Escape to Gold Mountain: A Graphic History of the Chinese in North America

Book — Non-fiction. By David H.T. Wong. 2012. 240 pages.
A graphic novel that gives a panoramic but also an intimate look at the Chinese experience in North America.

Time Periods: 19th Century, Industrial Revolution: 1877 - 1899

Themes: Asian American, Racism & Racial Identity

In this remarkable graphic novel, writer and illustrator David H.T. Wong tells us that the Chinese didn’t distinguish between Canada and the United States when they referred to Gam Saan (Gold Mountain—the Chinese term for North America). That blending of U.S. and Canadian history is one of the delightful and unusual aspects of this important book. Told as the history of the Wong family, this accessible volume offers readers a panoramic but also an intimate look at the Chinese experience in North America. No doubt, this is a story of racism, exploitation, and violence; but it’s also a story of warmth and solidarity. [Review by Rethinking Schools.]