Richard Lam narrates this coming-of-age story of 13-year-old Hoi Wing Woo with honesty and compassion. Woo, who is sent to Canada from China in 1913 by his father, is isolated, lonely, and frustrated by his mind-numbing job in a Chinese laundry. Bullying and language barriers are causing his dream of becoming a scholar to fade. Elder Uncle is demanding and impatient, while Second Uncle displays compassion and support. The prejudice of the community is ignited by Braddock, leader of the Asiatic Exclusion League, whose voice is filled with vitriol and incendiary language that foments violence. Lam shows his range as he gives Heather, a young, Irish scullery maid, a believable accent and range of emotions as she and Woo find friendship and hope for a better future. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine
Fall 1913, St. Catharines, Ontario. Thirteen-year-old Hoi Wing Woo, the son of a scholar, is forced to give up his dreams of an education when he is sent to work in a Chinese laundry in Canada.
Hoi Wing is immediately thrust into relentless, mind-numbing toil, washing clothes by hand for sixteen hours a day, six days a week. Isolated and friendless, he falls into despair.
When he meets Heather, an Irish scullery maid who shares his love of books, Hoi Wing's life immediately brightens. Together, they escape the drudgery of their work by reading novels in a secret hideout. As their friendship grows, they defy the restrictions of their servitude and embark on a plan to better their lives.
But Hoi Wing's dreams will not go unchallenged. Jonathan Braddock, a wealthy and influential entrepreneur who heads the Asiatic Exclusion League, has decided to run for mayor. If Braddock is elected, Hoi Wing will be sent back to China.
The Laundryman's Boy is a moving coming-of-age story that bravely examines notions of race, duty and friendship in early Canada.
Set in early 20th century Canada, 'The Laundryman's Boy' is a poignant historical fiction novel that explores themes of racism, friendship, and duty through the eyes of a young Chinese servant boy forced to work in a laundry.
HarperCollins 2024
Fall 1913, St. Catharines, Ontario. Thirteen-year-old Hoi Wing Woo, the son of a scholar, is forced to give up his dreams of an education when he is sent to work in a Chinese laundry in Canada.
Hoi Wing is immediately thrust into relentless, mind-numbing toil, washing clothes by hand for sixteen hours a day, six days a week. Isolated and friendless, he falls into despair.
When he meets Heather, an Irish scullery maid who shares his love of books, Hoi Wing's life immediately brightens. Together, they escape the drudgery of their work by reading novels in a secret hideout. As their friendship grows, they defy the restrictions of their servitude and embark on a plan to better their lives.
But Hoi Wing's dreams will not go unchallenged. Jonathan Braddock, a wealthy and influential entrepreneur who heads the Asiatic Exclusion League, has decided to run for mayor. If Braddock is elected, Hoi Wing will be sent back to China.
The Laundryman's Boy is a moving coming-of-age story that bravely examines notions of race, duty and friendship in early Canada.
Set in early 20th century Canada, 'The Laundryman's Boy' is a poignant historical fiction novel that explores themes of racism, friendship, and duty through the eyes of a young Chinese servant boy forced to work in a laundry.
HarperCollins 2024
The Laundryman's Boy: A Novel - Overcoming Racism And Adversity in 20th Century Canada
The Laundryman's Boy: A Novel - Overcoming Racism And Adversity in 20th Century Canada
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Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940160533025 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | HarperCollins |
| Publication date: | 04/02/2024 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
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