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A review by katiemack
Mott Street: A Chinese American Family's Story of Exclusion and Homecoming by Ava Chin
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.5
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I knew about the Chinese Exclusion Act Congress passed in 1882 from an academic/purely historical standpoint, but Ava Chin's framing her family history around this makes the Act feel even more dehumanizing. It's clear that Chin did an extensive amount of research with primary sources, but this reads more like a multigenerational family saga than a dry history book; it was tough to put down, especially once I got to know the family members better. I wish I had gotten to know more about Chin's mom and dad--especially her dad's political legacy--but that would have made for a much longer book.
Grab this to read for AAPI.NH Heritage Month!
I knew about the Chinese Exclusion Act Congress passed in 1882 from an academic/purely historical standpoint, but Ava Chin's framing her family history around this makes the Act feel even more dehumanizing. It's clear that Chin did an extensive amount of research with primary sources, but this reads more like a multigenerational family saga than a dry history book; it was tough to put down, especially once I got to know the family members better. I wish I had gotten to know more about Chin's mom and dad--especially her dad's political legacy--but that would have made for a much longer book.
Grab this to read for AAPI.NH Heritage Month!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Death
Minor: Child death