Jamie Ford was born on July 9, 1968, in Eureka, California, but grew up in Ashland, Oregon, and Port Orchard[1] and Seattle, Washington.

His father, a Seattle native, is of Chinese ancestry, while Ford's mother is of European descent.

It switches between two different narratives of a Chinese-American named Henry Lee, each one taking place at different points of his lifetime.

The first narrative, taking place in 1942 just after the United States has entered World War II, focuses on Henry's struggles with the racism towards Chinese and Japanese-Americans that was commonplace during that time period and his relationship with a Japanese-American girl named Keiko Okabe.

The second narrative, also taking place mainly in the Chinatown-International District, is set in 1986, focusing mainly on an older Henry in his late fifties as he attempts to reconnect with his grown son, Marty, after the death of his wife Ethel.

Lisa See said the novel explores "old conflicts between father and son", while the book was "an impressive, bitter, and sweet debut.

The book references a number of historical figures, including "Rum King" Roy Olmstead and filmmaker Nell Shipman.

There also a host of references to gone-but-not-quite-forgotten places including the Meadows Race Track, Frederick & Nelson and Seattle's Film Row.

[14] Shortly after release, the book made it through to the second round of the 2013 Goodreads Choice Awards in the category of historical fiction.

Jamie Ford has given him a family name, Young, a girl friend, a life in the 'tenderloin' district of Seattle, and later a wife and daughters.