Mamie Tape Fights to Go to School Based on a True Story

Meet Mamie Tape, 8-year-old Chinese American changemaker who fought for the right to go to school in San Francisco in the 1880s. Follow Mamie's brave steps and discover the poignant history of her California Supreme Court case Tape v. Hurley.

"A gripping and accessible biographical story of a U.S-born Chinese girl caught in a pivotal moment of history, this book spotlights the discriminatory difficulties that visible minorities faced and the heroic actions and perseverance that ordinary people must undertake for equality. Truly inspirational! This is a must-read for all ages, really, because Chinese-American history is American history." –Teresa Robeson, APALA award-winning author of Queen of Physics: How Wu Chien Shiung Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom

"I love that this book communicates, in such a clear and age-appropriate way, the can-do spirit and perseverance of the Tape family!" –Linda Lum Doler, great-granddaughter of Mamie Tape

Mamie’s mom always reminded her a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. So when Mamie wanted to go to school, even though Chinese children weren’t allowed, she took her first step and showed up anyway. When she was turned away at the schoolhouse door, she and her parents took another step: they sued the San Francisco school board…and won! Their case Tape v. Hurley made its way up to the California Supreme Court, which ruled that children of Chinese heritage had the right to a free public school education. But even then, Mamie’s fight wasn’t over.

Mamie Tape Fights to go to School is the story of one young changemaker’s brave steps on the long journey to end school segregation in California. It began with a single step.

Traci Huahn writes books for kids and especially loves stories rooted in Asian American culture, history, and identity. Mamie Tape Fights to go to School is her debut picture book. As a former attorney and the daughter of Chinese immigrants, she feels a deep connection to Mamie’s story and hopes it will inspire readers to become changemakers, even if it starts by taking just one small step. Traci lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, two kids, and a pup who loves belly rubs and raw Brussels sprouts.

Michelle Jing Chan is a Chinese American illustrator who grew up in Colorado and now lives in the Pacific Northwest. Ever since she could hold a pencil, she loved creating art and bringing the daydreams in her head to life. When she's not drawing, you can find her attempting TikTok recipes, curling up with a new book, or binge-watching spooky TV shows.