The Rock Maiden

April 1, 2017
K-Gr 2-Long ago, when Hong Kong was still a small fishing village, Ling Yee and Ching Yin fell in love and married. After Ching Yin is lost at sea in a storm, Ling Yee straps their infant son to her back and spends her days standing on the rocks, scanning the waves for her husband's return. Over time, Tin Hau, the patron goddess of fishermen, takes pity on the grieving Ling Yee and turns her and the baby to stone so they will feel no more sadness. Eventually Ching Yin finds his way home. His tears turn Ling Yee and their son back, and they live happily ever after. This book is based on the legend of Hong Kong's Amah Rock-a natural formation that looks like a woman and infant-but Yim gives the tale a satisfying and happy ending instead of leaving Ling Yee waiting in stone forever. The author's note about childhood lunches near the rock invites further exploration about Hong Kong. Vainio's soft watercolors evoke the Old World misty melancholy of the romantic story. VERDICT A gentle offering that's bound to appeal to fans of lesser-known folktales and fairy tales. A strong selection for folktale collections.-Jennifer Rothschild, Arlington County Public Libraries, VA

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2016
A loving wife is turned to stone by a merciful goddess in this story spun from a Hong Kong legend. Although that sounds the opposite of merciful, the goddess of fishermen, Tin Hau, is trying to help Ling Yee, a young and beautiful wife whose husband has disappeared in a terrible storm. Every day, Ling Yee, with her baby strapped to her back, climbs to a promontory where she can look out over the ocean and search for her husband's sampan. For months, the young woman with the infant keeps watch and grows sadder. Her parents seek assistance from Tin Hau, also known as goddess of the sea, and the deity finally helps--in her own way. "One day, she decided that they should mourn no more." The goddess turns the two into a rock formation, known in Hong Kong as Amah Rock, a tourist destination to this day. Amah usually means "nanny," someone who takes care of children, but it can also mean "mother." In this adaptation of the tale, Yim creates "a happier ending--where the husband finds his way home to his loyal wife and son," and Tin Hau brings Ling Yee and her child back to life. Softly toned watercolors illustrate the sad story-turned-happy with grays and blues, modulating to warm yellow, orange, and red tones in the joyful moments. Deftly written but not quite traditional, a pleasing romantic story. (author's note) (Picture book. 6-8)

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February 1, 2017
Grades K-3 Long ago, Ling Yee, a young Chinese girl, marries a kind fisherman named Ching Yin. They have a baby son and live happily until the sad day Ching Yin is lost at sea in a devastating storm. Convinced that her husband will return, Ling Yee climbs a high cliff overlooking the ocean every day. With her baby on her back, Ling Yee faithfully waits for Ching Yin. This original story expands on the legend of Amah Rock, a granite formation in Hong Kong that is shaped like a mother and child. The author notes that in the old story, the Goddess of the Heavens takes pity on the suffering mother and turns her into stone, either to relieve her pain or allow her to join her deceased husband. In this retelling, however, Ching Yin does return and the goddess rewards Ling Yee's devotion by turning her back into a human. Though the beautiful watercolor illustrations are sometimes vague, the affecting scenes of stalwart Ling Yee are nicely composed and enhance the sometimes lengthy text.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)