In a perilous journey that is both physical and mythic, Chengli, 13, takes off along the Silk Road in seventh-century China on a quest to find out more about his father, now dead, whom he never knew. The writer of this first novel recently spent a month traveling the Silk Road, and she has clearly researched the history. In fact, all of the cultural detail may be a bit much for kids. But, rooted in the sensory experience, this exciting adventure will hold readers as the caravan boy finds shelter with a group trudging in blazing heat, blinding snow, and raging storms in the barren, desolate land. Captured by bandits, Chengli escapes and rescues a young kidnapped princess from thieves who want her dowry. Kang adds a wry twist to the usual damsel-in-distress stereotype: the princess is snotty, selfish, and bossy. But she changes, just as Chengli tries to be true to what he learns about his father and himself.

In 630 CE China, thirteen-year-old Chengli joins a caravan heading into the desert. When a princess entrusted to his caravan is kidnapped by bandits, Chengli ventures across the desert and mountains to rescue her. The story vividly shares glimpses of city, desert, and mountain life in seventh-century China. A historical note is appended.

A 13-year-old boy joins a caravan to find someone who knew his dead father and encounters a sand sea of dangers in ancient China, 630 C.E. A ghost wind calls Chengli to leave the Imperial City of Chang'an, which he loves, and Old Cook, who raised him, to sign on as a lowly camel boy with a trade caravan carrying silk and thousands of precious items. They trek west, leaving the protection of China's Great Wall, and skirt the edge of the fearful desert until they reach Kashgar, where hundreds of caravans come together to buy and sell everything imaginable. When a princess betrothed to marry the ruler of a nomad kingdom joins the caravan, the 2,000-mile journey becomes even more dangerous. The rigors of sands and winds aren't the only hazards Chengli faces: There are also a traitorous new friend, horse-riding thieves who abduct the princess, beatings and imprisonment. Cultural practices and beliefs are detailed, and descriptions depict the setting and era though the dialogue slips a few times into the colloquial. Three pages of historical notes serve as a glossary, but there is no map, which would be helpful. All in all, this is reminiscent of the work of Lloyd Alexander, though, sadly, not as sparkling. Not likely to be an easy sell due to the unusual time period and slow beginning, but readers who forge ahead will enjoy an interesting adventure. (Historical fiction. 9-13)

Gr 5-8 In seventh-century China, 13-year-old Chengli heeds the call of a desert wind. He works for a silk merchant in Chang'an when he joins a caravan traveling the Silk Road to Kashgar. An orphan, he longs to see the desert where he was born and hopes to learn more about his father, an inspector murdered by bandits. Chengli makes friends on the journey, including a princess being married off to a neighboring king, her servants, and a fellow camel boy with dark secrets. He explores every town along the way, meets several other people traveling west, survives a bandit attack, and gathers scraps of information about his father. When bandits kidnap the princess, Chengli leaves the caravan to join up with Kazakh nomads and attempt a rescue. The transitory style of caravan life leads to characters appearing and disappearing just as quickly, but Chengli and his friends slowly change and grow as they near Kashgar. This fast-paced adventure is filled with friendship, historical detail, changing scenery, and action. It will appeal to a wide range of readers. Jennifer Rothschild, Prince George's County Memorial Library System, Oxon Hill, MD