Fall 1913, St. Catharines, Ontario: thirteen-year-old Hoi Wing Woo, the son of a scholar, is forced to give up his dream of an education when he is sent to work in a Chinese laundry in Canada.
Hoi Wing is immediately thrust into relentless, mind-numbing toil, washing clothes by hand for sixteen hours a day, six days a week. Without knowledge of English or western societal customs, he faces a daily onslaught of insults, taunts and physical violence from gangs of local bullies.
Hoi Wing must also contend with Jonathan Braddock, a wealthy and influential entrepreneur who heads the Asiatic Exclusion League, which seeks to send the Chinese back to China. Isolated and friendless, Hoi Wing falls into despair as his dreams of education slip away. His greatest fear is that he will grow up to be uneducated and illiterate, knowing little more than how to darn socks or hem pants.
But his life changes when he befriends Heather Ryan, an Irish scullery maid who shares his love of books and education. He also meets Martha MacIntosh, a former missionary to China, and her niece, Adele. With their help, Hoi Wing begins to learn English and wins a chance to achieve his greatest dream: attending secondary school in the town's public education system.
A coming-of-age story that examines race, immigration, duty and friendship, The Laundryman's Boy is an enduring and moving tale about early newcomers to Canada and their struggle to succeed against all odds.