“A Thousand Pieces of Gold” is a story of thirteen year old Lalu Nathoy from China who over time and circumstances transforms into Idahoan Polly Bemis. Ally’s story is one of resilience, determination and steadfastness. What makes this book even more extraordinary is the events presented in the books is a true account of one of the first Chinese American pioneers in Idaho.

The book consists of seven parts and is introduced by a photo. Part one begins in 1865-1872. In this part of the book, the reader is introduced to 13 year old Lalu and her family which consists of her mother, father and two younger brothers. Although Lalu's feet are bound as a child, due to family hardship, her feet are unbound. Her father makes a bad farming decision which leads to Lalu working in the family's fields. As the years pass, Lalu becomes an expert farmer by the time she is eighteen. When a drought comes to the country, her father sells her to bandits for two bags of seed. Shortly after she is sold to the bandits, the bandits sell her to a madam at a brothel.

Part two of the book occurs in 1872 and focuses on Lalu's trip from China to America. When Lalu arrives in America, she quickly discovers that it is not the land of riches that she heard from others.
She is put on the auction block in San Francisco, she is sold to a saloon owner in Idaho. When she arrives at the saloon, the owner changes her name from Lalu to Polly. During her time working at the saloon, she becomes close with Jim, the Chinese man who escorted her to Idaho. Although she dream of Jim buying her freedom, her boss will not allow it to happen. The second part of the book ends with Polly becoming close with Jim's friend Charlie Bemis.

Part three of the book occurs in 1875 and begins with Polly becoming increasing frustrated that she as a Chinese woman can not be free from the saloon owner while black people have been freed by Abraham Lincoln's emancipation proclamation. Charlie explains to Polly that there are different laws for black people and Chinese people which only frustrates Polly more. Polly is so desperate to be free of her servitude at the saloon that she decides that murder is the only way to gain her freedom. Just as Polly is about to carry out her plan, she is offered up as a prize in a poker game between her boss and Charlie Bemis. The third part of the book ends with Charlie winning the poker hand and claiming Polly as his prize.

Part four occurs in 1890-1894 and shows Polly's life as a free woman. While she is initially disgusted that she was used as a prize in a card game, Charlie reassures her that he does care about her and knew that putting her up as a prize was the only way to secure her freedom. During this time, Charlie is seriously injured and Polly saves his life.Polly and Charlie live together and although Polly loves Charlie, she worries that he wants children which is something she decided long ago not to have. The fourth part of the book ends with Charlie asking Polly to marry him and Polly expressing her concerns about him wanting children to which he responds that he doesn't care about children, he only wants to be with her.

Part five occurs 1898-1922 and focuses on Charlie and Polly's life as a married couple. During this part of the book, Charlie lays claim to land where they eventually build a two story home. They have moved from Warrens and set up a home in a canyon. The highlight of this section of the book is that Polly finds an abandoned cougar cub which she nurses back to health and becomes the family pet. Unfortunately, during this section of the book, Charlie develops a cough that never gets better and despite Polly using American and Chinese medicine to heal him, his health never improves.

Part six occurs in later 1922-1923 and focuses on Polly's life after Charlie is gone. Polly leaves the canyon in search of new life experiences and finds a renewed sense of purpose by acting as a guardian for children from other towns who come to Warrens to attend school. Although she enjoys being away from the canyon, in the end, she realizes that the home she built which Charlie is where she belongs and that now matter where she goes, Charlie will always live in her.

The final part of the book occurs in 1933 and shows Polly as an old woman living alone on the land she and Charlie once called home. Although Polly is living out her remaining days as independent and self-sufficient, she after passing out in her garden, she accepts that her life is coming to an end and only requests that her friends bury her next to Charlie. Due to snowy weather, Polly's final wishes are not able to be honored and she is instead buried across the street from the hospital where she stayed as a patient.

Polly's story is inspiring and insightful considering that this is one of the first instances of reading about the pioneer experience from the Chinese american perspective.

I was really surprised by how much I loved this book! For me it was kind of a mix between These is My Words and Lonesome Dove. This was a fast paced, high adventure, romantic pioneer story.

Good book

Historical fiction based on the life of Lalu Nathoy, a Chinese teen who was kidnapped by bandits in northern China in 1871. She was sold to a brothel and subsequently sold to a Chinese man in Idaho where she was renamed Polly. The novel contains photographs of Polly as well as her ranch. Today, she is valued as one of Idaho's legendary pioneers.

Well written about a woman in history who perseveres despite the odds against her and the man who loved her and their life.

*read for class

This was a powerful story exposing such a sad and terrible history. Yet, there was still hope. These types of stories are so important to consume and remind me why I love studying literature so much.

Really enjoyed this book. Poly Bemis an illegal Chinese immigrant was sold to bandits in China. Comes to America and ends up being sold again. Her story is extraordinary. What a life

Based on a biography of a Chinese woman's life. From being sold to bandit for some seeds, to again being sold but this time to a brothel, then sold again to a saloon keeper. Then one by her love in a gamble.

I read this book because it was a selection for my book club. I probably would have never picked it up on my own to read. Having said that, I found it interesting and an easy story to get involved in.
This book is about a young Chinese girl who, in the 1800's, is bought away from her family and forced into slavery and a life of hardships and discouragements.It follows the life of the girl all the way into the 1900's, and her journey to America where she finally becomes free. It is considered a biographical fiction, so I am assuming that it is at least loosely based on a true story or a combination of actual events. To me, this made the book more interesting and captivating. Knowing that similar things actually happened to people, helped to hold my attention and made me want to know the outcome.
While not my favorite recent read, all in all, I would say it is a good read for anyone that likes historical fiction, and is looking for a fast, easy read

Read this several years ago and attributed it to another book with the same title by Adeline Yen Mah.

The story of a young girl who's father, although he calls her his treasure, ultimatly sells her when the family face famine in China in the 1870's. She ends up sold again, comes to America where she is enslaved until she is eventually lost (and ultimatly won) in a poker game. From her very grim beginnings, Lalu/Polly triumphs as an inspiring woman - a true heroine.

This fast read was really interesting to me. As a 13 year old girl, Lalu is forcibly sold to a bandit, then to a brothel, then brought to America and sold to a Chinese saloon owner in Idaho, where her name is changed to Polly. A local man wins her in a poker game, as an effort to free her. She appreciates him and eventually comes to love him. Together they were among the first pioneers in the Salmon Canyon. Their cabin there has been deemed important to Idaho's heritage and in 1988 was listed in the National Register for Historic Places. The Idaho Governor said, "The history of Polly Bemis is a great part of the legacy of central Idaho. She is the foremost pioneer on the rugged Salmon River."

The questions and issues that I considered while reading about Lalu/Polly's life were many: What does it mean to be strong? Indepedent? How much agency and control can a woman have over her life? How is it that she "rose above" personal and societal issues to create a decent life? Can you really make lemonade out of lemons? Additionally there was the backdrop of her life which included the fascinating culture of Imperial China, a voyage to America by smugglers, the gold rush, the wild west, the Chinese Exclusion laws and terrible racism.

My mother was born in China, and my dad was a 6 year old in nearby Aberdeen, Idaho when Polly died in 1933, so I found this story to be very compelling! The research done by the author is great and I would imagine would have been really interesting, fun and satisfying to perform. Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston of the San Francisco Chronicle says it best, "A story of struggle and survival as a woman - and slave - in China and the American West...Fast paced and entertaining - packed with adventure, drama and inspiration," All true! I really enjoyed this book!

4&1/2 stars. This was a reread, as it’s already a favorite book of mine. I love this biography, the strength, determination, resilience, and hope that is Lalu/Polly —& the love story, the powerful unconditional love the Bemis’ share. There’s a lot of darkness, ugliness in her history and in both China & America’s, but the beauty of Lalu & Charlie and the life they lived (& all the lives they touched) is a bright light.