Shadow of the Dragon [Paperback]

Sherry Garland (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 31, 1993

Sixteen-year-old Danny Vo is enmeshed in two worlds—his Houston high school and his Vietnamese home life. He’s finally caught the eye of beautiful blond Tiffany Marie, only to find out that her brother is a white supremacist. And his life gets even more complicated when his cousin Sang Le comes to live with Danny’s family after spending years in a reeducation camp in Vietnam. Failing school and unable to get a job, Sang Le joins a Vietnamese gang—and Danny is determined to help his cousin escape before it’s too late.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Danny Vo, the teenage son of Vietnamese immigrants, has conflicting goals: on one hand he wants to date golden-haired Tiffany Marie and be just like the rest of his classmates in Texas, and on the other hand he wants to show respect for his tradition-bound grandmother, who rules the family with an iron fist. Into this volatile situation steps Sang Le, Danny's cousin, who has spent much of his life in a Communist "re-education" camp but has now come to join Danny's family. Garland adds to this mix a dangerous gang of Vietnamese youths and a band of angry skinheads who stalk the streets of the Vos' Houston suburb. The inevitable violence shatters all whom it touches. Garland's ( Song of the Buffalo Boy ) expert dramatization and deliberate pacing build steadily for a thoroughly gripping, thought-provoking work. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 7-12-Danny Vo is a typical American teenager, concerned about obtaining his driver's license, finding a job, and getting a date with blonde, beautiful Tiffany Marie. At home, however, he must take the role of the elder son in a Vietnamese family. Tension increases when his older cousin Sang Le comes to stay with them in Houston. A former prisoner in a Vietnamese re-education camp and then a refugee in Hong Kong, Sang Le is overwhelmed in his new homeland. Bad grades and his inability to get a job cause him to take up with a Vietnamese gang. Just as Danny thinks he has gotten his cousin away from its members, Sang Le is tragically beaten to death by a group of white supremacist skinheads, one of whom is Tiffany Marie's brother. Garland has written a coming-of-age novel with strong characters and a sensitive portrayal of a youth rooted in two cultures. She has also deftly woven in authentic details about Vietnamese lore and customs and shown how they are adapted in a new setting.
Diane S. Marton, Arlington County Library, VA
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Graphia (October 31, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152735321
• ISBN-13: 978-0152735326
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #383,475 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #60 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Multicultural Stories > Asian & Asian American

More About the Author

Sherry Garland is the award-winning author of twenty-eight books for children, teenagers and adults. Several of her books focus on the Vietnamese culture due to her close friendships with Vietnamese families. As a fifth generation Texan, she also sets many of her books in the Lone Star State. She especially likes to write historical works. For more information, visit her website: www.sherrygarland.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Book, January 10, 2005

By 

zach "zach" (ia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shadow of the Dragon (Paperback)

Shadow of the Dragon

I would give the book a ten out of ten because it really showed a lot of emotion and it was very dramatic. The book is about a young boy named Danny and his cousin Sang Lee. Danny and Sang Lee both watch out for each other and they really care. Sang Lee is trying to learn some English because he had never spoken very much back at home. When Sang Lee starts to become friends with the wrong group of people Danny and the rest of the family become worried. Eventually Sang Lee joins the gang, which his family is offended of. A lot of things happen to Danny when he is trying to stop Sang Lee.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars shadow of the dragon, November 27, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Shadow of the Dragon (Paperback)

i think this book shadow to the dragon is really the best book i ever read in my life.even if im not the kind of person who is really into books or any of those stuff.It was any teacher who insired me to read this book and i would like to thank her because i aways annoyed her.At the end this book is really sad so read about it i keep on thinking about that poor guy that got killed by the skinheads now.so please read this i would highly recommand u this book

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Read to Understand!!!, November 22, 2002

By 

Bao P. Oak. Tech '03 Student (Oakland, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shadow of the Dragon (Paperback)

Shadow of the Dragon is a really good book. Not only does it contains actions, drama, but also comedy as well. A story is about a boy named Danny, living with his parents, Ba, and a cousin Sang Le just arrive to the United State from Camp. He has a lot of responsibility, such as driving mom to store, help fill out the bills because parents doesn't understand English that well. This situation related to a lot of Foreign teenagers which the author make a good point. Also, the relationship between Danny and Tiffany are somewhat like Romeo and Juliet. Both sides have gang, Danny is with his Cousin gang, Tiffany brother have a gang of his own. Both gangs doesn't like each one another, that in result, Sang Le dies because of misunderstanding between Tiffany's brother and him. I would recommend people to read this book and find out what make the ending SO different other books