The Distance of Hope

Children's Literature - Judy Silverman

Imagine, for a moment, that you are a prince. You are fifteen, and your life would be mapped out for you, but you're going blind, and your father says you can't possibly become a king who can't see. He has heard of a monk, who may be living (if he's still alive) in a far-off land that may not even exist, who might be able to help you. Your father arranges a journey for you, so that you can search for this monk. Would you just say, "Okay, Dad, anything you want," and head off on this quest? Yeshe Anjur is that prince, and this is his story. It's exciting and fast-moving, and the occasional switches in point-of-view make it different from the usual trip seen only through the hero's eyes. Recommended.

VOYA - Sue Krumbein

Yeshe Anjur is a young lord who lives in a castle in Pelang, a port city located on the Oxos Ocean. Yeshe is fifteen years old and going blind. His parents decide to send him to Tigristan, a far off place, to find the White Bean Lama who, it is believed, is the only one who can heal Yeshe's eyes. The problem is that to get to Tigristan, they have to find a particular pass through the Tigri Mountains. Yeshe's mother, Lady Anila, grew up in the foothills of the Tigri Mountains where she heard wondrous stories about the lama, and she is convinced that he is the only one who can restore her son's sight. Yeshe sets off on the journey with three trustworthy men who are skilled in making decisions. In a short time, Tumpi, a boy who works in the castle kitchen, catches up with them and begs to be allowed to join them. They relent when they realize he could serve as decoy, and he has culinary skills. The group has a series of adventures and narrow escapes as they cover rough terrain to reach their destination. They meet a variety of people, some of whom are helpful and others who are less so. When Yeshe finally meets the White Bean Lama, the old man dispenses some philosophy mixed with practical ideas, and Yeshe's sight returns. Although the story moves right along for much of Yeshe's travels, it mires down a bit when the group arrives in Mojheno. There, Yeshe sees Lepanna and her family with whom he and his family are friends. However, once they resume their travels through the mountains, the story becomes interesting again. This will be a good addition to a science fiction collection, even though it is more adventure than science fiction. VOYA Codes: 4Q 3P M J (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses, Will appeal with pushing, Middle School-defined as grades 6 to 8 and Junior High-defined as grades 7 to 9).

School Library Journal

Gr 6 UpThis is not a story of a teenager's journey into adulthood, but rather the outline of that story. Yeshe, a young nobleman, is losing his vision. His parents send him and a party of crack soldiers through enemy territory to find the White Bean Lama, a wise man who may or may not actually exist. Along the way, he renews an acquaintance with the daughter of another ruler and love blooms in his heart. Unfortunately, the story moves far too quickly to engage readers and many situations that could have been strong plot points are lost in the rush. For example, for all of their fears that enemy spies know of Yeshe's presence and relative vulnerability, there is no nagging worry dogging the party. Even Yeshe's romance lacks sparks. It is difficult to believe that one seasoned warrior is easily bamboozled into a stupid mistake and another never reads a map to figure out where the party is headed. The dialogue is so bland that it quite often needs a narrative explanation to convey meaning and emotion. The one-dimensional characters are difficult to tell apart. Even the protagonist never springs to life. For richly developed characters, realistic dialogue, and the quest motif, steer readers to David Eddings's Pawn of Prophecy (Ballantine, 1990), Lloyd Alexander's Taran Wanderer (Holt, 1967) and the Iron Ring (Dutton, 1997), and Megan Whalen Turner's The Thief (Greenwillow, 1996).Patricia A. Dollisch, DeKalb County Public Library, Decatur, GA

Kirkus Reviews

Hite (Those Darn Dithers, 1996, etc.) demonstrates his versatility in this action-filled adventure of a boy's inward and outward journey. The heir to the kingdom of Padma, Yeshe, 14, is sent away to visit with the White Bean Lama, the only person said to be able to cure the young boy's failing vision. Yeshe's "sight" is an obvious metaphor, but Hite makes it work through simplicity, action, and suspense. While this fantasy takes place in different time and place, the boy's quandary is timeless: He feels confused, inadequate, and scared to fulfill his fate as a ruler. Along the road, he fights off thieves, bonds with his companions, gets involved in a romance, learns the "cure" to his curious eye disease, and poses some philosophical questions that should send young minds reeling. Hite's plain language, humor, and breezy pacing keep the journey rolling along, making it ideal even for readers who usually shun fantasies. (Fiction. 12-15)