View from Pagoda Hill
Shanghai, 1870. When the matchmaker declares 12-year-old Ning unmarriageable (she’s too tall, has “unnatural” green eyes and unbound feet), Ning’s mother writes to the one person Ning never thought she’d meet: her father. Without a place in China, Ning is sent to America. As she’s shipped off to her grandparents’ home in New York state, she’s given new clothes and a new name, Neenah. Desperate to please her new relatives, Ning/Neenah tries her hardest to fit their expectations. There are strong prejudices particularly surrounding Chinese people during this time, and Ning is torn between pleasing her American grandparents and defending her Chinese heritage. If she displeases her grandparents, will they send her away too?
View from Pagoda Hill is a poignant reflection on a young immigrant girl who always seems to be either too American or too Chinese and never just Ning. Her mother sends her away, her father’s always traveling, so Ning struggles with belonging. Her journey is both heartfelt and impactful. Grandparents Sarah and Erastus Hamill, though married, reminded me strongly of Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert from Anne of Green Gables as they adjust to raising an unexpected young girl. The Chinese and American cultures of the late 1900s are vibrantly explored. Ning’s discoveries of cultural differences were some of my favorite moments as well as the visit to her American ancestors. Only one thing sticks out like a sour note: the overuse of the term “foreign devils,” a term almost every single character used. Otherwise, I was captivated by Ning’s journey, a formidable girl who simply wants to belong to a family. Based on the author’s great-great-grandmother’s incredible tale, MacColl has penned a rich story about overcoming prejudice and finding strength in your differences. Recommended.
