Coolies is about two chinese brothers who come to America in 1865 to work on the railroads. The chinese worked hard in barely livable conditions for very little pay to build the railroads that span the country. A grandmother is actually telling her grandson this story about his ancestors. They do a ceremony at the end of the story where they burn money to make these same ancestor rich in the spirit world.

I thought the story had beautiful illistrations to go along with the story. The brothers went through so much for so little. I think this story shows how the human spirit can triumph over adversity.

The student can take a look at chinese culture. We could have a day in class where we enjoy chinese quisine and learn how to eat with chopsticks plus we could learn about chinese traditions.

Tale of two brothers who leave famine in China to work on the railroad in San Francisco. Provides a glimpse into the hard work and danger involved in building a railroad. The harsh treatment of workers and their protest is also mentioned. Beautiful illustrations depict the people and landscape. Author's note; Bibliography. ( )

Coolies is a book starting with a young boy learning about how to respect his ancestors in his Chinese culture. He learns specifically about 2 of his ancestors Shek and Wong. Shek and Wong came to America in search of jobs to aid their mother and siblings back in China. They found jobs building the railroad that ran all the way across the states. The book continues to describe the hardships and prejudice that faced on a day to day basis. It describes how they continued to work hard no matter what and constantly looked after each other. After the railroad is finished Shek and Wong settle and find jobs in San Francisco and later bring their family to the states.

The pictures in this book are amazingly touching. The pictures alone made me ache for them and their hardships but also made me smile at their commitment and dedication.

Classroom Extensions:
- Conduct more research on the Chinese immigration to the states. Have each student bring find a small fact; share them as a class and discuss them as a large group.
- Discuss other traditions from cultures that the students themselves are familiar with at home like the Chinese way of honoring their ancestors.

An account of 2 brothers who travel to the United States during the mid 1800s in search of work so that they could send money to their starving family in China. The reader shares the brothers’ successes and failures while working on the continental railroad in the ‘land of opportunity’.

As a lover of history I enjoyed this depiction of working on the railroads as they were first being built. The illustrations themselves were able to paint a vivid picture of what life may have been like for the ‘Coolies’. Although Over-worked and underpaid, the two brothers managed to persevere.

This would be a good introduction to America’s expansion into the west, the construction of railroads across America, Chinese Americans, or Brothers.