The Paper Daughters of Chinatown

By: Heather B. Moore

Narrated by: Nancy Wu

Length: 13 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's Summary

A powerful story based on true events surrounding Donaldina Cameron and other brave women who fought to help Chinese-American women escape discrimination and slavery in the late 19th century in California.

When Donaldina Cameron arrives at the Occidental Mission Home for Girls in 1895, she intends to teach sewing skills to young Chinese women immigrants, but, 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 - brings Chinese young women to America to sell them as slaves. With the help of Chinese interpreters and the Chinatown police squad, Donaldina becomes a tireless social reformer 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.

©2020 Heather B. Moore (P)2020 Shadow Mountain

Should be classified as a “Youth Fiction” book

Disappointed. The story is written as though done by a teenager. The narrator speaks as if she is reading to very small children. It was hard to keep listening to this book, but I finished it. Perhaps a young teen audience would be more appropriate for this book.

great story based on true events

I was captivated by this story. plenty of intrigue, suspense, and hope. I recommend it.

The Paper Daughters - unforgettable story of perseverance and resilience!

Of course I had an idea about what the paper daughters would be about. However, the way Heather Moore developed these characters into living, breathing, human beings, both the Chinese girls and Dolly, has made them unforgettable in my mind. Throughout the book, I often stopped and Googled images of the Cameron house, San Francisco’s Chinatown, and Donaldina Cameron. What is so sobering is that the story, this war, it’s still being fought on other fronts. We have Tim Ballard, but we need more people with courage like he and Dolly. The story definitely moves you to do something.

Historically interesting

This book is an historical romance so well read that it keep us tied to it. The characters are deep and moving and helps us to thank to live in the 21st century in a civilized part of the world while fearing for what is still out there

Great piece of history

While this is a fascinating story, well researched and historically significant, the writing was somewhat overwrought. It seemed, at times, too melodramatic. I still enjoyed it, and learned much about this interesting woman, but stylistically was not as crisp as I would have liked.

Too long

I didn’t like the writing style. Too childish and drawn out. The narrator made it worse. Subject was interesting

Historical Fiction at it's Best!

What a wonderful book! Heather has truly educated me on a life and rescue of human trafficking. Heather has opened my eyes to a world that isn't pretty but is still occurring. She combines true people and events with fictional people so that the story can be told. She does so a way that although at times is heartbreaking is also uplifting.

Heartbreaking true story

I was so moved by the story. I have long been aware of the tragedies of human tragedies of young women being torn from their homes and subjected to such degradation. This book was so well written that I felt the pain and agony of the girls who were torn to this and other people to try so hard to help them. It made me wish I was younger I could just keep my life as doll idiot. Well worth the time dedicated to reading this book. We need more dollies in this world

A Remarkable Woman!

I did not know the story of Donaldina Cameron, her dedication and sacrifices in early San Francisco's Chinatown history... this book was enlightening! Shame on me, as I grew up in San Francisco and was a "club" member at Cameron house in my teens years!! I enjoyed many social Friday nights there and made many friends outside my school's circle of friends. Our carnival fundraisers were so much fun while helping to raise money for the local Chinese community. This book documents the history of Donaldina Cameron, her many years of rescuing young Chinese girls and women who were in desparate need of help and love. Told in a fictional format with well developed characters. Thoroughly enjoyed!

This book stole my heart

One of the best books I have listened to on Audible especially as it’s based on true events .
A must read for all
Thank you

Fiction meets fact

What an amazing history this book is based on. This is historical fiction but based in the little talked about Chinese slave trade.
Really enlightening.

Couldn't Put It Down!

Great story, amazing women.

I saw some reviews about the narration and it nearly put me off, I'm so glad it didn't! No the voice of Dolly doesn't sound Scottish but it takes nothing way from the great writing and the fascinating story.

History I did not know of.

Very interesting audiobook. I was not aware of the Paper Daughters. I’m very glad I listened it.

The narration was dreadful

The only reason I ended up listening to the entire book is because the story line was good but the narration was awful and annoying. I suggest you buy this book instead.

Interesting inspiration, poor execution

The inspiration and story behind this historical novel is fascinating. Unfortunately it came across incredibly ‘white saviour’, with a painstakingly patronising approach to the Chinese women in the novel. The poor writing made Dolly sound like an oversimplified kindergarten teacher in every interaction and that grated on me, along with the poor narration. I persevered for the story, but would only recommend researching Donaldina Cameron rather than reading this book.

Good story, but……

Engrossing story, but I had great difficulty with the nasal voice of the narrator, whichever character she was reading. Couldn’t help thinking that she sounded like Donald Duck every time she was reading Donaldina’s voice. Surely nobody sounds like that!
I persevered, and rate the book as average.

Poorly written

The language is basic and oversimplified, the kind you expect when you buy a novel from a gas station. The story seems interesting, but I can't get past the language to finish.

A Dreadful Narrator & Such a Racist Novel.

Firstly the narrator was absolutely dreadful. She could've tried harder and practised the accents. Secondly this book is extremely racist. The whole theme running through the book is selfless white saviour lady rescuing poor Chinese girls, who are always portrayed as inferior. Obviously this is based on a true story and we have to take into account the era these events took place, but this is actually historical fiction and I really think that the author could've approached this entire story in a way that was less "white saviour". A really awful book.

worth a listen

Overall I found the book enjoyable, having been unfamiliar with the subject matter.
Once I attuned myself to the narrator's questionable Oirish/Scottish version of Dolly's accent,which grated on my Irish nerves, I found the performance generally strong.
I felt the novel itself was quite interesting and had some strong characters, although I thought it should have come to a natural ending a few chapters earlier. I'm a bit disappointed that the author didn't elaborate more about the historical accuracy of some of the Chinese characters in her afterwords, as I felt they were slightly underdeveloped in the novel and I wondered if that was an attempt at trying not to misrepresent a true historical person. While I appreciate the story of Dolly and her work, I would have appreciated some more development of the later storys of some of the Chinese characters.

Excellent insight into Chinese slavery in the USA

Really enjoyed this book. I was not aware of the amount of Chinese women in sex slavery in the US in the early part of the last century so this was an insight to me. However, if I did have one complaint the narrator clearly doesn’t know the difference between a Scottish accent and a soft Irish accent.