Gus Lee

Good story of weak China boy standing up to bullies in SF.

Based on the personal experience of a young lad adjusting to life in an unfamiliar and tough street culture, as well as growing up in the US in a Chinese family with all the inherent expectations this brings. Set in San Francisco and uniquely American' Review by Megan Wallens - full review in book.

This book paints a fairly accurate picture of the Panhandle region of San Francisco in the 1930s-50s. However, the book takes on a fantastical quality about his family life which disturbed me. It's hard to imagine a more evil person than his white stepmother Edna. The final fight was ludicrous. Read this only if you are interested in 30s San Francisco.

This book gives us insight into growing up in an immigrant family struggling for survival in a very foreign San Francisco - racism/bigotry being a main theme.