© 2025 Boise State Public Radio
NPR in Idaho
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Protect my public media

'Dreams to Ashes' kids' picture book explores an ugly chapter in Los Angeles history

The cover of "Dreams to Ashes" beside author Livia Blackburne. (Courtesy of Butalia Media)
/
The cover of "Dreams to Ashes" beside author Livia Blackburne. (Courtesy of Butalia Media)

In 1871, anti-Chinese sentiment led to a riot that killed 18 men and destroyed homes and businesses in Los Angeles.

Livia Blackburne tells the story in the children’s picture book “Dreams to Ashes: The 1871 Los Angeles Massacre” and joins host Scott Tong to talk about it.

Book excerpt: ‘Dreams to Ashes’

By Livia Blackburne

“Dreams to Ashes: The 1871 Los Angeles Chinatown Massacre” by Livia Blackburne and illustrated by Nicole Xu. Text copyright © 2025 by Livia Blackburne. Illustrations copyright © 2025 by Nicole Xu. Used  with the permission of Carolrhoda Books, a division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this text excerpt may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the prior written permission of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.

Copyright 2025 WBUR

Here & Now Newsroom

You make stories like this possible.

The biggest portion of Boise State Public Radio's funding comes from readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

Your donation today helps make our local reporting free for our entire community.