Books with author Ruthanne Lum McCunn

This masterful biographical novel—which has sold more than 100,000 copies—tells the true life story of Lalu Nathoy, a young Chinese girl sold into slavery in 1871 by her poverty-stricken family and auctioned off in the American West. McCunn tells the gripping tale of how Lalu struggled out of servitude to achieve a life of freedom and dignity as a pioneer woman."A valuable book that gives Chinese Americans another true heroine." —Maxine Hong Kingston

Pie Biter is the legend of a pioneer in the tradition of John Henry and Paul Bunyan, based on real characters in the 1800's. The story begins with Hoi coming from China to help build the railroad. Only a skinny boy at first, his love for American pies quickly helps him gain in size and strength--and earns him the nickname of Pie Biter. Then, with the help of his friend Spanish Louis, he uses a clever ruse that sets him on the path to becoming a successful packer. Initially published in 1983 as the Chinese American answer to Paul Bunyan, the story is now re-published in a new design and a tri-lingual format featuring English, Chinese and Spanish.