WHAT DO YOU get when you crossHarry PotterwithCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon?Wandering Warrior, Da Chen s first book of fiction. . . . Whiz-bang action at every turn. . . . A culturally poignant and energetic adventure story. USA Today There is much to enjoy, particularly the unusual kung fu backdrop, which makes an intriguing setting for a fantasy adventure. Publishers Weekly The story skips quickly along, moving from one exciting, richly described scene to another. Booklist It is a wild ride, perfect for high-energy teens who might not otherwise spend their time reading. VOYA Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Chen (China's Son) turns from memoir to fiction with mixed results in this uneven fantasy set in ancient China. Eleven-year-old Luka lives with his guardian, the monk Atami, hiding from Mogo invaders and begging for food. Atami, explaining that Luka is destined to be China's next Holy Emperor, schools the boy in Jin Gong, a type of kung fu. Things look bleak when Luka is imprisoned and sentenced to death, but he is befriended by Gulan, another monk, who tunnels into his cell la The Count of Monte Cristo to train him in the art of Yin Gong, the highest art of Xi-Ling. It turns out that Gulan and Atami both belonged to the Xi-Ling warrior brotherhood, and after Luka and Gulan escape, they embark on a series of adventures that eventually reunite them at the Xi-Ling temple. There Luka undergoes further training and butts heads with a rival as the tale rushes toward a climactic battle against the forces of evil. Plying themes reminiscent not only of Dumas but also of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (e.g., channeling his energy, Atami's dagger flies at his bidding) and Star Wars ("Go with the flow and use the force to your advantage," Atami tells Luka), Chen's sprawling tale strains under the combined weight of breathless adventure, clunky prose ("Big thoughts swelled like waves in his heart") and a parade of anachronisms ("I'm out of here"; "Wow, Grandmaster"). Still, there is much to enjoy, particularly the unusual kung fu backdrop, which makes an intriguing setting for a fantasy adventure. Ages 12-up. (Jan.) From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr 6 Up-Da Chen's first work of fiction draws on a genre that has entertained Chinese boys for generations: the kung fu novel. In a mythic Chinese past, young Luka lives as a wandering beggar, although his protector, the Buddhist monk Atami, tells him he is destined to be emperor. Atami teaches the boy the basics of kung fu, the Chinese martial art, which Luka soon uses against the evil Mogo usurper Ulanbaat Ghengi. Captured and separated from Atami, Luka awaits execution in a Mogo prison, where he meets Gulan, Atami's kung fu master, who helps him escape and find his way to the hidden monastery of Xi-ling. As Gulan hovers on the brink of death, Luka deepens his skills, preparing for his final confrontation with Ghengi. Although traditional kung fu novels portray heroes whose mystical, quasi-religious training endows them with superhuman skills, they are not usually set in a fantastic world. Chen's tale includes terrifying monsters reminiscent of the 16th-century epic Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en. Relying more on action than character development or profound themes, Luka's adventures are not for the squeamish. The characters endure appalling hardships and suffer excruciating injuries in a world in which scorpions literally get under one's skin. With its startling plot twists, humor in the face of horror, and celebration of male bonding, the book will surely find an audience among those drawn to the nonstop action of kung fu films.-Margaret A. Chang, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Gr. 8^-12. Old Atami believes that his young pupil Luka, age 12, is destined to be the emperor of China, so he trains the boy hard both in philosophy and in the ancient arts of kung fu. When the Mogo warriors, who are oppressing China, capture Atami, Luka heads out alone as a wanted man. He eventually finds a new master and has many adventures, leading up to a desperate fight with a monster named Clob and a reunion with Atami. Descriptions of martial arts combat are interspersed with Chinese folklore and magic. Add to the mixture an overlay of simplified Eastern philosophy, and you have the elements of a kung fu movie in book form. Fans of things kung fu are sure to enjoy the novel, especially since the story skips quickly along, moving from one exciting, richly described scene to another. Are there more adventures in the offing? Readers will want them. --Todd Morning From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.