School Library Journal (Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 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

ALA Booklist (Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

Shipwrecked on a mysterious island where a magical dragon might live, Bren and his sort-of friend Mouse are relieved to find that half the crew of the Albatross has survived. The Admiral is still missing, though, thought to be drowned, but Bren knows better omething certainly supernatural happened to the man, and he could return at any time, still seeking the magic stone that Mouse has in her possession. Evil mapmaker Rand McNally also returns, still with Bren's father, David, under his thumb. Though David might escape the Royal Surveyor's clutches, a reunion with Bren is less sure pecially as Bren and the small crew end up in China, seeking out more mystical artifacts, wild things, and mysteries more puzzling than ever. This second installment picks up right where The Vanishing Island (2015) left off, and fills in enough blanks to remind readers of Bren's last perilous adventure. Pick this up to keep readers on the hook for the upcoming third book.

Horn Book (Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

Bren and his mysterious friend, Mouse, embark on a dangerous journey across Asia to find the Dragon's Gate and the magical objects created by the Eight Immortals. This alternate-1600s-set epic adventure uses multiple, intertwining narratives. Slow in places and dependent on familiarity with the world, this second book is best enjoyed immediately after The Vanishing Island; the ending stokes anticipation for the third volume.