55 pages • 1 hour read
Thousand Pieces of Gold
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Book Brief
308
Novel • Fiction
Idaho • 1880s
1981
YA
12-18 years
Super Short Summary
Thousand Pieces of Gold by Ruthanne Lum McCunn is a biographical novel that follows Polly Bemis, a Chinese American pioneer in 19th-century Idaho, as she navigates a life marked by family betrayal, gender expectations, and the quest for personal agency, offering a critical exploration of the American Dream's deficiencies. The novel describes sexual enslavement, enslavement, sexual assault, death by suicide, anti-Asian racism, gun violence, and lynching.
Inspirational
Challenging
Emotional
Heartwarming
Contemplative
Reviews & Readership
2,925 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Thousand Pieces of Gold by Ruthanne Lum McCunn is widely praised for its compelling narrative and strong historical context. Readers appreciate the depth of character development and cultural insights, though some criticize the pacing. Overall, it's a powerful and thought-provoking story that resonates with those interested in diverse historical experiences.
Who Should Read Thousand Pieces of Gold?
A reader who enjoys Thousand Pieces of Gold by Ruthanne Lum McCunn would appreciate historical novels with strong female protagonists, such as Lisa See's Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club. They find rich, culturally immersive narratives and themes of resilience and identity compelling.
2,925 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
308
Novel • Fiction
Idaho • 1880s
1981
YA
12-18 years
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