Tales From Gold Mountain: Stories Of The Chinese In The New World (A Groundwood Book) (A Groundwood Book)

Through eight original tales, readers gain insight into the hardships faced by the first Chinese immigrants in America. In “Spirits of the Railway,” a young man endeavors to appease the restless ghosts of railroad workers who were never properly laid to rest, shedding light on the sacrifices made by laborers in building the nation’s infrastructure. In “Forbidden Fruit,” a father’s bias threatens to tear apart his daughter’s chance at love and happiness, highlighting the impact of cultural traditions and familial expectations on individual lives.

Sona And The Golden Beasts

Sona, a Malech, belongs to the ruling class that has oppressed the native Devans for centuries. Despite the Malechs’ ban on music to prevent the Devans from accessing their magical abilities, Sona hears melodies everywhere, hiding her own musical talents to avoid endangering herself. But When Sona discovers an orphaned wolf pup with golden ears, she suspects a connection to the sacred beasts of Devia and vows to protect it at all costs. As she embarks on a perilous quest with a Devan boy to obtain the nectar of life for a gravely ill loved one, Sona uncovers secrets about the Malechian empire and her own identity.

A Song Of Wraiths And Ruin

In Roseanne A. Brown’s captivating debut novel, “A Song of Wraiths and Ruin,” readers are transported to a world inspired by West African folklore, where two unlikely adversaries find themselves drawn together by fate and circumstance.

Malik, a desperate refugee fleeing war-torn lands, sees the Solstasia festival in the prosperous desert city of Ziran as a chance to secure a better life for himself and his sisters. However, when his younger sister Nadia is abducted by a vengeful spirit demanding the life of Karina, the Crown Princess of Ziran, Malik strikes a dangerous bargain—to assassinate Karina in exchange for Nadia’s freedom.

Set against a backdrop of ancient evils and simmering tensions, “A Song of Wraiths and Ruin” is a gripping tale of injustice, magic, and romance. With its richly imagined world and compelling characters, this New York Times bestseller is sure to enchant readers.

Wild Bird

In the small colonial community of Victoria in 1861, sixteen-year-old Kate Harding is trying to help her mother as she is about to give premature birth in their home. While mother and daughter make it through the grueling ordeal with the help of a local midwife, the baby does not live. The irony of this tragic event is that Kate’s father is one of the few doctors in the colony, but he was out tending to other patients at the time. Wild Bird takes readers up close as a young girl yearns to find her place through meaningful work, while the author describes the ways in which Indigenous people relate to the recently arrived settlers.

Window

An imaginative visual narrative of the sights a young girl takes in as she walks home from school in the city. As she walks she wonders what might be going on behind the scenes of the windows she passes by on the way home. Her imagination knows no bounds as she envisions everything from a whale in a bathtub, vampires playing badminton, and even an indoor jungle! Finally readers venture through a window to find the girl at home in her own room, where the toys that surround her look strikingly familiar.

Homeland: My Father Dreams Of Palestine

In this autobiographical picture book, three young girls eagerly await for their father to tell them stories about his homeland of Palestine. It is through his memories of the Old City of Jerusalem that brings the city to life for the sisters, instilling love for a place they have never been and likely will never visit. But through their father’s memories, they will always return.

The Carpet: An Afghan Family Story

Inspired by the author’s life, The Carpet takes readers to the day in the life of a young Afghan refugee, whose family remain connected to home through the carpet that serves as the centerpiece of their family life. Around the carpet they share meals, tell stories, laugh and share memories of their time shared back home.

This book is part of the Worlds of Words Global Reading List for 2023/24.

Snoozie, Sunny, And So-So

A cat named Soozie doesn’t like to move very much, while Sunny, a dog, is afraid of the rain. They may be very different, but they are still best friends. One day, they meet a timid a dog who is feeling “so-so”. How will the two friends coax her into joining them for a birthday part? And how will it change their lives?