Three Coins IV - A Continuing Saga of the American West
"CHINATOWN ORPHANS ON
SONORA STREET"
An Illustrated Book
In the early 1900s, Sonora Street was in the center of Stockton's Chinatown. Almost nothing remains of the bustling lives of the hundreds of Chinese-American families who made a home in Sam Fow or Stockton, California. This illustrated book brings to life Fong Wy, Gee Shee, and their seven children and the events that forever changed the lives of this remarkable family. It is a small slice of our Immigrant American history with a twist, as during the Depression, these young children confronted the world as the Orphans on Sonora Street.
“Chinatown Orphans on Sonora Street" offers a poignant journey into the Fong family's life on Stockton's Sonora Street, spanning from the 1920s through World War II. Fong Wy, himself an orphan, nurtures his seven children with boundless affection, fostering joy through simple pleasures like roller skating and shared moments over Sunday comics and cupcakes. However, tragedy strikes early in Rose's life, as both parents pass away by her twelfth year. Left to fend for themselves, Rose and her six siblings band together, drawing on their father's teachings of resilience to navigate Depression-era challenges, surviving on free wieners, chicken feet, watermelon, and joyful singing.
With rich dialogue and vibrant illustrations, Russ Low's narrative resonates deeply with themes of love, loss, fortitude, and self-reliance. "Chinatown Orphans on Sonora Street" offers a touching glimpse into the lives of these resilient children amidst Depression-era America, leaving a lasting imprint on the heart.
Stockton or Sam Fow's Chinatown 1900 - 1947
Dr. Tererai Trent
Author of The Awakened Woman, Scholar, Speaker, Humanitarian
"I find no words to express my gratitude to you for sharing your story! Indeed, the story of "Three Coins" resonates with me deeply. You gave me hope and a strong belief that my fight for a better life has a lasting ripple effect on many generations to come! You are a gift! And thank you for celebrating women and their resilience in a world that seemingly wants our silencing! I will never forget your Great-grandmother, Ah Ying, as long as I live!"You will too
Sue Lee
Chinese Historical Society
of America
"Ah Ying is a woman after my own heart. She is feisty and smart. Definitely got a mind of her own. And once she decides what she wants, she goes for it. She's so different from the stereotypical docile, filial Chinese daughter. What a good read!" Sue Lee
Anne Hoiberg
Author, Activist, Educator Women's Museum of California Hall of Fame
"Russell N. Low's book, Three Coins, highlights the resilience, determination, courage, and stubbornness of his great-grandmother, Ah Ying, who was sold by her family and brought to America as a nine-year-old Chinese slave for a family in San Francisco's Chinatown. Ah Ying's story begins in September 1880 when her mother gives her three coins to toss into the ocean to protect her on her journey. Ah Ying's life in Chinatown reflects the early history of human trafficking to this country and U.S. and California legislation that outlawed Chinese immigration from 1875 to 1943. Her story includes kidnappings, the Presbyterian Mission Home, rescues, romance, marriage, children, a devastating earthquake, and the resultant racial division between the Chinese and White San Franciscans that "once again became evident, as the effects of the great equalizer quickly faded."
