First published 2021
Admiral Zheng He stands nearly seven feet tall on China's central coast in 1405, gazing out at the vast ocean that will become his domain. For three decades, he will lead seven extraordinary expeditions commanding over 1,500 ships and thousands of sailors. His journeys will take Chinese fleets across the Northern Pacific and Indian Oceans, reaching as distant as Africa's eastern shores. Along the way, Zheng He battles pirates, captures enemies, and extends Chinese influence across the known world. His complex friendship with Emperor Zhu Di drives these monumental voyages that precede European exploration by decades. But the towering admiral's path to naval command was far from certain. New York Times bestselling author Laurence Bergreen and Sara Fray deliver meticulously researched history that brings Zheng He's remarkable life into focus for young readers, revealing how his expeditions established China as a dominant global power.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, non-fiction, military-history
Vibes: epic, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: epic-journey, historical-figure
Setting: China, Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, Africa
Period: 1405, 15th Century
164 pages · Kindle Edition · Roaring Brook Press