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Angel Island, the Ellis Island of the West, carries the stories of Wren Atwood and Wong Ying Fa, two sixteen-year-olds trapped on the island for very different reasons at very different times.
In 2019, Wren's rebellious activities get her caught stealing. Her recently divorced parents agree on a shocking punishment that forfeit Wren's sunny summer vacation with her dad in San Diego and have her working on Angel Island instead, under the supervision of Wren's strict mother, a park ranger who leads tours at the historic Immigration Station. On the desolate island, Wren encounters an agitated, enormous, red-crowned crane, rumored to have lived on the island for a hundred years, and a skittish Chinese boy dressed in vintage clothing, who follows Wren but runs whenever he sees a ranger.
In 1919, Ying Fa arrives on Angel Island with his merchant father, who expects swift processing so he can return to his shop in Chinatown. Instead of leaving the Immigration Station as expected, a cruel guard accuses Ying Fa of being a paper son, claiming the boy was pretending to travel with a father to gain access to the United States. The guard terrorizes Ying Fa, resulting in a long delay in a crowded barrack, harsh treatment, and family destruction.
Ultimately, the teens' worlds collide, forcing Wren to confront a shocking truth about her family's grim connection to Wong Ying Fa's ancestors.
