Good Fortune: My Journey to Gold Mountain

In 1933, seven-year-old Li Keng s life changed forever. Her father decided to bring his family from a small village in southern China to California. Getting to America was not easy. Getting past America s strict anti-Chinese immigration laws was even more difficult. To do so, the family had to keep secrets and offer well-rehearsed lies. Life in America during the Great Depression brought many exciting surprises as well as a few disappointments. Hunger, poverty, police raids, frequent moves, and the occasional sting of racism were a part of everyday life, but slowly Li Keng and her family found stability and a true home in Gold Mountain.

An author s note contains photos and an update on her family. The book contains information on Angel Island and its significance in history as well as an explanation of the Chinese Exclusion Act.