by Grace Lin
First published 2016
Pinmei lives peacefully with her grandmother, who fills their village evenings with captivating stories. This tranquil life shatters when the Emperor's soldiers arrive and seize the beloved storyteller. The soldiers seek something called the Luminous Stone That Lights the Night, and they believe Pinmei's grandmother holds the key to finding it. Pinmei refuses to abandon her grandmother to this fate. She sets out with Yishan, a enigmatic boy harboring secrets of his own. Their quest leads them through challenges that mirror the fantastic tales her grandmother once told. They must locate the Luminous Stone before time runs out and her grandmother is lost forever. The journey tests both companions as they navigate obstacles that blur the line between reality and legend. Pinmei discovers that the stories she grew up hearing may hold more truth than she ever imagined. This tale weaves Chinese folklore into an adventure about the power of stories and the bonds between generations.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, fantasy, folklore, china, asian-american
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: chosen-one, found-family
Setting: China
Period: Ancient
Audio CD · Little, Brown Young Readers