"Brothers" by Yin, Illustrated by Chris Soentpiet

Image Courtesy of: http://www.soentpiet.com/images/brothers_450.jpg

Bibliographic Citation

Title: Brothers

Author: Yin

Illustrator: Chris Soentpiet

Year of Publication: 2006

Publisher City: New York

Publisher: Philomel Books

ISBN: 0399234063

Author Website: http://www.soentpiet.com/yins_corner.html

Illustrator Website: http://www.soentpiet.com/

Media Used for Artwork: Watercolor

Awards

·         Junior Library Guild Selection, 2006

·         International Reading Association Teachers’ Choice, 2007

·         Annual Exhibition of the Society of Illustrators, 2007

·         California Young Reader Nominee, 2008

Annotation

When Ming arrives to San Francisco he is told not to leave the borders of Chinatown.  Even with that warning he still leaves and meets an Irish boy named Patrick.  Together they work past cultural differences to become brothers.

Personal Reaction

                This is a sequel to a picture book by Yin and Soentpiet entitled “Coolies.”  This time the story follows the story of Ming and his arrival from China.  He is left alone by his brothers and told not to leave Chinatown.  Ming longs to have companionship, especially with how empty his brother’s general store is all day with all of the Chinese gone to work on the railroad.  When Ming finally wanders past the boarder of Chinatown he is lucky enough to meet an Irish boy named Patrick.  A friendship quickly forms despite the language and cultural differences.  Both begin to teach the other about their culture so they come to understand each other better.

The fact that Yin made it so Ming met a boy whose family just a generation earlier were immigrants as well shows the similarities of all people, no matter their race.  By the two friends working together they are able to find a way to save Ming’s brother’s general store, while also having other people integrate into the environment they created where people of all cultures could interact.

                The illustrations dominate the pages, taking up almost both pages.  Readers are able to create a visual understanding of San Francisco in the late 1800’s that Yin discusses in her text.  Both the text and the illustrations work together to allow readers to form a better understanding of the historical moment they are being taught.  Soentpiet’s watercolors add a great deal of texture and color.  Every illustration is filled with people and objects.  Readers should take a moment before turning to the next page to appreciate all of the details.  From the bricks of the school house to Ming’s long braid.

               

Curriculum: Grade 8 History: This picture book can be used as an introduction to immigrants and their impact on the development of early America.  There are several mentions about the immigrants working on the railroad.  After reading this book students can begin research on the rail work that both the Chinese and Irish did and how they united the country and made travel easier. Also, students can learn more about Chinatown and its development in San Francisco.