China Coin - Allan Baillie - Chapter Summary
The China Coin – Plot Summary
Chapter 1 * Leah and her mother Joan are on a plane to China in search of the origins of a mysterious half a coin that was sent to Joan from her father. * Leah is not thrilled to be going. * Leah does not see herself as Chinese. * We find out that Leah’s father has died of cancer and they are tracing the coin for him, because he was really curious about where the other half of the coin is. * Joan is spooked by what she sees on TV – a student riot.
Chapter 2 Joan and Leah go to the Qingping Market. Leah notices that China is changing Joan – she is becoming “Chinese” – a side of Joan that Leah has not seen before. They meet a young man who is putting up signs about democracy. * * Chapter 3 * We learn that Leah and Joan come from Chatswood NSW. * They and Joan head to Good Field Village. * They find the Ji family, which is her family and meet Chou Yin Yu (Silver Jade), Grandfather, Swallow and Chained Dragon. * Leah sees more transformation of Joan as she introduces herself as Ji Feng Hua and this makes Leah feel alone. * They find out that Grandfather is Joan’s father’s brother. * * Chapter 4 * Joan shows them the letter from her father that arrived with the coin. * Swallow ‘adopts’ Leah as a sister. * We learn about some of the history of Communist China. We also learn that students are protesting in Beijing. * * Chapter 5 * We learn that Joan’s grandfather started the village 80 years ago. * They go to the village cemetery. * Leah is starting to feel a sense of belonging to these kind people – her self image is changing as well, and being part Chinese doesn’t seem like such a bad thing now. * Grandfather tells about how he and his brother got separated and asks about how rich Joan’s father was. He says that he thought his brother would come back and help them financially. Joan gets quite defensive of her father. * They
Chapter 1 * Leah and her mother Joan are on a plane to China in search of the origins of a mysterious half a coin that was sent to Joan from her father. * Leah is not thrilled to be going. * Leah does not see herself as Chinese. * We find out that Leah’s father has died of cancer and they are tracing the coin for him, because he was really curious about where the other half of the coin is. * Joan is spooked by what she sees on TV – a student riot.
Chapter 2 Joan and Leah go to the Qingping Market. Leah notices that China is changing Joan – she is becoming “Chinese” – a side of Joan that Leah has not seen before. They meet a young man who is putting up signs about democracy. * * Chapter 3 * We learn that Leah and Joan come from Chatswood NSW. * They and Joan head to Good Field Village. * They find the Ji family, which is her family and meet Chou Yin Yu (Silver Jade), Grandfather, Swallow and Chained Dragon. * Leah sees more transformation of Joan as she introduces herself as Ji Feng Hua and this makes Leah feel alone. * They find out that Grandfather is Joan’s father’s brother. * * Chapter 4 * Joan shows them the letter from her father that arrived with the coin. * Swallow ‘adopts’ Leah as a sister. * We learn about some of the history of Communist China. We also learn that students are protesting in Beijing. * * Chapter 5 * We learn that Joan’s grandfather started the village 80 years ago. * They go to the village cemetery. * Leah is starting to feel a sense of belonging to these kind people – her self image is changing as well, and being part Chinese doesn’t seem like such a bad thing now. * Grandfather tells about how he and his brother got separated and asks about how rich Joan’s father was. He says that he thought his brother would come back and help them financially. Joan gets quite defensive of her father. * They