Wandering Warrior [Hardcover]

Da Chen (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

“WHAT DO YOU get when you cross Harry Potter with Crouching 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

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 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 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

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
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers; First Edition edition (January 14, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385730209
• ISBN-13: 978-0385730204
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,457,680 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book! What's wrong with you people?, November 23, 2003

By 

"bradr14" (Honolulu, HI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wandering Warrior (Hardcover)

I thoroughly enjoyed Da Chen's "Wandering Warrior" and was surprised to find that many people on this site have given it scathing reviews. The story was very interesting. I know this may seem cliche, but I really couldn't put the book down. I just wanted to read more. And obviously some people agree with me. Critics have given "Wandering Warrior" excellent reviews and Warner Brothers is already planning a movie based on the book. They've set aside a budget similar to that of the critically acclaimed "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and are in talks with the likes of Ang Lee, Jackie Chan, and Chow Yun Fat to be a part of the project. If that doesn't show you how great this book is, I don't know what will. I would HIGHLY recommend this to anyone who can read. Really, it's that good.

In response to the third comment on this page, "Very Very silly," posted by a reader from Poughkeepsie, NY, I have one question: Did you even bother to read the book before you gave it such a bad review? For example, you said,

"when Luka gets his magic dagger in prison he is told that it has to be united with the brother dagger every 13 days or it'll never work... well... by this point the charcter and the dagger had been in jail for some 4 months yet it still works?"

If you had even bothered to read the book, you would have known that Atami tells Luka that the daggers must meet every thirteen YEARS, not DAYS. Before posting bad publicity for a book, please take the time to actually know what you're talking about. Oh, and a spell check couldn't hurt either.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Magic, Adventure, Kung Fu, & Monsters, January 23, 2003

By 

Andrew M Owen (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wandering Warrior (Hardcover)

This book was a wonderful blend of a traditional chinese adventure with all the magical antics that make Harry Potter great.
This is a story of a young orphan named Luka, trying to grow up and remain true to his destiny as the next emperor of China. However, he must face many difficulties and powerful enemies, but with the aid of true friends and wise mentors he becomes greater than any could have prophesied!
I enjoyed the fascinating references to Chinese culture and legend interwoven throughout the book, deftly mixed with classic storylines that are familiar to western audiences. However, I did feel that this rich plot was squeezed into too few pages and could have stood longer development of the some of the key characters introduced throughout.
All in all it was a wonderful story full of magic, adventure, Kung Fu, monsters, and plenty of good fun.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars awsome book to read non-stop, February 10, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Wandering Warrior (Hardcover)

Wandering warrior
This story is about two people who try to escape the terrible clutches of a terrible disease that has hit Ancient China, which is affecting and killing everyone in its path. Luka and his friend, Atami, luckily escaped the town before it hit. Now they must face may hardships such as cold weather, not enough food, and most importantly trying to keep their friendship together. If you have a friend you can always depend on being there for you, you are doing good in life and that is what Atami and Luka share. I rate this book as: ***** stars.