Published by the Angel Island Association, Kai’s Journey to Gold Mountain is based loosely on the life Albert Kai Chong, who traveled here from China on the S.S. Hoover in 1934 to join his father, who had been in America for four years and wanted Kai to benefit from the opportunities he saw. Just as many immigrants who came through Ellis Island feared being sent back before ever stepping foot on the U.S. mainland, the same was true for those arriving at Angel Island on the west coast. On the boat, young Kai worries about what will happen when he arrives in America, where his father is waiting. His fears are well-grounded: he is detained for six weeks on Angel Island near San Francisco before he is finally granted an interview and cleared to join his father. It is a tense and difficult time for the boy, aptly echoed by the somber tone of the watercolor illustrations. Like so many thousands of others, Kai’s hopes rest on making it all the way to the mainland and into America. An informative afterword provides additional information on Angel Island and on Albert Kai Chong, including photographs. (Ages 8–12)

On his 12th birthday, Kai learns that he must leave his home in China and journey alone to Gold MountainAmericato live with his father. The year is 1934, and the U.S. does not welcome Chinese immigrants. When Kai arrives he is detained on Angel Island in a crowded barracks, with harsh interrogations and the threat of being returned to China. Will Kai ever be free to join his father?