First published 2007
When his missionary parents die, teen Derrick sets sail with his uncle and archaeologist cousin, bound for Central Asia. In the South China Sea, their sloop barely survives a killer typhoon. Arriving in Samarkand, they join a lavish expedition to uncover a fabled cache of priceless jade. But danger lurks in the ancient Silk Road ruins, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Can Derrick survive the perils and uncover the treasures before it's too late?
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, mystery, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Central Asia, China, Samarkand, South China Sea, Tibet
Period: 19th-century
272 pages · Hardcover · W. W. Norton & Company