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 AdamsCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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 MorningCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
