In "Mott Street," Ava Chin embarks on a riveting journey to unravel the mysteries of her family's past, a quest that leads her to the heart of Chinatown in New York City and deep into the shadows of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. This landmark legislation, which for six decades barred Chinese immigrants from citizenship based on race and nationality, serves as the backdrop for Chin's exploration of her ancestors' struggles and triumphs. Through her meticulous research and vivid storytelling, Chin not only uncovers the stories of her forebears who toiled on the transcontinental railroad and braved the brutal racism of frontier towns but also discovers a singular building on Mott Street that became a refuge and a cradle for generations of her family. "Mott Street" is a beautifully crafted tale that weaves together the personal and the political, tracing the threads of exclusion and resilience that define the Chinese American experience. As Chin pieces together the lives of merchants, refugees, activists, and community leaders who navigated and resisted the crushing weight of exclusion, she reveals how these personal stories of perseverance and identity are inextricably linked to the broader American narrative. With its deep research and emotional depth, "Mott Street" is not merely a story of one family's journey but a poignant reflection on what it means to search for a place to call home in a land marked by both opportunity and oppression.