"Readers, rapt, will duck for cover until the very last page."—Kirkus Reviews
"This dark and gritty thriller doesn't pull any punches, taking readers into a world of fear, danger, and deprivation."—School Library Journal
"[A] gripping and gritty thriller...Graudin deftly juggles the multiple perspectives to create a riveting, suspenseful tale of violence, danger, and survival."—The Horn Book
"In spite of the fact that the descriptions are often of horrific things, they are lyrically crafted, painting vivid snapshot images of what might lead people to make unimaginable choices...a sharp, compelling novel."—The Bulletin
"[Graudin] artfully balances tense action scenes with lyrical language, distinct voices for each narrator, and ruminations that probe the book's deeper themes of family, regret, and second chances."—Booklist
"Graudin is gifted at employing simile and other literary devices to describe the gritty surroundings and Hak Nam's criminal inhabitants...The result is three stories deftly entwined into a fast-paced, striking tale."—Publishers Weekly
"The Walled City grabbed me by the throat from page one. From the very first chapter to the last, my heart loved and feared for these characters. Brilliantly and beautifully written—a true triumph."—Beth Revis, New York Times bestselling author of the Across the Universe series
"The Walled City is dark and grim and intensely compelling. It is a book you cannot easily forget, a book you will want to read again and again."—Ellen Oh, author of Prophecy
09/22/2014
The walled city of Hak Nam is “a place so ruthless even the sunlight won’t enter,” a festering cesspool in which children and teenagers are forced to murder, steal, and become prostitutes to survive. Dai Shing, trying to escape the city for reasons of his own, is ticking off the 18 days until the New Year when he partners up with Jin Ling, who is posing as a street boy in an effort to find her sister, Mei Yee. Now Jin must rescue Mei from a brothel under the control of the nefarious Brotherhood of the Red Dragon, with Dai’s unwitting assistance. Graudin (All That Glows) is gifted at employing simile and other literary devices to describe the gritty surroundings and Hak Nam’s criminal inhabitants, including one man with a voice “like a junkyard dog.” The result is three stories deftly entwined into a fast-paced, striking tale—partly inspired by the now-destroyed Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong—as Dai and Jin learn to trust one another with their lives. Ages 15–up. Agent: Tracey Adams, Adams Literary. (Nov.)
10/01/2014
Gr 9 Up—Dai has 18 days to find a way out of Hak Nam Walled City. Once a fort the space is now a lawless outland occupied by gangs, vagrants, and prostitutes. Each day is a fight for survival for most residents of the Walled City. Dai is from the City Beyond. Consigned to the Walled City for his actions he spends his time planning his escape. To do this, he must infiltrate the Brotherhood, the most feared and powerful gang in the Walled City, and steal from its leader, Longwai. He'll need the help of Hak Nam's fastest runner, Jin Ling, and Mei Yee, one of the whores in Longwai's brothel. Jin Ling sees her involvement as a way to search the brothel for her missing sister, sold into prostitution by their father two years ago. Mei Yee finally sees a ray of hope with Dai's promise of freedom. But each has their own dark secrets, which could jeopardize not only their chance of success but their very lives. This dark and gritty thriller doesn't pull any punches, taking readers into a world of fear, danger, and deprivation. Dai, Jin Ling, and Mei Yee each tell their part of the story in nonconsecutive chapters, slowly plaiting a single tale from their multiple narratives. Vivid descriptions add color and infuse the story with realism. While there are mature situations dealing with drugs, violence, and rape, they are skillfully relayed without being graphic. This complex, well-written novel is full of tension, twists, and turns, and teens will not be able to put it down.—Heather Miller Cover, Homewood Public Library, AL
2014-09-01
Heroin addicts, crime lords and murderers wreak havoc upon the residents of Hak Nam Walled City, a neglected, filthy place in this teen thriller told in alternating viewpoints. Inspired by Hong Kong's Kowloon Walled City, Graudin's prose uncovers a contemporary dystopia where despair is so rampant, "even the sunlight won't enter." Disguised as a boy, Jin Ling runs like the wind and searches Walled City for her beloved sister, Mei Yee. Mei Yee, taken to a brothel run by Brotherhood drug lord Longwai, longs for the sea and her sister, while her nights are spent servicing Ambassador Osamu. And Dai Shing, full of personal demons and running from the law, ticks off the days leading up to the New Year, the day his dubious freedom within lawless Walled City will end. He needs an "in" to the brothel in order to clear his name, but first, he'll need help—from the two sisters. As their paths cross, the three teens struggle with their biggest obstacle, as mountainous as the walls surrounding the city: trusting one another. With gritty, vehement details, Walled City looms large, like a fourth character, its alleyways as twisted as Longwai's mind. Violence runs deep throughout the book, but it's written with care and never feels gratuitous. In particular, one rape scene becomes Mei Yee's source of strength. It's key moments like these that offer humanity in this sea of inhumanity. Readers, rapt, will duck for cover until the very last page. (author's note) (Fiction. 14 & up)
