In a Sierra Nevada logging camp in 1885, thirteen-year-old Mei bakes the most delicious pies and tells the best stories about Auntie Po, a gigantic elderly Chinese matriarch who could probably cut even more trees than Paul Bunyan. In the midst of racial tumult following the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act, Mei tries to remain blissfully focused on her job, her close friendship with Bee, the camp foreman's daughter, and her stories. Until one day, Auntie Po and her giant blue water buffalo, Pei Pei, come to life to help Mei navigate the difficulty and politics of lumber camp work and her growing romantic feelings for Bee.
|
