"Eloquent, lyrical black-and-gray panels that conjure the environment and living conditions as well as the people." —Library Journal

"The author's panel work makes an at-times painful history easily read [. . .] The comic is really a jumping-off point for those interested in the subject matter — the epic research that Wong put towards the book made for enough bibliography and reading resources to launch a thousand syllabi, or at least a sense that an important portion of history may have been missing from your childhood textbooks." - The San Francisco Bay Guardian

"This book is an excellent introduction to the complex issue of Chinese immigration as told from the Chinese point of view." —Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"Wong proves that pictures can indeed hold thousands (and thousands!) of words, capturing 200+ years of history in as many pages; he also includes a 'Chinglish' glossary, a timeline that overlaps China and Gam Saan, maps, extensive notes, and a thorough bibliography." —Book Dragon blog from the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center

"Escape to Gold Mountain is forgotten history, and all the more important for teen readers in particular, because it has been so overlooked. Wong does a solid job of bringing his characters to life and making the narrative both informative and emotional ... As a fan of both American and Canadian history, I found this graphic novel compelling and perfectly suited for the illustrated form." —Bookslut

"This is a moving book that deserves to be read." —VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates) Magazine