The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon

Jin is a lion – or rather a lion cub – a statue, one of the Stone Lions that guard the gateway to the city. However, he is more than that. He and his parents are Gonshi, stone spirits existing in the spirit world who have a duty to protect and watch over the human world. The two do not mix. Then Jin, desperate to score a Golden Goal in the game of zuquia, angry and frustrated at his father’s apparent disinterest and lack of understanding accidentally kicks the Sacred Sphere his father guards through the gates. He has to get it back. Rushing out he finds himself locked out of his spirit world, into a strange human world. How can he retrieve the ball and return? There is more at stake – the Sacred Sphere holds the balance between the worlds and there is something – or someone – keen to disrupt and take control. Jin needs allies; he finds them in LuLu, a girl who hears voices and a worm who claims to be a dragon. Will they succeed? Can Jin find a way back home?

This is an absorbing read which could capture the imagination of committed readers. The narrative is told from more than one viewpoint; we follow Jin as he navigates a world very different from his home, a world where he is vulnerable. We are introduced to the Sculptor whose actions have precipitated these events. It is a richly populated plot. Lin’s prose is direct and accessible while short chapters ensure that the action moves briskly between worlds and characters. Jin may be a Stone Spirit, but he is also a little boy and his relationship with his parents will be very recognisable to young readers. They will certainly both sympathise and empathise with him as he struggles to manage his difficult situation. Though the city is only referred to as the Old City and where we are is never specified, as we read we meet stories – Chinese legends that add depth and atmosphere. Some may be familiar to young readers; all enrich the narrative adding colour and depth to the themes of duty, love, choice that are embedded in the narrative. Throughout Lin has introduced illustrations and page decorations which add a charming and effective visual element to her story. A beautifully produced book.