Clare’s, from bitter, neglected Elodie to defiant and clever Francesca, are expertly drawn. Lee rounds out Mercy’s story with an equally delightful cast of supporting characters. Mercy felt real to me, and not only would I be happy to read more about her…I also want to be her friend. I was continually impressed with her ingenuity, bravery, and loyalty to her family. Mercy herself – with the “bossy cheekbones” she inherits from her mother – is particularly vivid and endearing.
Author Stacey Lee has crafted a historical YA novel so lively that it practically jumps off of the page. I was absorbed by this book from the very beginning. Clare’s is only the beginning of her troubles as she faces the prejudices of her classmates, the pain of leaving her family behind in Chinatown, and – worst of all – the horrific earthquake that threatens to tear the city apart. Mercy soon learns that making it into St. Clare’s Boarding School, one of the most respected girls’ schools in the country. In the San Francisco of 1906, this dream seems near enough to impossible, but Mercy’s resourcefulness earns her a place at St. Mercy Wong has big dreams, hoping to become a successful businesswoman who earns enough to move her family out of their tight Chinatown quarters.
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