The Golden Rat

January 1, 2008
Gr 6-9-Grieving over his recently deceased mother and unhappy about his father's quick marriage, 16-year-old Baoliu has been difficult at home. One night after a particularly unpleasant scene with his father, he is awakened by a noise. When he investigates, he is knocked down and injured by someone fleeing from the room of his stepmother, who has been murdered. Because he is found near her door covered with blood, his family assumes Baoliu is guilty and he is jailed. Though the teen is condemned to death, his father pays a "ka-di" to die in his place. Rejected by his family and forced to live on the streets, Baoliu is determined to clear his name, but even with the help of Zhou, another down-on-his-luck boy, this proves difficult. The fast-paced plot unfolds with fights, mysteries, and a flight from authorities; yet in the end, all turns out well for these believable characters. Unfortunately, inaccuracies compromise this otherwise exciting read. Set in China in 1199 AD, the Song Dynasty, when Neo-Confucianism was at its height, the tale doesn't reflect culturally accurate behavior for that period. At the beginning, Baoliu acts like a 20th-century adolescent, not a son held to an exacting standard of filial piety. Furthermore, in "The Analects", Confucius clearly states that the misconduct of a son should be concealed by the father. To do otherwise would dishonor the family. Because of this, it is likely that Baoliu's father would have taken immediate steps to hide his son's presumed guilt, and his punishment would have been meted out strictly within the confines of the family. Other minor missteps occur as well."Barbara Scotto, Children's Literature New England, Brookline, MA"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2007
In late twelfth-century China, 16-year-old Baoliu becomes bitter when his beloved mother dies and his father quickly takes another wife. After his stepmothers murder, Baoliu is accused, tried, and found guilty of the crime, but his life is spared when his wealthy father pays to have another executed in his place. Baoliu watches his stand-in beheaded, then leaves home to make his way in poverty. Shunned and despised, he survives with the help of a few new friends, and he searches for ways to right old wrongs and challenge corruption in his community. This vivid historical novel takes readers to another time and place for an absorbing story with several unexpected developments and reversals of fortune. Although quickly sketched, the characters are consistent and convincing, and their stories are well worth following. Baoliu shows many facets of adolescent angst, but he slowly matures as new experiences reveal others points of view and increase his self-reliance. Short and dramatic, with an unusual setting and a satisfying conclusion.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)