The Crane of Angel Island

(Paperback)

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Description

Angel Island, the Ellis Island of the West, carries the stories of Wren Atwood and Wong Ying Fa, two sixteen-year-olds trapped on the island for very different reasons at very different times.
In 2019, Wren's rebellious activities get her caught stealing. Her recently divorced parents agree on a shocking punishment that forfeit Wren's sunny summer vacation with her dad in San Diego and have her working on Angel Island instead, under the supervision of Wren's strict mother, a park ranger who leads tours at the historic Immigration Station. On the desolate island, Wren encounters an agitated, enormous, red-crowned crane, rumored to have lived on the island for a hundred years, and a skittish Chinese boy dressed in vintage clothing, who follows Wren but runs whenever he sees a ranger.
In 1919, Ying Fa arrives on Angel Island with his merchant father, who expects swift processing so he can return to his shop in Chinatown. Instead of leaving the Immigration Station as expected, a cruel guard accuses Ying Fa of being a paper son, claiming the boy was pretending to travel with a father to gain access to the United States. The guard terrorizes Ying Fa, resulting in a long delay in a crowded barrack, harsh treatment, and family destruction.
Ultimately, the teens' worlds collide, forcing Wren to confront a shocking truth about her family's grim connection to Wong Ying Fa's ancestors.

Author Bio

Avril LaPointe Calderwood, from San Francisco Bay Area, finds inspiration for her fiction stories in the region's rich history. When not writing, Avril immerses herself in the beauty of the outdoors, hiking the verdant hills and redwood forests with her husband, finding solace on the beaches, and honing her jazz/lyrical dance skills. Avril is accomplished in her screenplays, winning third place in the 2006 San Jose State Crain Writing Award and becoming a quarter finalist in the 2013 Scritapalooza screenwriting contest. "The Crane of Angel Island" is Avril's debut novel.