The heroine, does witness the hanging body of the local pharmacist in a park in Cuba, and there are hints of rape by a revolutionary in the book, but mostly it is a story of adapting to a new culture and moving on. It is a very heartwarming story, as the children in the book are reunited with both their parents in the US at the end, and I have listed it for ages 10 and up, because nothing too brutal or frightening happens in the book. She also had some good sources, as her parents and mother-in-law were some of those 14,000 children who came to the US to escape the extremism of Castro’s regime. Author Gonzalez has found a good subject for her novel. The evacuation of children from Cuba to the United States in the early 1960’s is a not a very well-known subject, even to adults today. Once the reader has delved in a few pages, he or she will not put it down. The cover of a rather modern girl grasping a richly decorated dagger does not really convey what the book is about, but maybe that is the goal. It is a sequel to the novel Silver Phoenix, but one does not necessarily have to have read the previous book to enjoy the story. This book isn’t for every teen with the ancient Chinese setting and the supernatural elements, but for those who are interested in this kind of story, it has its rewards. She proves herself discerning and loyal when she fights for him, as he is tempted by ancient evil spirits. A dream tells her where he is, and she leaves home to find him and stow away on the ship that he has boarded.

But she has an overwhelming sense of dread for her friend, Chen Yong, who has embarked on a long voyage to find his father. The heroine, Ai Ling, has visions and memories and sometimes it is not clear which is which. ISBNĪ combination of fantasy, romance, supernatural and ancient Chinese history, this book is very rich in images and adventure. Harper Collins Publishers, 2011, 362 pgs.

Michael ryan mousterpiece death