The book starts in the year 1934. The United States is in a Depression and there are many many people out of work. Young children are left at orphanages. Not because their parents are dead although many are, but because the parents can not afford to take care of them. They figure rather than make them live on the streets they leave them at an orphanage where they will hopefully be taken care of. Willie Eng is one such child. Willie is a twelve year old Chinese boy who ends up at Seattle's Sacred Heart Orphanage.
He is somewhat content until he goes to see a movie, a rare and wondrous event the orphanage allows each child to go to once a year on their "birthday". While at the movie he catches sight of a Chinese actress who he is pretty sure is his mother. The sisters at Sacred Heart have told Willie his Mom is not alive but after seeing Willow Frost on the big screen he is sure it is her.
He plans his escape and sets out to find his Mom. The story than goes back to 1921 to tell Willows story and how William fits in. It tells about the struggles these characters go through and how they try to find love and happiness and in Willow's case forgiveness. Most of this story is a very sad . Willow being a Chinese American faced much prejudice and hardship. Her son did as well.
This author also wrote Hotel On the Corner of Bitter and Sweet which was also a really good book. If you haven't read it, it is a good choice. So is this one.
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