Mike Mullin, Author

Fast-paced and engaging story of a boy struggling to find news of his father along China's legendary silk road. It's historical fiction, set during the Tang Dynasty. Reminded me of Heart of a Samurai, which was one of my favorite of last year's middle-grade novels. The ending is particularly good, as none of the plot lines wrap up in the way I expected, and Kang doesn't belittle her readers by offering up a fairy tale conclusion. A great choice for young children reading above grade level, since the writing is evocative, the pace brisk, and there is no content any sensible parent or teacher would object to.(I read an advance review copy that I snurched from Kids Ink Children's Bookstore, which got it for free from the publisher.)