In 1867, Otter travels from Three Willows Village in China to California -- the Land of the Golden Mountain. There he will join his father and uncle.

In spite of the presence of family, Otter is a stranger among the other Chinese in this new land. And where he expected to see a land of goldfields, he sees only vast, cold whiteness. But Otter's dream is to learn all he can, take the technology back to the Middle Kingdom, and free China from the Manchu invaders.

Otter and the others board a machine that will change his life -- a train for which he would open the Dragon's Gate.

The protagonist, a fourteen-year-old chinese imigrant to the United States, displays an array of childish and adult attitudes and behaviors. While naivety is an endearing quality, it cannot last for long in the rigorous environment of the railroad construction camps, and the boy eventually gives it up, though he never gives up the dream held by both he and his uncle: to learn of the technology of the west and take it back to China to oust the Manchu dynasty. Otter, the young protagonist, will be liked by any reader. He is strong and friendly and smart and even courageous. That is not to say that he doesn't have some faults. What fun would a protagonist be if he/she was perfect?

I recommend this book to all readers. While the issues of racism, discrimination, rights, death, and family are all discussed in the book, it is also an engaging read. Its depth is what makes it wonderful.


west junior high   March 28, 2000
 6 out of 7 found this review helpful

Dragon's Gate is definitley one of the best books I have read; its historical, yet realistic and something I can compare myself to. This book is about a young 14 year old boy who dreams of going to America,to gain his skills from this New World, come back and help the economy of his country--at least thats what he hopes to get. Otto hopes things will turn out so well because of his social status in his home land. You see, in China, his family is highly respected (because of their wealth and high order family). On the contrary, in America they are treated simply as slaves, laborers, inferiors: nothing else. So, now here in America, Otto, must learn to adapt, and overcome his fears of the cruelty of this New World. Meaning that he now must learn to survive and get along with many different kinds of peoples while also fighting to understand his new surrounding. In conclusion, I would like to reccomend this book to anyone who has time to spare and read a really well written book! Its just a really good book! :)


A great story of heroes!   August 8, 2000
 6 out of 8 found this review helpful

"Dragon's Gate" is to the transcontinental railroad as "Johnny Tremain" is to the American Revolution.

Having recently moved to California, I have been looking for interesting ways to instill in my daughters an appreciation of the history and heritage of the area they live in. `Dragon's Gate' is definitely on the short list. Concealed in a lively and exciting story is an accurate picture of the harrowing experiences and horrendous working conditions of the Chinese workers who built the railway through the Sierras. While other books may extol those who built the great transcontinental railway with their vision and capital, few can top Laurence Yep's tale of those who did it with their blood, sweat and tears.


Dragon's Gate   November 13, 2002
 5 out of 6 found this review helpful

Have you been searching for a book that helps you learn on what to do to become a man? Look no further because Dragon's Gate is a book that you can't put down!
A teenage Chinese boy named Otter lives with his Mother while his Uncle Foxfire and Father go to "The Land of the Golden Mountain" [also known as America] to help build a transcontinental railroad. When Otter kills a Manchu, he gets in trouble and will not go to America. Somehow, he escapes with strangers and he went there because he wanted to avoid his punishment. He also wanted to see his Father. As Otter progresses in building the railroad, he developes character and really impresses his Father. Otter fights for rights to be able to have less work and larger breaks, but the atrocious Kilroy [the "Master"] does dreadful things. The only way to find out the horrible actions and the rest of the rest of the inspiring story [the consequences of Otter's actions and the way he talks about his Uncle] is to read Dragon's Gate!
I highly recommend kids from grades 5/up to read this book because it is very advanced. The events that I like this are the decisions Otter tried to work out and the hard work Otter demonstrated when he did work. I liked these events because Otter's character really developed. Dragon's Gate is an amazing book. If you want adventure, Dragon's Gate is the specific book to choose!


Dragon's Gate by Laurence Yep   January 23, 2003
 5 out of 6 found this review helpful

This truly excellent book, Dragon's Gate by Laurence Yep, is a magnificently written book that most certainly deserves a five star rating. In this adventure filled-book, Otter, a boy from the Middle Kingdom, China, is forced to join his father, Squeaky, and his Uncle Foxfire in America, the Land of the Golden Mountain. Back in China, Otter's father and uncle were always beheld as heros and legends, but Otter soon learns the truth that Squeaky and Foxfire are no greater than the rest of the Chinese laborers working on the enormous task of completing the transcontinental railroad. To make matters worse, Otter has barely any friends, he gains no respect from the other workers, and has had no expirience with physical labor before in his life. In his time of need Otter's own uncle deserts him and refuses to help him in any way.
The headman of this massive project is an almost heartless man named Kilroy. Kilroy pushes the Chinese workers to exaustion and gives them a measly amount of supplies. When Otter's father is blinded by an accident on the job, Otter forces himself to work harder and help out more. Eventually Otter gains more friends, he earns respect from his fellow workers and also ajusts to the backbreaking work that he and the other workers have to do.
In the end, Otter and his uncle take on a mission that will determine the fate of the entire camp and change Otter's life forever in a way that Otter will never forget.
If you like to read adventure-filled, action-packed, stupendously written books, Dragon's Gate by Laurence Yep is the perfect book for you!