The Girl Who Wrote in Silk

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses racism.

Orcas Island and Seattle are both hostile to Chinese people, so Joseph takes Mei Lien to Port Townsend, pretending she is his male servant. He plans to help her settle in the Chinese community there to make a new life for herself. 

When they arrive, Joseph acquires papers for Mei Lien. They are walking through town when people begin rushing to the beach. Someone says a body washed up, and Mei Lien insists they go see what’s happened. When they get to the beach, Mei Lien’s grandmother’s body is splayed on the beach, revealing her “deformed” feet and the damage done by being in the water too long. 

Mei Lien screams in grief and falls to her knees next to her grandmother’s body. Joseph protects her and maintains her grandmother’s dignity. They leave the beach. Joseph tries to find a place for them to eat together, but all the restaurants refuse to serve Chinese people outside of the kitchen. Joseph gets food packed up, and they eat together under a tree in a remote area. Mei Lien considers the struggles ahead of her if she lives in this town.