by Laurence Yep
First published 1990
Moon Shadow leaves China to join his father Windrider in San Francisco's Chinatown. His father works as a laundryman but dreams of something greater: constructing a machine that can fly. The boy discovers his father's obsession with aviation after hearing stories of the Wright brothers' success. Together they face the challenges of immigrant life in early 1900s America while pursuing this seemingly impossible goal. Moon Shadow must navigate between two worlds, learning American ways while honoring his Chinese heritage. The father and son team encounters prejudice from white neighbors and skepticism from their own community. Their bond strengthens as they work side by side, gathering materials and testing designs for their flying contraption. The story follows their determination to prove that dreams can take flight, even when others doubt their abilities. At its heart, this tale explores the powerful connection between a father and son united by shared ambition and mutual respect.
Genres: family, historical-fiction, 20th-century, american, adventure, coming-of-age, aviation, asian-american
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family, pursuit-of-dreams
Setting: China, San Francisco, Chinatown
Period: Early 1900s, 20th Century
275 pages · Hardcover · Cornerstone Books