The Fire Horse Girl

This book surprised me. I was very hesitant when I heard about it, initially- debut book by a white author about Chinese American history, written while she was between adopting Chinese children? Could be well-intentioned, but I'm wary of my history being used as a prop. Fortunately, Kay Honeyman did her homework and writes an accurate depiction of what Angel Island detainment was like.

It doesn't surprise me but always disappoints that it seems like most Americans are way more aware of Ellis Island than Angel, and though both stations were gateways for immigrants, Angel Island also served as detainment for undesirables. Fire Horse Girl is set in 1923, which is approximately the same time my great-grandmother arrived in the United show more States. My great-grandma was luckily one of the few hundreds of women who legally arrived as the wife of a merchant (the only exception to the Chinese Exclusion Act- merchants who owned businesses) with a child in tow. FHG's protagonist Jade Moon isn't as lucky, and with a betrayal twist in the first third is forced to disguise herself as a boy to make it onshore to the main land. There's some time skipping, and I do sort of wish we had some interstitial peeks through that (seriously, how did she handle periods while disguised? That's detail we should maybe know...)

My biggest pet peeve to be honest was how some character's names were translated into their meanings (Jade Moon, Sterling Promise, Spring Blossom), but others weren't (Jade Moon's father, Chan Jan Wei, though I will note Honeyman did maintain generational name structure by having his brother share the Jan part- if you didn't know already, Chinese clans have generational poems, where everyone born in the same generation shares the next character of the poem, so my cousins, sibling and I all have the same first part of our Chinese names).

It does feel a little assigned-reading-in-school in terms of getting history to the reader, but it's action-y enough YA that it'll do. show less

Wow. I read this book straight through for 6 hours. It was so packed with emotions and actions and wisdom, and was so compelling that I just couldn't put it down.

Being a horse myself and Chinese descent, I relate to Jade Moon, ALOT. I too, have overactive dreams and is stubborn as hell. What she did was indeed very bold and brave. Its really too bad that she's not a real person! >_

finding your own story!

‘Year of the Fire Horse’ persons demonstrate the worst features of horses—their temper, stubbornness and selfishness. Jade moon is born under the sign of the Fire Horse. Her personality apparently aligns with her zodiac sign. Jade Moon’s story is told in a strong voice chronicling the arrival of a Chinese young woman’s journey and life to San Francisco in the early 1920’s.
Conditions at Angel Island, San Francisco’s Chinatown, the influence of the tongs, prostitution and slavery, and gambling are part of this engrossing story.
The fight that ordinary people faced in the extraordinary situation of being an immigrant, particularly Chinese, in the 1920's is insightful.
This is a novel of hope for a girl show more who was a challenge to herself, and to those around her, and how the astrological aspects that she was burdened with became her greatest virtues.
‘I hope you will find your own story’ Nushi says to Jade Moon as she leaves her village in China.
The story brings with it an underlying commentary on the historically place of women within the Chinese family, historical US Immigration policies and the treatment of aliens and social attitudes towards those who are different.
An excellent read.


A NetGalley ARC show less

The book is quite interesting to read, though there are parts that you might need to pause to put all the pieces together, but other than that it is quite the thrilling book to read, filled with scenario after scenario, each one better than the last. One thing I hate about the characters within the book is simple. Many simply use the main character and force her into situations she hates, and not one person seems to care, yet when there placed in a difficult position they claim to be trying to 'help her', when in reality they use her. Great book, would recommend and I quite like the the books plots and history research and accuracy.

I really wanted to like this book - it's historical fiction dealing with an incident I knew nothing about (detainment of Asian immigrants at Angel Island) and features a strong and feisty heroine. But the pacing was off for me and I kept putting it down during the slow bits and then not wanting to pick it back up.

I almost passed on reading and reviewing The Fire Horse Girl by Kay Honeyman. What sold me is that this is in some ways a personal story for the author, who has adopted two Chinese children. I’m so glad I decided to give it a chance. Although it is written for a YA audience, The Fire Horse Girl transcends age. If you like historical novels about other cultures and a realistic story about immigrants coming to America then read the rest of my review at http://popcornreads.com/?p=5483.

The theme that persistence is required for seeking your dreams of freedom, as the flip side of stubbornness is disobedience, was done well, so gave it 3 stars instead of the contemplated 2. The Fire Horse Girl has a very slow wind up to the pitch, and the finish is rushed.