In this lyrical memoir, Lily Hoy Price writes with moving detail about her childhood and adolescence in a large Chinese Canadian family in the Cariboo country of northern British Columbia. The ninth daughter in a family of 12 children, Lily is an observant child who tucks away every image of life in rugged Quesnel during the 1930s for one unforgettable tale after another. She has carefully selected many of her father's early photographs to illustrate her stories. The celebrated pioneer photographer Chow Dong Hoy left a legacy of more the 1,500 photographs taken after 1909, and created an invaluable record of the cultural diversity of the Cariboo region. With similar sensitivity and the same eye for detail, Lily Hoy Price seamlessly weaves both the innocence and expectations of a young child and the struggles of her parents, who came to Canada during the racially charged days of the imposed $100 head tax.
Filled with love, confusion, family celebrations and family tragedies, these stories open a window on an era long past. Rich with the author’s own insight, the stories are at times sad and humourous, but always thoughtful and interesting.
I Am Full Moon
creates an intimate portrait of life in an unusual, gifted family and is a significant addition to the historical literature of British Columbia.