The Dragon's Gate

In the sequel to The Vanishing Island (2015), 12-year-old Bren and his young companion, Mouse, struggle to reconcile their conflicting goals while staying true to their friendship. After discovering a bone-inscribed map on the Vanishing Island, Bren (a white boy from Britannia) and Mouse (a Chinese girl) wash up ashore on a deserted island. Fortunately, the children reunite with a stripped-down crew from the shipwrecked Albatross, headed by Sean Graham, a white Eirish sailor. Together, they hatch a plan to sail home, but two new companions throw them off track: Lady Jean Barrett, a white, Britannic antiquary tasked with bringing Bren home safely to Map; and Yaozu, a Chinese scholar in search of artifacts empowered by the gifts of the eight demigods who once ruled Heaven and Earth. Instead of sailing toward the East Netherlands, the five explorers head to China, forging an uneasy partnership and relying on one another to survive. As they face life and death at almost every turn, Bren learns lessons in trust, loyalty, and teamwork, and eventually answers are revealed. In his signature style, Wolverton cleverly overlays intricate plotting with ancient Chinese legends and history (including the Dragon Boat Festival and the Terracotta Warriors) and creates a thrilling, fast-paced story that flies by. Fans will wait with bated breath for the third book in the trilogy. (maps) (Historical fantasy. 9-14) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 1, 2016

Gr 4-8-In this second book of three, Bren and Mouse struggle to survive on the vanishing island. When the surviving members of the crew of the Albatross show up, Bren is eager to journey back to his hometown. But Mouse wants his help finding the Dragon's Gate and figuring out who she is and where she came from. Thanks to Bren's excellent memory, the group come up with a basic location for where they are, which gives them an idea of where to go to find assistance. As they set off in the longboat, Bren's father and friend Mr. Black are working on plans of their own. Lady Jean Barrett is sent by Mr. Black to find Bren and bring him back, but she gets distracted by the pursuit of the Eight Immortals, objects containing the power of the Ancients. She and her ally, Yaozu, along with Mouse, Bren, and their sailor friend, Sean, set off to find the tomb where the Eight Immortals are said to be stashed. But the voyage is long and exhausting, and Bren isn't sure it's worth the effort. But Mouse's unusual abilities continue to appear, leaving the group with many questions. Bren and Mouse make appealing heroes, one very reluctantly and the other quite mysteriously. Most readers will need to be familiar with the first installment to keep up. VERDICT For general purchase where the first volume is popular or alternative historical adventure tales are in demand.-Heidi Grange, Summit Elementary School, Smithfield, UT

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