Escape to Gold Mountain

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The First Nations people have a great oral tradition, and David H.T. Wongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comic book is a wonderful way to continue that tradition, along with his illustrations. This is a book for new and future generations that will create pride in the rich cultures we share. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Chief Leonard George, Tsleil-Waututh Nation

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Escape to Gold Mountain

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Escape to gold mountain A Graphic History of the Chinese in North America

DAVID H.T. WONG

Arsenal Pulp Press

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Vancouver

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ESCAPE TO GOLD MOUNTAIN Copyright © 2012 by David H.T. Wong Second Printing: 2012 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any part by any means—graphic, electronic, or mechanical—without the prior written permission of the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may use brief excerpts in a review, or in the case of photocopying in Canada, a license from Access Copyright.

ARSENAL PULP PRESS Suite 101 – 211 East Georgia St. Vancouver, BC V6A 1Z6 Canada arsenalpulp.com The publisher gratefully acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the British Columbia Arts Council for its publishing program, and the Government of Canada (through the Canada Book Fund) and the Government of British Columbia (through the Book Publishing Tax Credit Program) for its publishing activities.

Cover illustration by David H.T. Wong Book design by Gerilee McBride Editing by Susan Safyan Printed and bound in Canada Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication: Wong, David H. T., 1959Escape to gold mountain : a graphic history of the Chinese in North America / David H.T. Wong.

Includes bibliographical references.

Also issued in electronic format.

ISBN 978-1-55152-476-4 1. Chinese--Canada--History--Comic books, strips, etc. 2. Chinese-Canada--History--Juvenile literature. 3. Chinese--United States-History--Comic books, strips, etc. 4. Chinese--United States--History-Juvenile literature. 5. Graphic novels. I. Title.

FC106.C5W65 2012

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j971’.0049510222

C2012-905205-1

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This book is the first graphic novel to tell their story: an epic saga of the Chinese in their search for “Gold Mountain” (what the Chinese called North America) as seen through the eyes of the Wong family. They face the challenges of life in their adopted homeland with hope and determination, creating a poignant immigrant’s legacy for their sons and daughters. is a moving and gripping story for all young North

Escape to Gold Mountain

Americans.

This is action-packed history for new generations in which David H.T. Wong presents over 100 years of Gold Mountain stories, drawn and told with passion and a critical eye.

A rousing tribute to our pioneers! —Paul Yee, author of Ghost Train and Tales from Gold Mountain A tour-de-force artistic and conceptual achievement that will redefine how Chinese in North America and others perceive our common history. —Anthony B. Chan, author of Gold Mountain and Perpetually Cool: The Many Lives of Anna May Wong

The First Nations people have a great oral tradition, and David H.T. Wong’s comic book is a wonderful way to continue that tradition, along with his illustrations. This is a book for new and future generations that will create pride in the rich cultures we share.

—Chief Leonard George, Tsleil-Waututh Nation

david h.t. wong

Escape to Gold Mountain is an important book that plays to the strength of the graphic novel form. It encapsulizes the struggle of the Chinese in North America in a sweeping visual narrative, attacking a complex storyline that takes in the opium wars to early immigration, railroad workers, the head tax, and the Chinese exclusion act. Forget Batman; Escape to Gold Mountain reveals that the real superheroes are the ones who toil and sacrifice for their families in the face of obscurity. —Tony Wong, journalist

ESCAPE TO GOLD MOUNTAIN

is the story of how the Chinese came to North America over the course of more than 100 years: a history filled with discrimination, heartbreak, and separation from loved ones. Despite these obstacles, however, the Chinese persevered, working hard and making sacrifices in order to create a better life for future generations.

Escape to Gold Mountain

Juvenile Non-Fiction/Graphic Novels 978-1-55152-476-4 $19.95 Canada & USA arsenalpulp.com ARSENAL P Escape_CoverFull.indd 1

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