The Railroad Adventures of Chen Sing facts for kids
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| Author | George Chiang |
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| Illustrator | Jessica Warner |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Historical Fiction - Children/Juvenile |
| Awards | Reviewers Choice Award Global Ebook Award (2) Pacific Book Award |
| ISBN | 978-1-4602-9940-1 |
The Railroad Adventures of Chen Sing is an exciting chapter book for young readers. It was written by George Chiang and illustrated by Jessica Warner. This book came out on March 1, 2017, in hardcover, paperback, and as an ebook. It has won several cool awards, like the Pacific Book Award and two Global Ebook Awards!
How the Story Began
This book is a type of story called historical fiction. This means it's a made-up story, but it's based on real events and people from the past. The idea for the book came from true stories told by Isaac (Ike) Sing to the author, George Chiang.
In the late 1990s, George Chiang visited Ike Sing's home in Cawston, British Columbia. He spent three weeks there, recording many hours of interviews. Ike shared stories about his own life and the life of his father, Chen Sing. George Chiang used these recordings to create the amazing life story of Chen Sing for the book. The real Chen Sing was born in 1860. He became an orphan when he was very young.
Chen Sing lived a very poor life in Yin Ping, Guangdong, with his older brother and sister. When he was a teenager, he left home to find work in the big city of Guangzhou, China. There, he heard about a chance to help build a railway in North America. The book follows his incredible journey from his small village all the way to the end of his days working on the railroad.
What Happens in the Book
The book tells the story of Chen Sing, an orphan who moved from southern China. He left his home because of floods and a lack of food. In the story, Chen Sing is small but very strong. He survives a tough two-month journey across the sea. He succeeds at many difficult jobs with the railway crew. Other workers couldn't handle these tasks, but Chen Sing could because he was determined and smart.
Chen Sing also gets help from new friends. These friends are members of the Coast Salish people. They help him get used to the surprisingly cold winter weather. One part of the book describes the fun of ice fishing, snowshoeing, and snowball fights. Chen Sing enjoys these winter activities for the first time with his new friends.
Chen Sing and his railway crew face many challenges. They deal with disasters, encounters with wild animals, and unexpected events. Their journey continues as they build the railway through the Rocky Mountains. The story ends when the railway is finally finished.
Awards and Recognition
The Railroad Adventures of Chen Sing has received several special awards:
- 2017/2018 Reader Views Reviewers Choice Award - Winner Canada West
- 2017 Pacific Book Award - Best Children's Picture Book
- 2017 Global Ebook Award - Gold - Children's Literature Fiction
- 2017 Global EBook Award - Gold - Juvenile Fiction
