Set in a Sierra Nevada logging camp in the late 19th century, this graphic novel weaves the historical setting with a hefty dose of magical realism. Thirteen-year-old Mei is the daughter of the camp’s cook, who immigrated to the U.S. from China. Mei bakes pies for the workers and tells them tales of Auntie Po, a giant, elderly, Chinese woman who has a blue water buffalo named Pei Pei and could outdo even Paul Bunyan in cutting trees.
The Chinese Exclusion Act, however, is making things tough at camp. Although the foreman, who is White, tries to be supportive, he is under pressure by the company owner not to hire Chinese workers. Amidst the growing stress, we see Auntie Po and Pei Pei come to life to help Mei and the workers—although Khor avoids easy answers and does not reconstruct history. Auntie Po is a commentator on the situation as much as an influencer of it.
We also see the two communities of European and Chinese immigrants and their descendants learning about and sometimes blending each other’s customs, foods, and stories, and we watch the foreman grappling with what it means to be an ally. Mei herself straddles the traditions of her father and the stories and possibilities of her new country. She also has a crush on the foreman’s daughter, Bee, and expressly says she is not interested in boys, though this is only one aspect of her story. The characters are multifaceted and humanly flawed, at times showing sparks of humor that lighten the tale. Khor’s soft watercolors show the expressiveness of the characters as well as details about life in the camp.
The rare setting, sympathetic characters, and thoughtfulness about the communities depicted, along with the captivating illustrations, make this a highly recommended book.
