Book Inspection: Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon

Plot Sketch: Ai Ling's father left the emporer's court in shame, but no one will tell Ai Ling what happened. Now it's time for Ai Ling to marry. After several failed prospects, Ai Ling's father is summoned to the emporer. He tells his wife and child that he will return in about a month. After about three months with no word from her father, a slimy grimy icky man from town offers to take Ai Ling as his fourth wife in exchange for forgiving her father's alleged debt. Since Ai Ling's mother can't read and it's not Ai Ling's place to read, her mother appears to be considering it. So Ai Ling takes to the road in search of her lost father. He had given her a jade pendant that a monk had given him for his daughter should they be seperated for any amount of time. Along the way she encounters all kinds of demons that are trying to hinder her progress and makes a few friends. A great read and I can't wait for more!

Verdict: I Heart It! Buy this book. Seriously. You won't regret it. This is me raving about Silver Phoenix to you. Cindy Pon has a hit on her hands! I can't wait for another installment. Not only are there eunuchs and concubines, but also fish who spit venom, three-breasted woman-monsters, dragons, serpents, flying chariots, and a soul-sucking evil that lives in the emporer's palace. You'll lose yourself in this world.

The Gauntlet:

At what location does most of the story take place?

The Kingdom of Xia and the road to the Palace of Fragrant Dreams.

What is the main character's name?

Ai Ling

Does I Heart Monster like the main character?

Sure do. I especially love that she has an appetite!

How long did it take I Heart Monster to finish the book?

3 days.

Did I Heart Monster get stuck at any points in the book? If so, why?

Only the parts where I wrestled with myself about pronunciation and customs.

Is this a good read for Monster?

Yes. I'm recommending it to him.

What, if anything, would I Heart Monster change to make the book more interesting?

I think that the only thing that I would change is to put in a pronunciation guide.

What was I Heart Monster's favorite line?
"Without conscious effort, she cast herself toward him, threw an invisible cord from her spirit to his." p. 48

How many chapters were in the book?
20

Does the author have a website?

She does. Cindypon.com

Stats:

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen
• Publish Date: April 28, 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061730211

Acquire It:

Hardcover

Notes:

• Check out Cindy's contest to win $100 gift card or an original framed brush art painting done by Cindy.

• Cindy is a 2009 Debutante.
• This title made it to Booklist's Top 10 Sci-Fi/Fantasy Books for Youth List!

Have questions you'd like to see added to The Gauntlet? Email me.