The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon

Gr 4-7–In the spirit world, the Sacred Sphere rests on a pedestal in the Stone Lion’s house, the key to keeping the gate open between the spirit and human worlds. Jin, the lion cub, has no interest in guarding the Sphere or keeping watch over the humans; those tasks are nowhere near as fun as kicking the zuqiu ball with his friends. But when a sulking Jin knocks the Sphere over, he sends it into the human world and severs its connection with the gate. Now, Jin is stuck. He befriends Lulu, a girl who can hear a strange voice, and a worm claiming to be a dragon. The three of them must reclaim the Sphere, or the connection will be lost forever. This book weaves Chinese lore with the modern world, connecting characters and events in a way that demonstrates Lin’s prowess as a storyteller. Readers will rapidly turn pages, wanting to know what the Sculptor is up to or if there really is a woman trapped inside the bell. The story pushes deeper, too, exploring themes of loss, change, and greed, most notably what the desperation of grief can push someone to do. The unique cast of characters—a stone lion, a worm who might be a dragon, and many more—come to life as vividly as the spirit world, staying with readers long after the story ends.