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Dreams to Ashes: The 1871 Los Angeles Chinatown Massacre
In the mid-1800s, a wave of Chinese immigrants traveled to the West Coast of the United States. They were following rumors of Gold Mountain, a land rich with treasure for all who came. When gold proved elusive, they began to seek their fortunes in other ways—as doctors and launderers, as cooks and musicians.
A number of Chinese immigrants settled in Los Angeles, California. It was a rough, occasionally lawless city, and newspapers routinely published anti-Chinese articles, fueling sparks of hatred. On the night of October 24, 1871, the city exploded in violence. In the ensuing massacre, eighteen Chinese men were killed, their dreams turned to ashes.
New York Times bestselling author Livia Blackburne and illustrator Nicole Xu illuminate a tragic episode in our nation’s past in the hope that future generations can move toward a brighter tomorrow.
A number of Chinese immigrants settled in Los Angeles, California. It was a rough, occasionally lawless city, and newspapers routinely published anti-Chinese articles, fueling sparks of hatred. On the night of October 24, 1871, the city exploded in violence. In the ensuing massacre, eighteen Chinese men were killed, their dreams turned to ashes.
New York Times bestselling author Livia Blackburne and illustrator Nicole Xu illuminate a tragic episode in our nation’s past in the hope that future generations can move toward a brighter tomorrow.
40 pages, Hardcover
Published March 4, 2025
35 people want to read
About the author
Livia Blackburne
18Ìýbooks1,314ÌýfollowersNew York Times bestselling author Livia Blackburne wrote her first novel while researching the neuroscience of reading at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Since then, she’s switched to full-time writing, which also involves getting into people’s heads but without the help of a 3 Tesla MRI scanner.
She is also the author of MIDNIGHT THIEF (an Indies Introduce New Voices selection), DAUGHTER OF DUSK, and ROSEMARKED (an Amazon best book of the month and YALSA Teens Top Ten Nominee).
Visit her online at
She is also the author of MIDNIGHT THIEF (an Indies Introduce New Voices selection), DAUGHTER OF DUSK, and ROSEMARKED (an Amazon best book of the month and YALSA Teens Top Ten Nominee).
Visit her online at
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 31, 2025
What a great book for kids (and adults!) to learn about Chinese immigrants in the 1800s and the racism they faced.
I loved the illustrations, especially how the illustrator used muted tones to portray the setting while using brighter colors to highlight a few named victims like Dr. Gene Tong, Tong Won, and Wing Chee. It helped convey this vile and xenophobic event in a serious manner while also respecting and honoring their lives.
I liked the informational section at the end. It was helpful for me to understand the history of early Chinese immigration to the West Coast, including placing the massacre, the overturned manslaughter convictions for the perpetrators, and important legislation such as the Chinese Exclusion Act into perspective in US history.
This is definitely an important book for children to understand the dangers of unbridled hate and racism, while also bringing a message of hope that we, as a nation, can do so much better.
I'd recommend it to children who can understand the importance of the massacre, anti-American racism, and their repercussions throughout history and beyond.
Thank you to Carolrhoda Books ® and NetGalley for this arc.
I loved the illustrations, especially how the illustrator used muted tones to portray the setting while using brighter colors to highlight a few named victims like Dr. Gene Tong, Tong Won, and Wing Chee. It helped convey this vile and xenophobic event in a serious manner while also respecting and honoring their lives.
I liked the informational section at the end. It was helpful for me to understand the history of early Chinese immigration to the West Coast, including placing the massacre, the overturned manslaughter convictions for the perpetrators, and important legislation such as the Chinese Exclusion Act into perspective in US history.
This is definitely an important book for children to understand the dangers of unbridled hate and racism, while also bringing a message of hope that we, as a nation, can do so much better.
I'd recommend it to children who can understand the importance of the massacre, anti-American racism, and their repercussions throughout history and beyond.
Thank you to Carolrhoda Books ® and NetGalley for this arc.
February 25, 2025
The cover is what drew me in, but it is beautifully illustrated throughout. I think the illustrations convey the horror well without being too gory for children. It is informative and digestible for all age groups and I love the messaging against racism, xenophobia, and violence. It’s important to start those lessons as young as possible.
I will definitely be purchasing this book for the young children in my life.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.
I will definitely be purchasing this book for the young children in my life.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.
January 8, 2025
Dream to Ashes tells the story of the 1871 LA Chinese Massacre, which admittedly, I am not familiar with.
But the story is more than that. It tells the story of migrants from China to a new world, a world that's unfriendly and riddled with difficulties. As immigrants in the US, Chinese worker fell into many different roles, including bringing Chinese culture to the USA. With a growing resentment towards Chinese immigrants, violence erupts and many lives are lost.
This picture book tackles a very real history to understand the very real issues with racism, xenophobia, and hate crimes. It also talks about who commits hate crimes, which is very relevant to today. The book even talks about how to learn from the past to prevent hate from existing today, which really is essential for young people to recognize.
The illustrations in this book are gentle, yet horrifying during the massacre. It's done tastefully, honoring the victims of the massacre while telling how terrifying the moments were. It could be quite scary for a young child, so I would imagine this book would be more appropriate for older elementary age.
This would also be a great book to use as part of a unit on Chinese history, racism, or hate crimes for younger children. It's a tangible yet digestible way for older elementary age children to start learning about those concepts and establishing a foundation to end hateful, systemic forces in the world.
But the story is more than that. It tells the story of migrants from China to a new world, a world that's unfriendly and riddled with difficulties. As immigrants in the US, Chinese worker fell into many different roles, including bringing Chinese culture to the USA. With a growing resentment towards Chinese immigrants, violence erupts and many lives are lost.
This picture book tackles a very real history to understand the very real issues with racism, xenophobia, and hate crimes. It also talks about who commits hate crimes, which is very relevant to today. The book even talks about how to learn from the past to prevent hate from existing today, which really is essential for young people to recognize.
The illustrations in this book are gentle, yet horrifying during the massacre. It's done tastefully, honoring the victims of the massacre while telling how terrifying the moments were. It could be quite scary for a young child, so I would imagine this book would be more appropriate for older elementary age.
This would also be a great book to use as part of a unit on Chinese history, racism, or hate crimes for younger children. It's a tangible yet digestible way for older elementary age children to start learning about those concepts and establishing a foundation to end hateful, systemic forces in the world.
March 23, 2025
Lidia Blackburne captures the turmoil of Los Angeles during the post Gold Rush era with brief but well-chosen words and then builds to the anger of many towards immigrants, especially those from China. Times were hard, jobs were scarce and many were looking for someone to blame. While many nationalities were targeted and accused of taking away jobs from US citizens, the riot of 1871 was focused on Chinese immigrants. Details on how it began and the 18 killed are stated clearly but without including any graphic details. Blackburne concludes her retelling by reminding readers that remembering the mistakes of the past is important in keeping them from being repeated. Back matter provides many more facts from the 1871 massacre and furthers the warning about the dangers of forgetfulness by including information about the increase in violence against Asian Americans in recent years.
The main portion of this non-fiction picture book is likely targeted to learners in grades 2-5. However, the back matter is far more extensive, has two photographs from the time period and may extend that age range.
Thanks for providing me with a print arc, Lerner Books.
The main portion of this non-fiction picture book is likely targeted to learners in grades 2-5. However, the back matter is far more extensive, has two photographs from the time period and may extend that age range.
Thanks for providing me with a print arc, Lerner Books.
October 17, 2024
When I was doing research on the historical novel I was working on, about the Chinese in California in the 1800s, I wanted to know every evil that was done to them. The massacre that happened in Los Angeles was one I read about. This picture book about the incident explains it in clear plain language, a thing that was so horrible, it is not mentioned even when learning local history.
The sad thing about history is that it repeats itself, and if we don’t learn from it, we are doomed to have the same thing happen all over again. Just as now there are some that say that anyone who isn’t white are scum and bring illness and crime, so did the local papers do in the late 1800s. They also said that the Chinese were taking the white people’s jobs, even though the Chinese did the work that no one else wanted to do. The cooking, the cleaning, and the washing.
Beautifully illustrated book, about a truly horrible time in US history, that needs to be told.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out on the 4th of March 2025.
The sad thing about history is that it repeats itself, and if we don’t learn from it, we are doomed to have the same thing happen all over again. Just as now there are some that say that anyone who isn’t white are scum and bring illness and crime, so did the local papers do in the late 1800s. They also said that the Chinese were taking the white people’s jobs, even though the Chinese did the work that no one else wanted to do. The cooking, the cleaning, and the washing.
Beautifully illustrated book, about a truly horrible time in US history, that needs to be told.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out on the 4th of March 2025.
February 22, 2025
As a half-Chinese, I thank the authors for bringing back to light this unfortunate incident that reminds us of the cruelty of humans towards their brothers, due to reasons as ridiculous as skin color, language and even, as in this case, envy towards a group made up mostly of hard-working and honest people whose only goal was to live the "American dream" to improve their lives and those of their families.
The hatred of some ignorant people turned this golden dream into a horrible nightmare.
Let us never forget what this historical event teaches us: we are all human, we all have the right to live in peace, to opportunities to improve, to learn and to share with our loved ones.
I thank the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
The opinion I have expressed above is based solely on what I think and feel about this book.
The hatred of some ignorant people turned this golden dream into a horrible nightmare.
Let us never forget what this historical event teaches us: we are all human, we all have the right to live in peace, to opportunities to improve, to learn and to share with our loved ones.
I thank the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
The opinion I have expressed above is based solely on what I think and feel about this book.
March 9, 2025
Dreams to Ashes is an eye-opening account of the first massacre of Chinese people living in the United States. The author show how
In Los Angeles, xenophobic feelings towards Chinese Americans were fueled by racist newspaper accounts, culminating in the Chinatown 1871 riot and 18 deaths. This is a well- researched book and despite being a picture book, is accessible to both middle grade and some high school students. The illustrations done in ink and photoshop are done in earth tones, and leave out the more disturbing aspects of this massacre. There is also back matter for further exploration. This was an event I had never learned about when I was in school, and I doubt it is being taught to kids today, but it is an important and integral part of America's history. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the experience of Chinese immigrants and American history.
In Los Angeles, xenophobic feelings towards Chinese Americans were fueled by racist newspaper accounts, culminating in the Chinatown 1871 riot and 18 deaths. This is a well- researched book and despite being a picture book, is accessible to both middle grade and some high school students. The illustrations done in ink and photoshop are done in earth tones, and leave out the more disturbing aspects of this massacre. There is also back matter for further exploration. This was an event I had never learned about when I was in school, and I doubt it is being taught to kids today, but it is an important and integral part of America's history. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the experience of Chinese immigrants and American history.
April 14, 2025
While this is a picture book and has simple words and phrases, it deals with a very powerful subject that many should know about. This book talks about how Chinese immigrants came to America with hopes and dreams to earn wages to send to their families back home, but many faced xenophobia, racism, and bigotry. The Chinese people were villainized, even though they were humans and contributed to society like other Los Angelos did.
The art was also simple and clean, with lots of shadows during the explanation of the massacre to hide the horrific details, but still getting the point across that bad things happened.
I think this is an important book to read to learn about the massacre that occurred and maybe it will help people reflect on how these issues of bigotry are still affecting the country.
The art was also simple and clean, with lots of shadows during the explanation of the massacre to hide the horrific details, but still getting the point across that bad things happened.
I think this is an important book to read to learn about the massacre that occurred and maybe it will help people reflect on how these issues of bigotry are still affecting the country.
November 12, 2024
Great book for any school library. This book handles the 1871 LA Chinatown Massacre with grace and facts. The illustrations fit the story without being gory, making it suitable for elementary and middle school libraries. There are names and short looks into the lives of people who were killed, helping to humanize those who were murdered.
At the end of the picture book story is a summary of the reports of the massacre and a bibliography for further reading.
Recommended age: 4-6th grade due to the subject
This honest review was given in exchange for an advanced copy of the book.
At the end of the picture book story is a summary of the reports of the massacre and a bibliography for further reading.
Recommended age: 4-6th grade due to the subject
This honest review was given in exchange for an advanced copy of the book.
October 30, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. The illustrations were great. This book sheds a light on the darker side of US history and how injustice is still prevalent today as it was back then. It’s sad that people get caught up in the craziness or stand by and do nothing as incidents like in the book happen all the time.
December 31, 2024
This was a quick summary of the LA Chinese Massacre that occurred in the 1871. The book starts out as a picture-like book than is followed by a quick, concise, and thoughtful conclusion. I found both sections interesting from book the writing and art stand point. This book is a quick but powerful reminder of how hate has darkened the past of America.
April 10, 2025
Like Carole Boston Weatherford's Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre, Dreams to Ashes shines a light on another dark moment of US history- and humanity, in general. What wasn't thought in textbooks while I was growing up, I'm grateful that picture books can be an outlet for these untalked about events. Sadly, we see it in this day and age that what we don't learn from the past, we're bound to repeat.
April 19, 2025
I’m embarrassed that I don’t know more about this part of our countries history. “How does a country learn from the past? By remembering. By writing the dark stories back into history books.� I’m grateful for books like this to teach & help us moving forward
April 26, 2025
This picture book does a wonderful job of explaining the events leading up to and the events after the 1871 Chinatown Massacre in Los Angeles. I don't think that many know about the racism and injustices Chinese-Americans faced for so many years of American History.
April 13, 2025
Highly recommend for middle schoolers and up
The illustrations were easily 5-star giving the reader the sense of being there, a true witness to the events that unfolded. The scenes are detailed in a way that reinforces the storyline and in my opinion, makes a greater impact on the reader
I appreciated how the author did not soften the events for the reader.
It is a darker part of our history that is not talked about enough, yet should be.
The story not only recounts the details of the China Town Massacre and its victims but it also reiterates how easily a single misunderstanding crafts mob mentality.
Along with the retelling the author has included the factual details and the lives of those lost
The illustrations were easily 5-star giving the reader the sense of being there, a true witness to the events that unfolded. The scenes are detailed in a way that reinforces the storyline and in my opinion, makes a greater impact on the reader
I appreciated how the author did not soften the events for the reader.
It is a darker part of our history that is not talked about enough, yet should be.
The story not only recounts the details of the China Town Massacre and its victims but it also reiterates how easily a single misunderstanding crafts mob mentality.
Along with the retelling the author has included the factual details and the lives of those lost
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
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