Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford

Ernst finds himself on his way to America after his Chinese dirt poor mother gives him up. Just as he finds his way at the boarding school/orphanage in Seattle, he is once again given away as the lottery prize at the World's Fair ending up at a high end brothel. After being reunited with his savoir on their dark voyage across the Pacific, Ernst meets Maisie and the three become inseparable. Fast forward to the 60's and Ernst is now fighting to help his wife remember their life together. When her memories unearth their real story, Ernst must decide to share what really happened with their daughters. This is a story of a great love, an undying spirit of hope and a true look at the immigrant experience in the States.