THE EARTH DRAGON AWAKES

Yep, Laurence. 2006. EARTH DRAGON AWAKES. New York: Harper Collins
ISBN-10: 0060275243

PLOT SUMMARY
Yep’s historical fiction novel looks at the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco from the point of view of two young boys. Written in journal style we meet Henry, the son of a well off banker, and Chang, the son of the family house boy have become fast friends and want what every child wants, excitement. Both boys plan to grow up and do exciting things and not be “boring” like their fathers. They soon have more excitement then they could have ever imagined when the earthquake hits. The boys and their family’s are soon left homeless in a city that is on fire. Together they overcome the obstacles and make plans to stay in San Francisco and help rebuild.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Yep’s journal style story is action packed and would be a great book for that reluctant reader or boy who loves adventure. However, there seems to be a few cultural markers that Yep is breaking. One example is the Asian American as the house boy. Ah Sing is always their for the family to save the day repair the clothing and clean up around the house. I understand that in San Francisco many Asian American men and women worked for the well off families at this time, but as I read the story I could not get the stereotypical view of the house boy out of my mind. Another example is the language of Ah Sing. He is seen in the story speaking to the family in broken English. “I got plenty. I sweep, I find, I keep.” However, at the end of the book he is seen speaking to the Travis family in clear English. “May I help you with your luggage?”
Overall, the story is exciting and Yep does do a good job describing what life would have been like in san Francisco and Chinatown during the time of the quake. He also tries to show the family as appreciative of the service of Ah Sing and his son. They are like family.Mr.Travis even suggest recommending lawyers to help the Asian American family’s when he learns that the citizens of San Francisco want Chinatown rebuilt elsewhere. The inclusion of actual photos from the earthquake and an afterward describing the quake are wonderful additional information for the reader who wants to learn more.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

School Library Journal
Yep looks at the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 from two points of view. Chin is a young Chinese immigrant whose father is a houseboy for a prominent banker and his family. He has become friendly with young Henry Travis, the banker's son, through their interest in low-brow but exciting penny dreadfuls. The stories depict heroic people doing heroic things and, while both boys appreciate their fathers, they certainly do not regard them as heroes. Not, that is, until the Earth Dragon roars into consciousness one spring morning, tearing the city asunder and making heroes out of otherwise ordinary men.

Booklist
On the evening of April 17, 1906, neither eight-year-old Henry nor his friend Ching is aware that the earth beneath their San Francisco homes is shifting. Devotees of "penny dreadfuls," both boys long for excitement, not their fathers' ordinary routine lives.

Reviews accessed at:
http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Dragon-Awakes-Francisco-Earthquake/dp/0060275243


CONNECTIONS
Related websites
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/wwatch/earthquakes/

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/nca/1906/18april/index.php