Secrets of the Terra-Cotta Soldier

by Ying Chang Compestine, Vinson Compestine

Overview

  In this action-packed adventure and coming-of-age story that finely weaves fact and fiction, thirteen-year-old Ming lives in a small village in Maoist China in the 1970s. His father is convinced that Emperor Qin’s tomb—and the life-size terra-cotta army created to serve and protect the emperor in the afterlife—lies hidden in the hills around them. But if Ming’s father doesn’t prove it soon, the town’s Political Officer will condemn him to the brutal labor camps. From the stories of a terra-cotta soldier who has survived through the centuries, Ming learns the history of Emperor Qin, known for building the Great Wall of China, and how and why the terra-cotta soldiers came to be. As their unlikely friendship develops, Ming experiences the mysterious tomb firsthand, braving deadly traps and witnessing the terra-cotta army in action. Most importantly, he comes to see how he can save both the terra-cotta soldiers and his father from the corrupt Political Officer and his Communist cronies.
The book is illustrated with photographs of Communist Chinese village life in the 1970s, the Great Wall, and, of course, the excavated tomb with its many terra-cotta soldiers. It also features a special recipe from the story.

Praise for Secrets of the Terra-Cotta Soldier
"Historical photos and Indiana Jones–style adventure enrich this tale of an unusual meeting between the Qin Dynasty and the 20th century."
--Kirkus Reviews

"Despite the hardships, both courageous characters work to uphold their respective duties: Shi to protect the tomb and Ming to protect the cultural legacy of China’s people. With archival art, recipes, and end notes, this title is sure to be a hit in the classroom."
--Booklist

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781613125328
Publisher:	ABRAMS
Publication date:	01/07/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	18 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	10 - 12 Years

About the Author

Ying Chang Compestine grew up in Communist China and now lives in Lafayette, California. She is a popular author of children’s books, cookbooks, and novels.; Vinson Compestine, is a National Merit Scholar currently studying at the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business.

Editorial Reviews

01/27/2014
Compestine (Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party) teams up with her son Vinson in this riveting work of supernatural historical fiction set in 1970s Maoist China. As a result of Chairman Mao's attacks on intellectuals, 13-year-old Ming and his professor father are forced to move from the city to a small farming village outside of Xi'an, where his only hope of making a living is to persuade the government to open an archeological office to house local artifacts. When a terra-cotta soldier (one of 8,000 modeled after honored soldiers) named Shi is unearthed, it comes to life and leads Ming into Emperor Qin Shi Huang's 2,000-year-old mausoleum. Shi tells Ming stories about fighting the Mongols at the Great Wall at age 14; meanwhile, a greedy and scheming political officer is hot on their trail. The authors' attentiveness to Chinese cuisine, culture, and landscape creates a rich backdrop for a story about the ethics and brutal realities of war. An array of fascinating historical art and photographs enhance the narrative; recipes and historical background are also included. Ages 10–12. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

04/01/2014
Gr 4–7—After being exiled to the countryside during the Cultural Revolution, Ming's father is in danger of losing his job when three farmers unearth a terra-cotta statue. Amazingly, the statue comes to life and tells the 13-year-old Ming about his life guarding the Great Wall from invading Mongols. At the same time, Ming is ridiculed by his classmates and teacher for not being a peasant. When he and the statue uncover a plot to rob the Emperor Qin's tomb and denounce Ming's father, they are determined to stop it. The story draws on the parallels between the ruthless leadership of Chairman Mao and Emperor Qin (comparisons frequently made at the time of the former's dictatorship) while still shying away from many of the Cultural Revolution's horrors in order to stay age-appropriate. Chinese words and characters are incorporated, sometimes awkwardly, but the history is skillfully woven into the action. The statue's backstory and the secret traps of the tomb provide ample adventure. A good match for fans of Jeff Stone's "Five Ancestors: Out of the Ashes" series (Random). Several photographs help illustrate the daily life during the 1970s and artifacts excavated from the emperor's tomb.—Jennifer Rothschild, Arlington County Public Libraries, VA

School Library Journal

2013-12-18
Ancient China literally comes alive to expose buried treasures in this novel co-written by Ying Chang Compestine (Crouching Tiger, 2011, etc.) and her son, Vinson. Under Maoist rule, Ming lives in a village with b? ba, his father, an archaeologist who works for the museum in Xi'an and who is on the verge of losing his job. When reward-seeking farmers bring Ming newly unearthed head and limb fragments fashioned from clay, Ming discovers the artifacts have much to reveal. The clay head begins to speak, claiming to be Shí, one of thousands of terra-cotta soldiers created to protect the tomb of Emperor Qin, the ruthless leader who built the Great Wall of China. As Shí tells Ming stories of his life in battle, they become fast friends. They embark on a mission to save the tomb from corrupt government officials and to save Ming's father from being sent to harsh labor camps. Shí's brutal war stories tend to overshadow aspects of Ming's personal story, like Ming's relationship with his father, but they are compelling nonetheless. Although Ming's acceptance of a talking statue feels swift, their friendship is believable. They hail from different eras, but they share a common desire: to keep their parents safe. Historical photos and Indiana Jones–style adventure enrich this tale of an unusual meeting between the Qin Dynasty and the 20th century. (glossary, authors' note, recipe, authors Q&A) (Fantasy. 10-12)

Kirkus Reviews