Veeda Bybee

The say after her 12 year old birthday, Lily and her family survive the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Separated from her parents, Lily and her brother must brave a long walk, hostile crowds and racist acts to find their way to safety. The story is well told, and I really appreciated the connection Lily feels between what is happening to her and the adventures of Dorothy in Oz, her favorite book. I also loved seeing her find her voice as the journey unfolds. Veede Bybee shares that she grew up in San Francisco as a Chinese American and never learned the history of what happened to Chinese immigrants during this period of time. So glad she is able to correct that omission for young readers today.… (meer)