In the preface to Homesick, Fritz remarks that "although this book takes place within two years—from October 1925 to September 1927—the events are drawn from the entire period of my childhood ... they are all, except in minor details, basically true." Family photographs accompany the text and make the story more personal and real. Since some knowledge of the historical period is helpful for an understanding of the book, Fritz also provides a brief section titled "Background of Chinese History, 1913-1927."

In the mid-nineteenth century, the British fought their way into China, opening it up for trade with western Europe. Along with the merchants came the missionaries, whose aim was to convert the "heathen" Chinese to Christianity. The Chinese believed that the missionaries' real goal was to extend the political power of foreign countries.

In 1900 the Chinese Boxer rebels declared war on foreigners, seizing embassies in Peking...