Ava Chin’s Mott Street has garnered widespread acclaim, solidifying its place as a vital contribution to both literary and historical narratives. This compelling memoir delves into the multi-generational saga of Chin’s Chinese American family, weaving a rich tapestry of resilience, resistance, and the often-overlooked history of Chinese immigrants in America, particularly centered around Mott Street in New York City’s Chinatown. Critics and readers alike have lauded Mott Street for its profound empathy, meticulous research, and evocative storytelling, making it an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the intricate layers of American history and identity.
Mott Street is not merely a personal family history; it’s a powerful exploration of the Chinese American experience against the backdrop of discriminatory policies like the Chinese Exclusion Act. Shannon Carlin of TIME recognized the book as one of the “100 Must-Read Books of 2023,” praising its sensitive portrayal of “survival, resilience, and resistance.” This sentiment is echoed by Julia Flynn Siler in the Wall Street Journal, who emphasizes the book’s importance in rendering visible the “hidden achievements and sufferings” of Chin’s ancestors, urging readers to confront the “wounding history of exclusion.”
Megan Vered, writing for the Los Angeles Review of Books, highlights Chin’s unique approach, blending historical tenacity with artistic sensitivity and a touch of the mystical. Vered marvels at Chin’s ability to communicate with the past, describing it as “magic,” and appreciates the intimate voice that guides readers through this expansive family journey. Dwight Garner in The New York Times Book Review also commends the book’s breadth, noting its “expansive family history encompassing perilous journeys, sensational crimes and social change.” Garner underscores the book’s significance in illuminating the broader Chinese experience in America, from the arduous journeys and pervasive racism to landmark events like the San Francisco earthquake and the long shadow of the Chinese Exclusion Laws.
Rhoda Feng in The Washington Post celebrates Chin’s “Proustian flourish” and evocative prose, particularly in depicting “scrumptious foodscapes.” Feng praises the seamless integration of diverse voices within the narrative, creating an immersive and immediate reading experience that lovingly preserves the voices of Chin’s ancestors connected to Mott Street. Leland Cheuk in the San Francisco Chronicle further emphasizes the book’s crucial relevance, pointing out its unflinching examination of America’s “legacy of racist policies,” exemplified by the Chinese Exclusion Act, and its disturbing parallels to contemporary immigration debates.
The profound impact of Mott Street resonates deeply with readers and critics alike. Miwa Messer of Poured Over Podcast aptly describes it as “The Angela’s Ashes for Chinese Americans,” highlighting its emotional depth and universality. Zibby Owens from Good Morning America underscores the personal quest at the heart of the book, noting how Chin’s journey to uncover her family history led her to a building on Mott Street and a transformative “new understanding of herself and her family.” TIME Magazine itself, in its “14 New Books You Should Read in April” feature, praised Chin’s masterful braiding of family roots with the broader history of Chinese marginalization in America, specifically referencing the Chinese Exclusion Act and its lasting impact on identities.
Book Riot hails Mott Street as “visceral, vital,” emphasizing its power to expose “some of America’s most shameful history, while uplifting the people who resisted and thrived despite it.” Gavin Newsham of the New York Post calls it a “remarkable story,” focusing on Mott Street as the “focal point of an extraordinary tale” of family resilience. Terry Hong in Shelf Awareness (starred review) deems it “exceptional,” praising Chin’s ability to weave together family history into an “enduring story of abiding resilience and indelible inspiration.”
Publishers Weekly (starred review) echoes this sentiment, calling Mott Street “stunning” and “deeply researched,” predicting it will become “required reading” for those seeking to understand America’s past and present. Kirkus (starred review) highlights Chin’s “elegantly written, probing narrative” and her act of “filial homage” in bringing to life the stories of her ancestors connected to Mott Street. Library Journal praises it as a “beautifully written ode” that provides readers with a better understanding of immigrant experiences and how to move forward.
Booklist further emphasizes the book’s scope, noting how it “amplifies the broader experience of Chinese Americans across two centuries.” Celeste Ng, the #1 bestselling author of Our Missing Hearts and Little Fires Everywhere, calls Mott Street “essential reading for understanding not just Chinese American history, but American history—and the American present.” Pulitzer Prize-winning author Louis Menand praises Chin’s writing as “written with feeling, with anger, and compassion,” underscoring the book’s emotional resonance.
Sarah Schulman, author of Let the Record Show, recognizes Mott Street as “an exciting and essential social history” that enriches our understanding of American life. Qian Julie Wang, bestselling author of Beautiful Country, insists that Mott Street “should be required reading,” emphasizing its crucial role in documenting a foundational piece of American history that has been too long erased. Janice P. Nimura, bestselling author of The Doctors Blackwell, describes Chin’s discovery on Mott Street as a “portal” to understanding the “Chinese-American experience in all its glory and pain.” Maud Newton, author of Ancestor Trouble, praises Chin’s ability to blaze a path through historical fictions to uncover an “intimate story” centered on Mott Street.
Grace M. Cho, author of Tastes Like War, highlights Mott Street as more than just family history, but “a history of a people’s survival and a history of America.” Alice Elliott Dark, author of Fellowship Point, sees the book as a “masterpiece” that offers inspiration by opening up a unique history connected to Mott Street. Vanessa Hua, author of Forbidden City, summarizes it as “sweeping yet intimate,” a “lyrical, gripping account of survival, resilience and resistance.”
In conclusion, Mott Street stands as a critically acclaimed and profoundly moving memoir that illuminates a vital chapter of American history through the deeply personal lens of Ava Chin’s family. Its exploration of themes like immigration, exclusion, and resilience, all anchored to the significant location of Mott Street, makes it an indispensable read for those seeking a richer understanding of the American story. Discover the depths of history and personal triumph within the pages of Mott Street and gain a new perspective on the narratives that shape our nation.
