To Move the World: family, loyalty and the strive for the American Dream

To Move the World by Kay Bratt is the second book in The Sworn Sisters duology. It is a story of family loyalty, love and the strive for the American Dream. California in 1876 is a tumultuous time for Chinese Americans as they face fierce persecution. It’s been several years since Sun Ling, Min Kao, Jingwei and Luli arrived in San Francisco. The city’s Chinatown has grown so large that the white citizens in the surrounding areas disapprove. Jingwei and Sin Ling have found a purpose as rescuers of young girls and women in distress. At night, Sun Ling disguises herself and quietly finds and releases girls and women in captive situations. Jingwei helps them find a path to a better life. During the day, Sun Ling also works alongside John Lane, a lawyer who has made it his life’s work to help the oppressed and persecuted. Violent uprisings, a smallpox epidemic and stories of witchcraft, there is no shortage of fuel to fan the flames of anti-Chinese sentiment. Will they find the strength and courage to forge ahead to find happiness and love in their new country? 

While I have known about many anti-Chinese sentiments in California, especially after the Gold Rush, Ms. Bratt features very real events in To Move the World that I did not know. Events like the mob violence in Truckee County, known as the Trout Creek Outrage (June 17-18, 1876), in attempts to rid the area of the Chinese residents. As well as the smallpox epidemic which was blamed on the residents of Chinatown as one example of the medical scapegoatism of the day. It truly hurts to read how immigrants have been vilified and harshly treated in this country and its history. From the Irish and Italian immigrants that flooded the east coast to the Chinese and Mexicans on the west coast. What is even sadder is that I still see many of these sentiments still, especially in the larger cities. While we have come a long way as a country, there is still a way to go. I enjoyed learning about the Truckee events and even read more into the events after I finished the book. I enjoyed revisiting the characters from A Welcome Misfortune. I highly recommend To Move the World. 

To Move the World is available in paperback and eBook