Items related to Aftershocks
Synopsis
Jessie Wainwright, the daughter of a prominent San Francisco physician, intends to become a doctor herself, despite her father's disapproval. Her dream is nearly lost when a chance encounter reveals a shocking secret--and Jessie sets off in search of answers, temporarily abandoning her goals.
Determined to confirm her dark suspicions, Jessie combs the streets of Chinatown. She ultimately witnesses the devastation of the 1906 earthquake and the plight of Chinese immigrants relegated to the nightmare of refugee camps in its wake. With the help of trusted friends, old and new, Jessie discovers the strength to stand up to her domineering father and to break through the racial boundaries of the times. In this powerful story of family, love, and history, Jessie also finds the courage to set out on a daring path that sets her apart from other young women of her generation.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
WILLIAM LAVENDER's career has spanned the areas of music, film documentary, theater, and literature. He published six adult novels in the seventies and eighties that received accolades, were brought out in many languages, and even made the Publishers Weekly bestseller list. JUST JANE was his first novel for young readers.
Reviews
Gr. 9-12. Headstrong Jessie, 14, living in San Francisco, is soon to experience an earthquake, but it's what she sees in her own house that's earthshaking. Her father, a prominent physician, has been sneaking up to the room of their Chinese maid, Mei, while her mother is out of town. Soon after, Mei, who is Jessie's friend, suddenly departs, and Jessie thinks she knows the reason why. As much soap opera as historical novel, this brings many story threads together--Jessie's desire to become a doctor, the treatment of Asians in the early twentieth century, the role of women--all set against the dramatic backdrop of the San Francisco earthquake. The book has an old-fashioned air, and not just because it is set in the past. The pace is leisurely (the story takes place over several years), and the construction, with diary entries providing lots of backstory, adds to the effect. Although some cutting would have helped, readers will be caught up by Jessie's determination to uncover family secrets and find Mei. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Friday, May 22, 1903
I can’t believe I’m stuck in my room writing in my journal when I could be having a good time over at Hazel’s. And all because I was looking in the window at Huston’s Medical Supply. The cold fog made me shiver, but I couldn’t stop staring at the surgical instruments in their displaythey’re so amazing! And the smart medical bags that the doctors carry when they make house callsI do crave one of those.
Not that I need one yet. But someday I will, of that I’m certain.
I thought Papa would be seeing patients at the hospital this afternoon, but I was wrong. As I stood gazing through the window, he and his friend Dr. Arnold came out of the tailor shop next to Huston’s and almost ran me down.
Papa’s face turned as red as his hair. I think he quite scared Dr. Arnold, who tipped his hat and hurried away. It turns out Papa knew I was supposed to be at Mama’s tea party. I tried to tell him there was still plenty of time for me to greet her friends, but he wouldn’t listen. He positively forbids me even to slow down on the street when I walk homehe calls it loitering like a common street girl.” The way he practically dragged me home, I felt like I was eight years old, not fourteen.
To Papa, there is no greater disgrace than a disobedient child. Except, perhaps, one who talks back. As we stepped into the foyer, he growled that he’d deal with” me later. I expect he’ll lecture me on how shameful it is for the daughter of San Francisco’s most eminent physician to carry on” the way I do. At least I hope that’s all he’ll do.
Luckily for me, Ching Lee was polishing the bronze lamp on the upper landing. My getting in trouble with Papa is nothing new to him. When I told him what happened, he nodded in his wise way. He said this might be one of those days when we need Mrs. O’Reilly to whip up Papa’s favorite pie. He slipped down the back stairs to see about it.
I heard Papa grumbling to himself as he stood outside the parlor door, straightening his tie. Then he put on his friendly doctor smile and went in to greet the ladies. Right this minute, he’s probably admiring the crocheted doilies they make for Mama’s charities.
T-FAMILY: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt" I know that sounds sarcastic, and I don’t mean it to. Mama’s ladies truly do good for the needy. It’s just that I can’t help wondering how they keep from getting bored with all that handiwork.
Oh, why didn’t I go with Hazel when she asked me to help take care of Claire and Ellie this afternoon? I bet no one would mind if I’d missed Mama’s tea to play with sweet little twin girls. After all, a young lady’s supposed to want lots of children. I’m sure marriage and babies would be very nice, but there’s something else I want more than anything. I can’t say it. In fact, I’m not even supposed to think it.
First things first, Mama always says. And right now, that means getting Papa to sign for me to skip ahead of my class and take biology in the fall. Maybe if I tell him I’m taking it just to meet boys, he’ll go along. After all, he doesn’t know I mean to keep up my schooling after high school. And he has no idea that when there’s another Dr. Wainwright in our family, it’s not going to be my dear brother, Corey.
It is going to be me.
Jessie blew lightly on her page until the ink was dry, then closed her journal and stood up. She was surprised at herself for putting her secret down in writing. She had never breathed a word to anyone, except Hazel.It still counts as a secret if only your best friend knows, she thought.
Going to her bay window, she pushed back the rose-colored curtain. Her mother’s ladies were departing now, their familiar voices floating up on the late afternoon breeze. Letting the curtain fall back into place, she sat down on one end of the window seat. When she was small, she would curl up there and gaze out over the hills and rooftops, pretending she and her golden-haired doll, Mademoiselle, were princesses in a castle.
Now she reached for Mademoiselle, who sat primly at the other end of the seat with her trusty companion, Chester, an elderly stuffed bear. Holding Mademoiselle and Chester always made Jessie feel happyand sad at the same time. Chester had been the favorite toy of her own little sister, Amy, and Mademoiselle would have belonged to her someday, too. But Amy had been taken from them when she was only three. One day, they were playing together; the next, Amy had caught a chill and grown so very tired. And then she was gone.
Soon afterward, Jessie had seen a housemaid throw Chester into a donation bag in Amy’s room. For the five years since the night Jessie crept into that now-silent room and rescued him, he had brought her steady comfort. And Chester always reminded Jessie of the promise she’d made herself to become a doctor when she grew up, so she could save sick children like Amy.
Impulsively, Jessie got to her feet, tossed Chester and Mademoiselle gently onto her bed, and pulled the cushion off the window seat. She lifted the lid to the storage chest under the seat, breathing in the delicious scent of cedar-wood lining that rose up to greet her. Lifting the bottom board, she placed the leather-bound journal in the secret compartment below. Then she restored the board, the cushion, and the toys to their places.
Good, that’s safe, she thought. Now she’d try to make herself especially presentable for supper. Crossing to the tall armoire that dominated one end of her room, she got out of her everyday skirt and waist and drew on a fresh chemise, new petticoats, and a pink silk dress. Mama always likes me in fancy gowns. I think they make me look like a stick, but Mama calls it slender.”
Jessie pulled her brush through her long brown hair and decided to wear it braided and up, in the old-fashioned way her mother liked. She could even pin on the dyed-to-match hair ribbons the dressmaker had sent. But leaning over to look in the glass above her dresser, she grimaced. These ribbons and bows are for little girls. Still, an exception to her usual ways did seem in order tonight.
She glanced at her hands, rough and tanned from playing tennisnothing to do about that now. She could hear her parents’ voices in the foyer and knew that she should hurry. Her mother always wanted everyone to be on time to the dining room. The Wainwrights seemed the perfect, cozy family, but weeks often passed without their being together except at the dinner table.
I hope when Papa deals with’ me, he’ll at least see how hard I’m trying,” Jessie said to her reflection in the mirror. Adjusting the soft folds of her dress, she opened her door softly and stepped out onto the landing. A pale light filtered red-and-blue through the stained-glass window above the staircase. Placing her hand on the smooth mahogany banister, Jessie let it rest there for a long moment.
Then, her heart racing, she took a deep breath and started down the stairs.
Copyright © 2006 by William Lavender
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in
any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any
information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Requests for permission to make copies of any part of the work
should be mailed to the following address: Permissions Department,
Harcourt, Inc., 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, Florida 32887-6777.
I can’t believe I’m stuck in my room writing in my journal when I could be having a good time over at Hazel’s. And all because I was looking in the window at Huston’s Medical Supply. The cold fog made me shiver, but I couldn’t stop staring at the surgical instruments in their displaythey’re so amazing! And the smart medical bags that the doctors carry when they make house callsI do crave one of those.
Not that I need one yet. But someday I will, of that I’m certain.
I thought Papa would be seeing patients at the hospital this afternoon, but I was wrong. As I stood gazing through the window, he and his friend Dr. Arnold came out of the tailor shop next to Huston’s and almost ran me down.
Papa’s face turned as red as his hair. I think he quite scared Dr. Arnold, who tipped his hat and hurried away. It turns out Papa knew I was supposed to be at Mama’s tea party. I tried to tell him there was still plenty of time for me to greet her friends, but he wouldn’t listen. He positively forbids me even to slow down on the street when I walk homehe calls it loitering like a common street girl.” The way he practically dragged me home, I felt like I was eight years old, not fourteen.
To Papa, there is no greater disgrace than a disobedient child. Except, perhaps, one who talks back. As we stepped into the foyer, he growled that he’d deal with” me later. I expect he’ll lecture me on how shameful it is for the daughter of San Francisco’s most eminent physician to carry on” the way I do. At least I hope that’s all he’ll do.
Luckily for me, Ching Lee was polishing the bronze lamp on the upper landing. My getting in trouble with Papa is nothing new to him. When I told him what happened, he nodded in his wise way. He said this might be one of those days when we need Mrs. O’Reilly to whip up Papa’s favorite pie. He slipped down the back stairs to see about it.
I heard Papa grumbling to himself as he stood outside the parlor door, straightening his tie. Then he put on his friendly doctor smile and went in to greet the ladies. Right this minute, he’s probably admiring the crocheted doilies they make for Mama’s charities.
T-FAMILY: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt" I know that sounds sarcastic, and I don’t mean it to. Mama’s ladies truly do good for the needy. It’s just that I can’t help wondering how they keep from getting bored with all that handiwork.
Oh, why didn’t I go with Hazel when she asked me to help take care of Claire and Ellie this afternoon? I bet no one would mind if I’d missed Mama’s tea to play with sweet little twin girls. After all, a young lady’s supposed to want lots of children. I’m sure marriage and babies would be very nice, but there’s something else I want more than anything. I can’t say it. In fact, I’m not even supposed to think it.
First things first, Mama always says. And right now, that means getting Papa to sign for me to skip ahead of my class and take biology in the fall. Maybe if I tell him I’m taking it just to meet boys, he’ll go along. After all, he doesn’t know I mean to keep up my schooling after high school. And he has no idea that when there’s another Dr. Wainwright in our family, it’s not going to be my dear brother, Corey.
It is going to be me.
Jessie blew lightly on her page until the ink was dry, then closed her journal and stood up. She was surprised at herself for putting her secret down in writing. She had never breathed a word to anyone, except Hazel.It still counts as a secret if only your best friend knows, she thought.
Going to her bay window, she pushed back the rose-colored curtain. Her mother’s ladies were departing now, their familiar voices floating up on the late afternoon breeze. Letting the curtain fall back into place, she sat down on one end of the window seat. When she was small, she would curl up there and gaze out over the hills and rooftops, pretending she and her golden-haired doll, Mademoiselle, were princesses in a castle.
Now she reached for Mademoiselle, who sat primly at the other end of the seat with her trusty companion, Chester, an elderly stuffed bear. Holding Mademoiselle and Chester always made Jessie feel happyand sad at the same time. Chester had been the favorite toy of her own little sister, Amy, and Mademoiselle would have belonged to her someday, too. But Amy had been taken from them when she was only three. One day, they were playing together; the next, Amy had caught a chill and grown so very tired. And then she was gone.
Soon afterward, Jessie had seen a housemaid throw Chester into a donation bag in Amy’s room. For the five years since the night Jessie crept into that now-silent room and rescued him, he had brought her steady comfort. And Chester always reminded Jessie of the promise she’d made herself to become a doctor when she grew up, so she could save sick children like Amy.
Impulsively, Jessie got to her feet, tossed Chester and Mademoiselle gently onto her bed, and pulled the cushion off the window seat. She lifted the lid to the storage chest under the seat, breathing in the delicious scent of cedar-wood lining that rose up to greet her. Lifting the bottom board, she placed the leather-bound journal in the secret compartment below. Then she restored the board, the cushion, and the toys to their places.
Good, that’s safe, she thought. Now she’d try to make herself especially presentable for supper. Crossing to the tall armoire that dominated one end of her room, she got out of her everyday skirt and waist and drew on a fresh chemise, new petticoats, and a pink silk dress. Mama always likes me in fancy gowns. I think they make me look like a stick, but Mama calls it slender.”
Jessie pulled her brush through her long brown hair and decided to wear it braided and up, in the old-fashioned way her mother liked. She could even pin on the dyed-to-match hair ribbons the dressmaker had sent. But leaning over to look in the glass above her dresser, she grimaced. These ribbons and bows are for little girls. Still, an exception to her usual ways did seem in order tonight.
She glanced at her hands, rough and tanned from playing tennisnothing to do about that now. She could hear her parents’ voices in the foyer and knew that she should hurry. Her mother always wanted everyone to be on time to the dining room. The Wainwrights seemed the perfect, cozy family, but weeks often passed without their being together except at the dinner table.
I hope when Papa deals with’ me, he’ll at least see how hard I’m trying,” Jessie said to her reflection in the mirror. Adjusting the soft folds of her dress, she opened her door softly and stepped out onto the landing. A pale light filtered red-and-blue through the stained-glass window above the staircase. Placing her hand on the smooth mahogany banister, Jessie let it rest there for a long moment.
Then, her heart racing, she took a deep breath and started down the stairs.
Copyright © 2006 by William Lavender
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in
any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any
information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Requests for permission to make copies of any part of the work
should be mailed to the following address: Permissions Department,
Harcourt, Inc., 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, Florida 32887-6777.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
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Aftershocks
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Hardback. Condition: Good. Jessie Wainwright, the daughter of a prominent San Francisco physician, intends to become a doctor herself, despite her father's disapproval. Her dream is nearly lost when a chance encounter reveals a shocking secret--and Jessie sets off in search of answers, temporarily abandoning her goals. Determined to confirm her dark suspicions, Jessie combs the streets of Chinatown. She ultimately witnesses the devastation of the 1906 earthquake and the plight of Chinese immigrants relegated to the nightmare of refugee camps in its wake. With the help of trusted friends, old and new, Jessie discovers the strength to stand up to her domineering father and to break through the racial boundaries of the times. In this powerful story of family, love, and history, Jessie also finds the courage to set out on a daring path that sets her apart from other young women of her generation. Seller Inventory # 00104673016
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Aftershocks
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Hardback. Condition: Very Good. Jessie Wainwright, the daughter of a prominent San Francisco physician, intends to become a doctor herself, despite her father's disapproval. Her dream is nearly lost when a chance encounter reveals a shocking secret--and Jessie sets off in search of answers, temporarily abandoning her goals. Determined to confirm her dark suspicions, Jessie combs the streets of Chinatown. She ultimately witnesses the devastation of the 1906 earthquake and the plight of Chinese immigrants relegated to the nightmare of refugee camps in its wake. With the help of trusted friends, old and new, Jessie discovers the strength to stand up to her domineering father and to break through the racial boundaries of the times. In this powerful story of family, love, and history, Jessie also finds the courage to set out on a daring path that sets her apart from other young women of her generation. Seller Inventory # 00104179863
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Hardback. Condition: Very Good. Jessie Wainwright, the daughter of a prominent San Francisco physician, intends to become a doctor herself, despite her father's disapproval. Her dream is nearly lost when a chance encounter reveals a shocking secret--and Jessie sets off in search of answers, temporarily abandoning her goals. Determined to confirm her dark suspicions, Jessie combs the streets of Chinatown. She ultimately witnesses the devastation of the 1906 earthquake and the plight of Chinese immigrants relegated to the nightmare of refugee camps in its wake. With the help of trusted friends, old and new, Jessie discovers the strength to stand up to her domineering father and to break through the racial boundaries of the times. In this powerful story of family, love, and history, Jessie also finds the courage to set out on a daring path that sets her apart from other young women of her generation. Seller Inventory # CIN0152058826VG
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Aftershocks
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Hardback. Condition: Good. Jessie Wainwright, the daughter of a prominent San Francisco physician, intends to become a doctor herself, despite her father's disapproval. Her dream is nearly lost when a chance encounter reveals a shocking secret--and Jessie sets off in search of answers, temporarily abandoning her goals. Determined to confirm her dark suspicions, Jessie combs the streets of Chinatown. She ultimately witnesses the devastation of the 1906 earthquake and the plight of Chinese immigrants relegated to the nightmare of refugee camps in its wake. With the help of trusted friends, old and new, Jessie discovers the strength to stand up to her domineering father and to break through the racial boundaries of the times. In this powerful story of family, love, and history, Jessie also finds the courage to set out on a daring path that sets her apart from other young women of her generation. Seller Inventory # CIN0152058826G
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