Yee, Paul. Dead man's gold and other stories

YEE, Paul. Dead man's gold and other stories. Groundwood, dist. by Publishers Group West. 112p. illus. c2002.0-88899-587-3. $7.95. JSA *

This highly recommended collection of ten stories features Chinese immigrants in America in the 19th and 20th centuries. Using a traditional Chinese narrative form--the ghost story--Yee has adroitly crafted mysterious tales in which characters experience the joys and heartbreaks of lives in a land filled with hard work, loneliness, and--something they could not leave behind in China--ghosts. In the title story, a friendship is nearly destroyed by greed but is redeemed through the influence of a ghost. To preview just a few of the other stories, a man overcomes his loneliness by making a Faustian promise; a family's jade pendant becomes a blessing and a curse; a son ashamed of his father's poverty lavishes luxuries upon his father's ghost; and a lonely restaurant owner finds a mysterious replacement for the wife who had abandoned him.

Readers of all ages will enjoy the stories in this superb collection. The simple diction, clever plots, and intriguing characterizations will be fascinating yet accessible to younger readers in middle school; at the same time, the author's fine craftsmanship and the provocative themes are so sophisticated that readers of all ages will find plenty of challenges and entertainment. Tim Davis, Lit. & Comp. Instructor, Univ. of W. Florida, Pensacola, FL

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers.

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.

*--The asterisk highlights exceptional books.

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