Dragon's Gate

Based on the experiences of the Chinese who built the transcontinental railroad at the time of the American Civil War, Dragon’s Gate is the powerful story of one boy’s struggle for survival against overwhelming odds. Young Otter always dreamed of going to America, so when an accident forces Otter to flee China, he is ready to join his father who is working on the railroads in California. Life in America, however, is not what Otter had expected. Slaving from dawn to dusk under brutal working conditions and despite bitter cold, it is a daily struggle just to survive. Can Otter muster the courage and strength he needs to stand against his foremen—is it even possible one young boy can make a difference? Newbery Award-winning author Laurence Yep writes convincingly about a chapter in history often ignored by a nation preoccupied with civil war. Blending elements of Otter’s Chinese heritage with his experiences in the Sierra Nevadas, Yep creates a moving story that will touch the heart.