num_pages: 40
description: Shek marvels at the new world as he and his brother, Little Wong, arrive in California. Along with hundreds of other workers, the brothers are going to build a great railroad across the West. They plan to save enough money so that their mother and little brothers can join them in America. But as days grow into months, they endure many hardships-exhausting work, discrimination, and treacherous avalanches. Inspired by actual events, this story reveals the harsh truth about life for the Chinese railroad workers in 1865, while celebrating their perseverance and bravery.
language: English
title: Coolies
titlecomplete: Coolies
genres: Cultural, Fiction, Historical, American, Picture Books, China, American History, Childrens, 19th Century, Historical Fiction
ratings_count: 393
awards: awardedAt: 1009872000000
name: IRA Children’s and Young Adult’s Book Award
category: Intermediate–Fiction, awardedAt: 1041408000000
name: Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature
category: Children's Illustrator Honor
publisher: Puffin Books