From the New York Times bestselling author of The Downstairs Girl
comes an unforgettable story of determination set against a backdrop of
devastating tragedy, perfect for fans of Code Name Verity.
Winner of the PEN Center USA Literary Award for Young Adult
Winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature
Fifteen-year-old Mercy Wong is determined to break from the poverty of
Chinatown, San Francisco in 1906, and an education at St. Clare's School
for Girls is her best hope. Although St. Clare's is off-limits to all
but the wealthiest white girls, Mercy gains admittance through a mix of
cunning and a little bribery, only to discover that getting in was the
easiest part. Not to be undone by a bunch of spoiled heiresses, Mercy
stands strong--until disaster strikes.
On April 18, a historic earthquake rocks San Francisco, destroying
Mercy's home and school. Now she's forced to wait with her classmates
for their families in a temporary park encampment. Though fires might
rage, and the city may be in shambles, Mercy can't sit by while they
wait for the army to bring help--she still has the "bossy" cheeks that
mark her as someone who gets things done. But what can one teenage girl
do to heal so many suffering in her broken city?