Spring Pearl: The Last Flower

Girls of Many Lands

by Laurence Yep, Kazuhiko Sano (Illustrator)

After the deaths of her parents, 12-year-old Chou Spring Pearl is taken into the home of her father's wealthy benefactor. Unlike most Cantonese girls, Spring Pearl has learned to read and write, but she must now learn a new skill-how to survive in Master Sung's hostile household. While the Second Opium War rages in the streets and harbor of Canton, Spring Pearl faces battles of her own.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Historical, Middle Grade, China, Childrens

208 pages, Paperback

First published August 21, 2003

About the author

Born June 14, 1948 in San Francisco, California, Yep was the son of Thomas Gim Yep and Franche Lee Yep. Franche Lee, her family's youngest child, was born in Ohio and raised in West Virginia where her family owned a Chinese laundry. Yep's father, Thomas, was born in China and came to America at the age of ten where he lived, not in Chinatown, but with an Irish friend in a white neighborhood. After troubling times during the Depression, he was able to open a grocery store in an African-American neighborhood. Growing up in San Francisco, Yep felt alienated. He was in his own words his neighborhood's "all-purpose Asian" and did not feel he had a culture of his own. Joanne Ryder, a children's book author, and Yep met and became friends during college while she was his editor. They later married and now live in San Francisco.

Although not living in Chinatown, Yep commuted to a parochial bilingual school there. Other students at the school, according to Yep, labeled him a "dumbbell Chinese" because he spoke only English. During high school he faced the white American culture for the first time. However, it was while attending high school that he started writing for a science fiction magazine, being paid one cent a word for his efforts. After two years at Marquette University, Yep transferred to the University of California at Santa Cruz where he graduated in 1970 with a B.A. He continued on to earn a Ph.D. in English from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1975. Today as well as writing, he has taught writing and Asian American Studies at the University of California, Berkeley and Santa Barbara.

Reviews

[DW · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had actually been thinking that it would be good if American Girl published books about historical girls in other countries, because I learned much more American history than world history when I was in school. Well, just wait long enough, and large successful company will introduce related products ...

This book was pretty good. I've recently re-read some of the original American Girl books, and found them frustratingly short (to be fair, they were written for kids, not adults). This "Girls of Many Lands" is for slightly older readers because the characters are 12 instead of 9. I had heard of the Opium Wars and gunboat diplomacy before, but it had never quite sunk in that Britain had attacked China to force them to trade with them. Or to force China to accept British opium. I also was intrigued to read that girls in China in the 1850s wore trousers instead of skirts.

[Betty Strohecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book! Set in Canton, 1857, the story features 12 year old Spring Pearl. Orphaned after the death of her mother, Pearl is taken in by her father's wealthy friend, Master Sung. Unlike most girls of this time, Pearl's mother and father believed in teaching her how to read and write, skills that aid her in adjusting to life with the privileged Sung family.

Laurence Yep does a wonderful job of creating an exciting story, touching on Canton life, political intrigue, and invasion by the British and French during the Second Opium War. It is steeped in Chinese tradition and proverbs.

[Rlygirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colorful and well written adventure about a sweet Chinese girl who becomes orphaned. Spring Pearl goes to live with a family friend, and has to try to fit in with the well-off Sung family and their haughty daughters and overconfident teenage boy. Then trouble strikes and Spring Pearl uses her street sense and wit to show that she is brave, refined, and strong spirited. I enjoyed this read, especially how quickly the plot moved, and the beautiful descriptions/imagery of Chinese culture and fashion.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been interested in this era of Chinese history since high school and think that Yep dod a good job of setting the seen, though sometimes it sounds over-explained. The ending was a bit vague.

[Joyce Xiu · Rating 3 out of 5]

LIFE GOAL: Meet Doggy's granny.

The first parts aren't really interesting. Some scenes are overly detailed, but it certainly pays off at the end :)

[Bulk Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took place in China during the Opium Wars, which is a topic I studied in one of my college classes. I thought I had retained nothing from that class, so it was a pleasant surprise to find that I recognized many of the events that were going on during that time. Having a preexisting connection to this book made the material much easier to digest.

Spring Pearl as a character was just okay. I wanted to roll my eyes at her a lot. She's pretty much perfect at everything (except for sewing, I guess?) and not a chapter goes by in which she isn't impressing someone with her wit and bravery. Really, if I didn't know she was supposed to be twelve years old, I would've thought she was much older. That seems to be a trend with many of the protagonists in this series, I'm finding.

One thing I enjoyed about this book (although I'm not sure if it was historically accurate) was that all the characters, regardless of sex, age, etc. were granted quite a bit of freedom of speech. Usually in children's historical fiction (especially GOML), everyone is quaking in fear that they will do or say something that is out of line, and then be punished severely by an authority figure. There were definitely standards to aspire to in this book, but overall it was refreshing that Spring Pearl could actually speak her mind without being penalized.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned about the Opium Wars from this book--something never mentioned in any of my studies about China when I was in school. Never underestimate a juvenile novel. What I especially like about this series of books is the section in the back which has photos and tells the reader about things from the time the book was set--clothing, traditions, etc.

[Autumn Maisy Raquet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really want to read this one it looks good hope it's not sad or has a disease I cannot take books like those they make me hurt

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spring Pearl is my favorite so far in this series. Laurence Yep's prose is vivid in description, yet efficient at showing historical context and making it interesting. I especially enjoyed the characters, and seeing how Pearl had to carefully navigate the drastic changes in her life. Mistress Sung unexpectedly became an intriguing personality in her own right.

There is a good balance of history and entertainment here, and a bit more maturity to the character writing than in the others I have read of this series.

[Jocelyn Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read over a short shift at work. I’m taking a break from the classic Pleasant Company/American Girl and moving onto this very interesting series they did aimed at older readers.

This was a nice little read that reminded me a lot of a novel I read a few years ago called “Spring Moon”. That book is a much more adult read of this period in history. I enjoyed this, but it lacks the depth and feeling of the classic series’. That is understandable though as this is just a single book.

[Kit Sinatra · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

This wasn’t my least favorite, but it was not what I was hoping for. I thought this book would be very rich in Chinese culture and words and foods and I was so excited for it, but it had almost nothing. I don’t remember reading a single Chinese word and there wasn’t even a translation page in the back like there usually is for American Girl books from different cultures.

It is probably my fault for having too high of expectations, but I really thought I was about to read a historical Chinese soap opera like the ones I love to watch.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

So these are a partner series to the American Girl books, which I loved as a kid - I think these Girls of Many Lands would have been jam back then, but I'm still happy to have read them now. Spring Pearl is resourceful and brave in a time of personal upheaval and upheaval of her country. It's also interesting to read about the Opium Wars in a kids' book - can't say I've seen that before.

[Abigail Werner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spring Pearl is in the series of American Girl books that stand alone, and are a little bit longer than the typical American Girl book, and I would say they are more of an upper middle school grade read. Spring Pearl is an orphan, learning to find her place in a very "class regulated time". But with her skills and patience she does win her way into the hearts of the people around her.

[Diane Eskridge · Rating 2 out of 5]

i enjoyed the characters and the details of this well told story, especially the main characters. it is a nice quick read, with a rich dose of cultural and historical education in spite of the fact that it's fiction.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think, unless the last 3 books really wow me, that this is my favourite GOML book. I loved Spring Pearl's character. The story was riveting. The history was fascinating. I loved that it covered a mature subject so well.

[Danae Mckain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and think it would be good for my classroom. Students can get to know a little about Chinese culture while also connecting to a strong female role model who doesn’t give up and does hard things.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful historical fiction, but it felt like almost nothing happened directly to the character(there was a lot of danger around her, but not much threat to her). But it was enjoyable, and I really liked the characters.

[Samantha]

read to gauge content level and it was very insightful for a middle grade (? lol) book.
I imagine after reading this, kids will want more books from this same period in history. would be great combined with a book about William Carey or the China Inland Mission.

[Emme · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it!I love the strong female character!

[Maria Smallwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very quick read with a lot of educational information of Chinese culture.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Chris Gonzalez]

I adored this book

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rated—PG (my personal opinion based on content)

[emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

the way i was OBSESSED with this book

[Katie Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as lovely as I expected it to be. I love China.

[Anna Palaski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for young girls wanting to learn about history and other places. Easy to read, Yep simplifies a war I order to make the story flow and easy to read

[Abrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I put 4 stars because it was sad

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely book, I wish I had actually read it when I was younger, found it in my room back home.

[vy (laufey’s version) · Rating 3 out of 5]

damn i forgot how entertaining these books would be. if i’d read this in elementary school, i probably would’ve given it a higher rating because the writing structure felt too info-dumpy and annoying for me

[gubler]

I only read this book because I saw it in my school library and I needed to read it for a project. But it was great, the main character was very humble of her own knowledge.