Karen A. Bale

A little slow to start, otherwise good for reluctant readers.

This book is 432 pages of "I love him" "I hate him" "come here" "go away". The only reason I finished it at all is because I kept it in the car to have something to read while I was waiting on someone. I will now give it to the used bookstore to be foisted on some other poor unsuspecting soul.

Brendan O'Connor is an orphan boy that delivers bakery goods to local businesses. Dai-Yue is a 13-year old distraught Chinese girl who lives with her uncle, whom has arranged a marriage with an older man. The narrative of the chapters alternate between the two protagonists. Although some parts of the plot seem to be far-fetched, it was well researched, and if offers a historical fictional account of the 1906 earthquake. Recommended for middle school collections.

This was a good book. I'm glad they survived. I wonder if I can find the other books