Love and Other Consolation PrizesLove and Other Consolation Prizes

A half-Chinese orphan is "offered as a prize in the daily raffle at the [1909 Seattle World's Fair], advertised as 'Healthy boy to a good home for the winning ticket holder.' The woman who 'wins' him is the madam of a notorious brothel who was famous for educating her girls. He becomes a houseboy in her brothel and is befriended by the daughter of the madam, as well as a Japanese girl who works in the kitchen. The friendship and love between these three form the first real family Ernest has ever known"--