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Mamie Takes a Stand: The True Story of Mamie Tape, a Chinese American Girl's Fight for School Rights
Last updated Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Author: Marie Chan
Illustrator: Sian James
Date of Publication: 2024
ISBN: 0736987320
Grade Level: 2nd (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Aug. 2025
Synopsis:
In the fall of 1884 in San Francisco, California, Mamie excitedly arrived for her first day at an American public school, only to find the principal blocking her way. Why? Because Mamie was Chinese.
Thus began the Tape family's yearlong struggle to secure Mamie's right to attend public school. In the spring of 1885, Mamie's case reached the California Supreme Court, who reaffirmed a lower court’s ruling that public schools should be open to children of all races.
| Note to readers: |
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This is a story of justice and courage.
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It is encouraged to highlight the power of of advocating for inclusion and all the positive outcomes within the story
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| Discussion topics for before reading: |
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What country did your family travel from? Who came with you?
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Have you ever felt left out of an activity or group? What did you do?
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Have you been to San Francisco? What is it like?
Vocabulary
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Treasure: valuable or special things that are collected and put away
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Bokchoy, chow mein: Chinese dishes
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Peer: look closely and carefully
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Superintendent: principal, someone who is in charge
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Protest: when people come together to show they disagree with something and want things to change
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| Discussion topics for during/after reading: |
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Does your family ever stand up for you?
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How has your family made you feel protected and cared for?
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Do you think standing up for others, the way the lawyers did for Mami's family, is important? In what way(s)?
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How can you welcome and help immigrant families that are new to the United States?
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| Craft ideas: |
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Cut out little pieces of paper in different colors to make facial features for a uniquely colored face OR use colored paper to make a drawing of faces with different colors (an example will be provided for you)
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Make a paper doll of Mami or someone from her family
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Draw/make a pink leaf tree like that on page 18 of the book
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Color in the provided San Francisco's Chinatown coloring page
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| Special activities: |
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Team storytime: children share stories of their family celebrating diverse backgrounds"
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We're different, we're the same" partner activity: have each child share one similarity and one different characteristic with their partner and then share with everyone
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REMINDER: if you don’t have air conditioning, on a very hot day your public library has AC to help
keep you cool.
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*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions.
You can use them, but you don't have to use them.
You can expand upon them, or add your own twist.
Remember, though, that the focus of your time should
not be on the development and execution of a craft;
the focus should be on the read-aloud and the
enjoyment of the book!
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