Grades 4-7--Laurence Yep's Newbery Honor book (HarperCollins, 1975) offers insights into the lives of Chinese-Americans in early 20th century California. The story begins as eight-year-old Moon Shadow Lee journeys across the Pacific to join his proud and clever father at the family-owned laundry in San Francisco. The boy recounts their problems with prejudice, as well as the kindness of uncles …
Grade 3-5-Seeking revenge for an unintentional slight, a ghost fox attempts to steal the souls of both Little Lee and his mother while the merchant Big Lee has gone downriver to trade. They protect themselves throughout the spring, summer, and fall, but let their guard down in the winter. The fox sneaks into the house and begins to harden the woman's heart against her only son. Changing from a …