Fourteen-year-old Bing is upset with his father for forcing him to help him dig up the bones of Chinese men and women in order to send them back to China. After they discover a skeleton without a skull, Ba is haunted by the powerful ghost. Later Bing gets a job as houseboy for a wealthy family, where he finds another ghost haunting the family. Bing is finally able to find out what both ghosts want from the living and rescues his father from impending death.
“A great read-aloud, either at home or in the classroom.”
– Toronto Star, starred review
“The story also offers young readers a glimpse into the racism and tough conditions faced by Chinese immigrants at the turn of the century.”
– Kirkus Reviews
“Yee skillfully contrasts the supernatural with brutal, racial prejudice and the haunted, unsettled yearning of immigrants longing for roots.”
– Booklist
“This is a book that shows the imaginative power of fiction. It demonstrates that empathy across time and cultures is possible.”
– The Georgia Straight
City of Vancouver Book Award | 2004 | Short-listed
BCLA stellar Award | 2006 | Short-listed
Resource Links Best of 2004 | 2004 |
