From School Library Journal
Grade 6–9—In this modern-day fable, two boys from different worlds are thrown together in war-torn Nepal. Christopher, a 14-year-old German boy, has come in search of his older brother, who disappeared while on vacation. There he meets Jumar, also 14 and the prince of Nepal, who has escaped from the royal palace in Kathmandu following the brutal slaying of a beloved servant by dissident Maoists. Together the two teens and a communist girl travel the length and breadth of the country on a quest to destroy the dragons that have been stealing color from the land, causing famine, war, and political upheaval. The story is imaginatively told by an author whose obvious affection for Nepal and its people resonates with each sentence. Unfortunately, the novel is not without its flaws. The initial slow pace may not hold the interest of the target audience long enough for readers to get to the more exciting scenes, and lengthy descriptive passages and lyrical language may be more suited to adults than teen fantasy fans.—
Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
*Starred Review* Growing up, Christopher, a 14-year-old German, has always felt invisible next to his much-admired, daring older brother, Arne. After Arne vanishes during a trip to Nepal, though, Christopher is mysteriously transported there and begins a wild adventure of his own. In Nepal, he meets Jumar, a prince who is literally invisible, and Niya, a young Maoist rebel. Each character is looking for something different: Christopher seeks clues to Arne’s disappearance; Jumar seeks revenge for a beloved friend’s death; and Niya seeks ways to better his country. The threesome’s quests soon intertwine, as do their questions about their place and purpose in the world, and together, they face warring factions of soldiers and Maoists along with color-eating dragons that have devastated the land. As in Tiger Moon (2008), Michaelis deftly interweaves magic and realism in an intricate, provocative story that explores the connections between people and events, the allure and dangers of an uncompromising idealism, and the power of love. Skillfully translated, the vivid, descriptive prose portrays unique settings and cultures, while the diverse characters’ alternating stories build suspense and intimacy in scenes that are alternately droll and poignant, sorrowful and inspiring. The plotting is dense, but readers will be richly rewarded with this absorbing story about courage, compassion, personal growth, and the power of fairy tales to guide and illuminate human lives. Grades 9-12. --Shelle Rosenfeld
