Solid interesting book told from a unique point of view during the California gold rush of the mid-1800s. Mostly told from Lucy's point of view, the daughter of Chinese immigrants, it is the story of how her and her sister struggle to survive, both from abusive parents and a cold, racist hard world of the mining community.

You really get into Lucy's story, as she mixes Chinese metaphors and language as she struggles to figure out both her parents and her world. You really feel like you are there, in the cold rain, drought and fire of the times.

I was a bit annoyed at the timeline of the novel. For some reason, she decided to start the book about halfway through the story, and then switch back after about 1/3 of the book had gone by. So for the middle third of the book, you know how things are going to end up, but you just don't know why. Maybe the author wanted you to watch, like a traffic accident about to happen, as the bad things come about. I don't know. I wish she had just told the story from beginning to end, at least the main parts. I can understand some of the back stories of her Ma and Ba might be told in flashback fashion, but the main story line would have made me happier if it was just told straight.

But that's a minor point. It took a bit to get going, as the beginning of the book (not the story!) was almost a quest that went on too long, but I really enjoyed the rest of it. It told a story that needs to be told, with an aggressiveness and poetry that was entrancing. Good job!

Added: I should add that I got this Advanced Copy for free after winning it in a drawing here on Goodreads. But I promise the above is my unvarnished opinion!