First published 1019
When a mysterious woman in a black cloak wanders into a Chinese labor camp in 1873 Washington, a laborer named Chin Ah Kin is ordered to escort her far away. But Chin soon finds himself drawn into her strange journey, as they're separated and reunited at an insane asylum, then embark on a series of wild misadventures. As they encounter a colorful cast of characters, Chin is forced to confront his own sense of identity and purpose, while the elusive Sarah Canary remains an enigma. By turns hilarious, moving, and chilling, their odyssey explores the power of human connection in a hostile world.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, adventure, 19th-century
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enigmatic-protagonist, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Pacific Northwest, Washington
Period: 19th century
320 pages · Paperback · Henry Holt and Company
Content warnings: mental-illness