The Bone Collector's Son. Paul Yee. Vancouver, BC: Tradewind Books, 2003. 175 pp., pbk. & cl., $12.95 (pbk.), $19.95 (cl.). ISBN 1-896580-50-5 (pbk.), ISBN 1-896580-25-4 (cl.). Subject Headings: Chinatown (Vancouver, B.C.)-Juvenile fiction. Chinese Canada-Juvenile fiction. Ghost stories, Canadian (English). Grades 5-9 / Ages 10-14. Review by Carolyn Kim. ***1/2 /4

excerpt:

"I won't talk to a ghost!"

"You said you weren't afraid," Fortuneteller chided. "Have you heard this chant before?

          He who does only right,

          Will never ever know fright.

          Not even from rapping at the door,

          At three in the morning or at four."

"I've heard it a hundred times," Bing said impatiently. "Can you sell me a charm to keep ghosts away?"

The old man shook his head.

"Not even for an emergency?"

"Little One, you're going to work for Westerners. My charms have never been tested on white spirits."

It is 1907, Vancouver, BC, and Bing-wing Chan has taken a job as a houseboy in a Westerner's home. His pay is next to nothing, but, nonetheless, the steady income is far more than what his father is able to save. Furthermore, this job is his ticket to boxing. Bing's dream is for the chance to learn boxing, and the owner of the house he will work for is the professional boxer, Bulldog Bentley.

     Bing's father is a bone-collector, the one who digs up skeletons of deceased Chinese so that they can be sent to their homeland, China, for a permanent burial. Bing is not only disgusted by his father's occupation, but he detests having to go with him to the cemetery to help out. Especially, after their most recent upheaval of Mr. Shum's bones, Bing is determined to get out of helping his father. They could not locate the skull of Shum's skeleton, and soon after, strange happenings begin to occur. Bing is certain that it has something to do with the missing skull, but his father disregards him.

     Deciding to focus on his new job, Bing is excited to work at Bulldog Bentley's house, but he quickly finds out that the house is haunted, much to his despair. It seems that he cannot get away from spirits and ghosts come to haunt. His only choice is to return to Chinatown to find out how to deal with these unsettled spirits. Bing comes to realize that the only solution lies within him as he must overcome his own fears.

     The Bone Collector's Son is a worthwhile read for its unique plot that combines mystery, ghosts and embedded Chinese folk tales. As well, it is one of Yee's most well-written, intriguing novels. It will appeal to male readers who may discover that most 14-year-olds endure similar internal struggles in self-identity no matter from what culture they come. However, they will also learn about Chinese culture and the fight for survival of many Chinese immigrants to Canada at the turn of the century.

Highly Recommended.

Carolyn Kim is an MA student in Children's Literature at The University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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