is a book that I recommend to everyone, and I also recommend researching all of the things that you will learn about in this book. Sometimes history is ugly, but it’s still important to learn about it so we don’t repeat that ugliness.

If you are a lover of history or someone like me that is hiding behind a rock, this is a fantastic read! I did not know of the extent of human trafficking that happened in the early 1900’s. This book is the real life events of the “paper daughters” in San Francisco in the early 1900’s. Heather B. Moore has done her do do diligence in researching this subject and the life of Donaldina Cameron. One of the amazing women that helped bring attention, fight, and save so many young Chinese girls, from the depths of despair. This book is based on true historical events with fictional changes for the storyline. It is a raw look into the lives of these girls that were robbed of their youth and lives. There is no offensive language. It is a mild telling of the brutal attacks and the violent assaults of these girls. The mention of undressing and prostitution is also mild, but necessary to the story. I would rate it as PG-13 because the subject. I would recommend it to my teenage daughter and all adults. Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishers, Heather B Moore and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Normally, I would not have picked this book to read, preferring to read something more contemporary and lighthearted. But I have enjoyed this author's writing capabilities and decided to read and review this historical story of a remarkable woman named Donaldina (Dolly) Cameron. Dolly worked tirelessly to save as many Chinese girls and women caught up in the human slave trade in the late 1800s and early 1900s of San Francisco's Chinatown. This author turned a spotlight on the harsh reality of these young women without graphic descriptions of their abuses. Instead, she brings to life those captives with a compassionate (and passionate) story that will move even the most hardhearted person.
While the background setting of this novel is dark, the triumphs of this 1 woman is inspiring and should be an ensign for all Christians to "sow where one is planted".
Kudos Heather B. Moore for a story well told!