Inspired by real events, To Move the World weaves a story of family loyalty and love. A historical fiction piece set during a tumultuos time when Chinese Americans faced persecution. They had to overcome many obstacles to establish an identity in a new land, and claim their piece of the early American Dream.
In the second book of the Sworn Sisters duology, it’s ten years later and San Francisco’s Chinatown is growing in leaps and bounds, much to the disappointment of the white citizens in its surrounding communities. Jingwei has found love and acceptance in her tiny family, and purpose in her efforts to help others. Sun Ling is relieved to be reunited with the father who loves her. Mature women now, both Jingwei and Sun Ling have pledged themselves as rescuers to girls and women in distress.
At night Sun Ling moves quietly, finding and releasing the oppressed from their captors to place them temporarily with Jing Fei and set them on a better path. In the day, Sun Ling works beside John Lane, Esquire. With his help, she advocates for Chinese and Asian American’s rights, translating and guiding individuals through the mire of legalities heaped upon them by white citizens hell bent on driving the Chinese out. Its treacherous work even under the best circumstances and one particular venture into Truckee County will prove to be more deadly than either Sun Ling or her proclaimed protector can predict.
Meanwhile Jingweii’s peace and happiness is put in jeopardy when Luli’s gift as a soothsayer comes to light, then smallpox begins its rampage across the Chinese quarter. Soon, all that Jing Fei has worked to build will be threatened. On the other side of town, Sun Ling is focused on her work, never allowing herself to believe that she can find love. Will she be able to put aside her obsession of rescuing the downtrodden in order to forge her own path of happiness?
As a writer, Kay used writing to help her navigate a tumultuous childhood, followed by a decade of abuse as an adult. After working her way through the hard years, Kay emerged a survivor and a pursuer of peace--and finally found the courage to share her stories. She is the author of more than a dozen full length books, with ten of those published by Lake Union Publishing. Kay writes women's fiction and historical fiction, and her books have fueled many exciting book club discussions. Her works have been translated into German, Korean, Chinese, Czechoslovakian, and Estonian.
As a rescuer, Kay currently focuses her efforts on animal rescue and is the Director of Advocacy for Yorkie Rescue of the Carolinas. As a child advocate, she spent a number of years volunteering in a Chinese orphanage, as well as provided assistance for several nonprofit organizations that support children in China, including An Orphan's Wish (AOW), Pearl River Outreach, and Love Without Boundaries. In the USA, she actively served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for abused and neglected children in Georgia, and spear-headed numerous outreach programs for underprivileged children in the South Carolina area.
As a wanderer, Kay has lived in nearly three dozen different homes, on two continents and in states from coast to coast in the USA. She's traveled to Mexico, Thailand, Malaysia, China, Philippines, Central America, Bahamas, and Australia. Currently she and her soulmate of more than 25 years enjoy life in their forever home on the banks of Lake Hartwell in Georgia, USA. Kay has been described as southern, spicy, and a little sassy. Social media forces her to overshare and you don't want to miss some of the antics that goes on with her and the Bratt Pack.
Find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and then buckle up and enjoy the ride. You can find a full list of her published works at www.kaybratt.com -- To be notified when new books are released, please sign up for my monthly email newsletter at www.kaybratt.com or at this link:
To Move the World by Kay Bratt is the second book in The Sworn Sisters duology. It is a story of family loyalty, love and the strive for the American Dream. California in 1876 is a tumultuous time for Chinese Americans as they face fierce persecution. It’s been several years since Sun Ling, Min Kao, Jingwei and Luli arrived in San Francisco. The city’s Chinatown has grown so large that the white citizens in the surrounding areas disapprove. Jingwei and Sin Ling have found a purpose as rescuers of young girls and women in distress. At night, Sun Ling disguises herself and quietly finds and releases girls and women in captive situations. Jingwei helps them find a path to a better life. During the day, Sun Ling also works alongside John Lane, a lawyer who has made it his life’s work to help the oppressed and persecuted. Violent uprisings, a smallpox epidemic and stories of witchcraft, there is no shortage of fuel to fan the flames of anti-Chinese sentiment. Will they find the strength and courage to forge ahead to find happiness and love in their new country? While I have known about many anti-Chinese sentiments in California, especially after the Gold Rush, Ms. Bratt features very real events in To Move the World that I did not know. Events like the mob violence in Truckee County, known as the Trout Creek Outrage (June 17-18, 1876), in attempts to rid the area of the Chinese residents. As well as the smallpox epidemic which was blamed on the residents of Chinatown as one example of the medical scapegoatism of the day. It truly hurts to read how immigrants have been vilified and harshly treated in this country and its history. From the Irish and Italian immigrants that flooded the east coast to the Chinese and Mexicans on the west coast. What is even sadder is that I still see many of these sentiments still, especially in the larger cities. While we have come a long way as a country, there is still a way to go. I enjoyed learning about the Truckee events and even read more into the events after I finished the book. I enjoyed revisiting the characters from A Welcome Misfortune. I highly recommend To Move the World.
To Move the World is available in paperback and eBook
This second book picks up 10 years after the first book in this series. It's exciting to see the changes in the characters ' lives. As usual, Bratt delivers a compelling tale full of rich characters and a strong storyline.
I always enjoy learning about other cultures and this book is full of details. Bratt's story pulls you in and her masterful story-telling makes you experience what her characters do.
I highly recommend both books in the Sworn Sisters series
As the second book in the Sworn Sisters duality I found I really had to read this book. It was good to visit with the characters again, ten years later. Always to good to find out more of a good story.
I did find this book a bit more contrived than the first, in that it was stretching to cover more of the little known history of the Golden State. We as a people don't much bother to struggle against tendencies to attack others because of race or cultural differences. Sad that our history is disclosed by those who ignore the differences in favor of their own world view. This book strikes back against that tendency to give voice to those "others" to show how much there is to admire and respect them.
A truly engaging story! I picked up To Move the World just as soon as I finished A Welcome Misfortune. the first book in the Sworn Sisters duology. I was already fully invested in the lives of the characters and was eager to experience their lives with them. To Move the World is set about 10 years later, and it was heartwarming to see how the characters had lived and grown during that time. I especially loved this story because I learned so much about how the Chinese were treated in the late 1800s in Amercia. Kay Bratt's extreme talent as a writer comes through as she deftly tells the story with the hardships, joys, family strengths, love, a bit of spirituality, adventure, and humor with the characters that the reader cares about so immensely. There were a few surprises and unexpected twists so that it never felt too contrived. To Move the World by Kay Bratt was completely wonderful and satisfying. I just only wish I didn't have to say goodbye to these people form long ago that I have come to care about.
I absolutely loved this story. Following the trials and tribulations of Min Kao, Sun Ling, Jingwei, and Luli as they come to America and attempt to make their fortune was an incredible ride. The racism and prejudice they suffered was heartbreaking but they always kept true to themselves through it all. The only question I have is.....Can we please have a Book 3? I'm not ready to say goodbye to them yet.
The second book of the Sworn sisters carries on the story of Sun Ling and Jingwei and their lives in San Francisco. The characters are brought to life in a beautiful, heartbreaking story of perseverance and the road to a better life. I didn't want to put this book down, but I didn't want the story to end. We can only hope for a third book to follow the lives of these amazing women.
Excellent reading. This book is the sequel to A Welcome Misfortune also a wonderful book. I thoroughly enjoyed both books as I’ve not read anything before about the Chinese coming to America. Kay has very good character development. She makes her tales so easy to read and delightful. I highly recommend you read these two books in order. You won’t be sorry.
I loved this book. Showed the love of family and also showed how the Chinese were shown prejudice. In a comment of a character ‘the men didn’t mind hiring the Chinese at a very small pay, yet didn’t want to treat them with fairness or let them have what was due’. It was a great book and I can’t wait for book 3
Life in Sanfrancisco's Chinatown was dominated by crime and prejudice for decades. Family life was difficult living under these conditions and human bandage was not uncommon. This is the story of the fight to erase these horrible conditions. It was difficult for me to read of the pain and suffering.
I was so glad that was a book 2! We continue the story of “sworn sisters” SunLing and Jingwei who are now in San Francisco. In early San Francisco, life was not easy, especially for those of Chinese ethnicity. Read to see how love always wins, even in the most difficult circumstances. Kay, I hope that there is a book 3!
Kay Heart's writing always tugs at my heart strings. I have always hated prejudice of any kind. Any reader of her books centered on Chinese people and their culture should come away realizing there is no reasonable basis for bigotry or prejudice toward any race different than our own.
Life, loyalty, and love during the Cultural Revolution in China
I am impressed by the research Kay Bratt conducted in the writing of The Sworn Sisters series. Historical facts woven into a tapestry of characters and their lives, loves, and tragedies during the Cultural Revolution in China. If you are interested in Chinese historical fiction this series is a must read.
This is truly a heartwarming story. Well researched and written with enough historical detail to keep the reader interested. Please tell me this book series is NOT over. I need a follow-up Luli.
I am sitting here sighing because this duology has ended. I want more. That is Kay Bratt's gift. She has a gift of great stories and great characters that leave you wanting more.
I don’t want to write a spoiler review. Suffice it to say things ended as they should. Kay Bratt works diligently to know how to tell a story worth buying, worth reading, and worth loving. Take the time to immerse yourself in the lives of the Sworn Sisters. And at the end, remember to come back to the present.
Loved seeing more of Sun Ling, Luli, and the other characters from book one. The trials and tribulations of the Chinese immigrants to America back in the 19th century come through clearly. Beautifully written and researched, this book will grab your heart.
I fell in love with Sun Ling and Jingwei in the first book of this two part series. Their loyalty to each other and to other Chinese women who struggled for survival was amazing. To see each find their place in life was worth the read.
Book two of The Sworn Sisters series tells what happens to the two when they arrive in America. We see how the Chinese were mistreated but needed in the building of America a d railroads. Fascinating story of how their lives continue
I loved this story, and it showed how badly the Chinese people that came to this country were treated. I loved the characters, good and bad as they were well-written. I cried for how so many were treated. I am looking forward to seeing the next book.
This book is incredibly descriptive, realistic, and captivating! It is haunting yet impossible to put down! Kay Bratt is a remarkably talented researcher and writer. I highly recommend this book as well as all of her stories!
The second book of this series was just as good as the first. These 2 books tell of the struggles the Chinese people had to be treated as equals in America.
Our 2 heroines have much to deal with but with the support of family and good friends their stories end with a happier future.
The second book in this duology is as beautiful as the first. If you have any interest in historical fiction regarding the Chinese and their early years in America, you will want to read both of the Sworn Sisters books!!!
This is 2nd book. He first starts n China an Hong Kong. The 2nd is in San Franisco. Good stories, plus history of how Chinese were treated nd how they lived. Well written and good characters and story.
Loved this series! Kay Bratt doing what she does best!So glad to have more books about the China culture from Kay Bratt. Her characters follow the life of 4 Chinese immigrants to the United States and their life in China,on the boat and in the United States. My favorite line . "She could also refuse to let their idiocy steal her joy."