Summary
A modern-day Chinese grandmother tells the story of her own great-grandfather who came to America with his younger brother in the mid-1800s to find work. They were hired with other thousands of Chinese to help build the railroad across the country. The story tells of their labor, their hardships, their loyalty, the discrimination they faced, and the final achievement of their dream.
Activities
The author is Rosanna Yin Lau. Why do you think she uses the single name for her books?
The name of the illustrator is pronounced soon-peet. Do you think he is Chinese? Check his biography to see.
Yin has written a sequel to Coolies. What do you think might happen to Shek and Wong as their lives continue in San Francisco? Read the sequel Brothers if it is available.
(older readers) A reviewer for Publishers Weekly feels that the illustrations are too dramatic for the author’s tone. Another reviewer feels the paintings add to the emotion of the story. What do you think about the match between the author’s words and the artist’s paintings?
Read book reviews written by intermediate grade students. Write your own book review.
Rhode Island students
Scholastic readers
Explore an online photo album of Yin and Chris Soentpiet. What would you say to Chris if you met him at a book signing or at a visit to your school?
What is the difference between fact and stereotype? Find possible sterotypes in the book.
Try the puzzles Chris has created for you.
Research and describe the Ching Ming Festival.
"Wong saw the tip of Shek’s boot protruding above the alp of snow" What does alp mean? What is a synonym for alp?
How long was it between the signing of the bill to build the transcontinental railroad and the pounding of the last spike to connect the two parts?
Sing "I’ve Been Workin’ on the Railroad".
Teacher Note: You can take a chance and download James Coffey’s "Layin’ Down Those Railroad Ties" or "Aboard a Train" for $1 each from Songs for Teaching.
(older readers) Follow the chronology of the building of the transcontinental railroad from Sacramento to Utah. On an outline map of the United States, draw in the railroad. Mark five places where something happened that you believe is significant and write a brief description of what happened at each of these points.
About the Author
Official website of Chris Soentpiet.
Interviews and articles about Chris Soentpiet are collected on his website.
Synopsis of an appearance by Yin and Christ Soentpiel
Awards
IRA Children’s Book Award, 2002, Intermediate Fiction
American Library Association Notable Books 2002
Parents’ Choice Award Gold Level, 2001
Asian Pacific American Award for Literature. Children’s and Young Adult. Honorable Mention
Junior Library Guild Selection 2001
Related books
Note that a bibliography of books about the Transcontinental Railroad is provided on the final page of Coolies.
Say, A. (1993). Grandfather’s journey. Houghton Mifflin. grades k-3
Yep, L. (1993). Dragon’s gate. HarperCollins. grades 6-10
Yin. (2006). Brothers. Philomel. grades 2-5
More for the teacher
Use Nancy Keane’s booktalk to create interest in Coolies.
Use Coolies for literature study of story structure, for the Westward Expansion in American history, for discussions of immigration, or for multicultural unit.
Cultural background for Coolies
Brothers is a sequel to Coolies, published in 2006 and a Junior Library Guild Selection for 2006. This book follows the experiences of Ming, a younger brother who comes to join Shek and Wong in San Francisco. Teachers Activity Guide.
Gather several books illustrated by Chris Soentpiet and do the project he provides.
Links to other online guides for Coolies.
Assessment
Coolies. Accelerated Reader: Quiz #43511 EN; Book Level 4.8; Points= 0.5
Reading Counts: Reading Level 3.8; Points= 2.0
Lexile Level 660
Guided Reading Level N
word count= 2007
Flesch/Kincaid 3.5