Wandering Warrior

Publishers Weekly

Chen (China's Son) turns from memoir to fiction with mixed results in this uneven fantasy set in ancient China. Eleven-year-old Luka lives with his guardian, the monk Atami, hiding from Mogo invaders and begging for food. Atami, explaining that Luka is destined to be China's next Holy Emperor, schools the boy in Jin Gong, a type of kung fu. Things look bleak when Luka is imprisoned and sentenced to death, but he is befriended by Gulan, another monk, who tunnels into his cell la The Count of Monte Cristo to train him in the art of Yin Gong, the highest art of Xi-Ling. It turns out that Gulan and Atami both belonged to the Xi-Ling warrior brotherhood, and after Luka and Gulan escape, they embark on a series of adventures that eventually reunite them at the Xi-Ling temple. There Luka undergoes further training and butts heads with a rival as the tale rushes toward a climactic battle against the forces of evil. Plying themes reminiscent not only of Dumas but also of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (e.g., channeling his energy, Atami's dagger flies at his bidding) and Star Wars ("Go with the flow and use the force to your advantage," Atami tells Luka), Chen's sprawling tale strains under the combined weight of breathless adventure, clunky prose ("Big thoughts swelled like waves in his heart") and a parade of anachronisms ("I'm out of here"; "Wow, Grandmaster"). Still, there is much to enjoy, particularly the unusual kung fu backdrop, which makes an intriguing setting for a fantasy adventure. Ages 12-up. (Jan.)

VOYA

Reading this book is like playing a video game: The action never stops. Chen takes little time for character development, however, and Luka, the main character, seems not to have changed by the end of the book. Chen concentrates his energy more on moving the plot forward than on endearing the characters to readers' hearts. Nevertheless, it is a good read for people who like a fast, plot-filled book. VOYA Codes: 3Q 4P M J S (Readable without serious defects; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2003, Random House, 304p,
— Theodora Ranelli, Teen Reviewer

School Library Journal

Gr 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 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

One assumes that this story was pitched at an acquisitions meeting as "Harry Potter meets Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." Luka, an orphan, has been raised by the indigent monk Atami as the Chosen One, the Holy Boy destined to free China from the Mogo occupation. Instead of a scar on his forehead, he bears five moles on each foot, and, like his Western counterpart, he must undergo severe trials and learn an arcane art in order to realize his destiny. A series of misadventures (including a short stay on death row), which separates him from Atami, leads to Luka's discovery of a new mentor, Yin Gong grandmaster Gulan, and his formal apprenticeship at the Xi-Ling temple. Chen's (China's Son, 2001) first foray into fiction represents a headlong dash through an alternate China in which magic lurks just below the surface. Luka is an appealing character whose determination and facility with the martial arts are balanced by humor and a healthy dose of pre-adolescent competitiveness. He collects around him a coterie of friends, from a pair of street ruffians to a trio of students who instruct him in temple etiquette and help him in his feud with Yi-Shen, the resentful boy he displaces as junior master. The language is colloquial, even earthy, and helps to maintain the work's sense of fun; this is light years away from the ponderous, stilted martial-arts saga of the popular Western imagination. The breathless pace helps to conceal some looseness in the plotting, including a real fuzziness about the time elapsed during Luka's adventures, but with secret tunnels and magical beasts galore, who cares? While the story and characters cannot be accused of blazing originality, this offering neverthelesspresents an agreeable and unusual twist on a tried-and-true formula-a solid addition to the "While you're waiting for . . . " display. (Fiction. 11-15)