Immigration is a hot button issue but what really caught our attention about this story was how it humanized all the players in the process of illegally immigrating to the United States in the 90’s. There are no real heroes or villains in this book. Just people who all made complicated choices in the fog of morality while trying to do right by their families while doing the right thing. The story comes with some crazy moments that we won’t spoil here and surprising twists and turns - all of which are plussed up by the fact that this is a true story.

The inciting incident, the grounding of a ship called the Golden Venture off the Rockaway Peninsula in New York filled with 286 immigrants from China on the verge of death from their journey shocked and engaged us. Sadder still, 10 died and half of those who remained were eventually deported. No matter where you came from, someone in your family was an immigrant at some point and this book is just one part of understanding the hardship that immigrants go through to improve their lives for themselves and their loved ones. Equal parts history, empathy machine, suspense thriller, and crime noir novel, this book is well written, better researched and a good read if this is a topic of interest. BUT, if this is NOT your area of interest it may be worth skipping and reading an article about the Golden Venture.

BUY THIS BOOK