Two teenagers begin a dangerous adventure in Southeast Asia hoping to find a kidnapped Chinese hero of the Democracy Movement and unwittingly stop a modern-day slavery gang.
A fast-paced contemporary thriller in the vein of James Patterson and Anthony Horowitz set against the bustling backdrop of Hong Kong, Vietnam, and the border of China. This heart-pounding adventure takes place as two teens, an American teenage boy and his friend, a Chinese girl from his Washington, DC-area high school, must find her father who has been kidnapped-and they only have nine days. Although the characters in the novel are fictionalized, they are based on a real Chinese family who were part of the Chinese Democracy Movement and inspired this story.
"Few mysteries combine cultural diversity, politics and physical danger with a lighthearted friendship. This engaging mix will have great appeal."-Kirkus Reviews
"A captivating thriller grounded in real-world problems."-Publishers Weekly
"A rollicking and fast-paced young adult adventure novel."-South China Morning Post
"Hiatt...offers middle-school-aged readers an appealing mix of action and friendship, with lessons about world events and human rights woven throughout."-Washington Post Book World
"A compelling, teen-centric political thriller . . . inspired by actual events."-BooklistOnline.com
A NCSS/CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
