The Paper Daughters of Chinatown by Heather B. Moore

3 1/2 stars
Based on the real life of social rights activist Donaldina Cameron who rescued girls and young women from the Chinese slave trade. She worked diligently to save countless people and ran the Occidental Mission House for 39 years, starting as a sewing teacher and finishing her long career as the Director.
San Francisco's Chinatown was a dangerous place at the end of the 19th century yet Donaldina "Dolly" armed with an interpreter and a handful of police would stand up to the Tong marching into brothels and opium dens to save those who were able to reach out to them and then keeping them safe. Many of these girls came from China escaping poverty with their parents duped into thinking they were sending them to arranged marriages. The girls were then transported to San Francisco , sold like cattle, drugged and left without any means of escape. Perfect read for someone looking for a little known female hero that isn't WWII. This would also be an excellent choice for young adults.