The Crystal Ribbon

December 5, 2016
At age 11, Li Jing is sent away from her beloved father and brothers, and married off for five pieces of silver. Her family assures her that she will be cared for by the Guos, but she is instead greeted by a life of servitude and harsh beatings. As a tongyang xi, Jing serves as caregiver for her three-year-old child husband. The Guos, in financial straits, sell Jing to a chinglou, where she is to become a courtesan. Refusing to resign herself to this life, she escapes with the aid of forces both human and magical. Set in 1102 C.E. in medieval China, Lim’s debut viscerally captures the harsh realities of Jing’s life. Despite the often difficult circumstances, Jing is surrounded by people and forces willing to help her, rewarding her kindness and persistence. These supportive presences, coupled with Jing’s encounters with magical spirits and the noble feats she accomplishes throughout her journey, give Lim’s novel a mythical air. Well-researched historical elements meet rich fantasy in this tale of determination and devotion. Ages 8–12. Agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio.

October 1, 2016
This hopeful coming-of-age story weaves together historical facts and spiritual/cultural beliefs to tell a tale of empowerment from the perspective of a poor, young femaleone of the lowliest members of society in medieval China.Using fitting metaphors and similesa metal wok as big as a wheel cart and fuzzas curly as tea leavesdebut author Lim effectively transports readers to a rural village in 1102 China. Jing, 11, an illiterate but intelligent farmers daughter, despises her name because her peers make fun of it. Her name, Jing (crystal), is a homonym for jing, animal spirits in the process of transforming into deities. However, Jing has bigger things to worry about when shes married off to become a 3-year-old boys wife and, more realistically, nursemaid. Over the next few years, Jing endures much hardship. She is physically and emotionally tortured by her in-laws and eventually sold to a house of courtesans. Fortunately, Jing manages to escape and returns to her home village, but not without the help of several jing. As she and her companions adventure together, Jing realizes her destiny is intrinsically intertwined with the Great Golden Huli Jing, her villages guardian fox jing. Although some of the dialogue and action may seem uncharacteristic of the time and culture, they are no distraction. Lim eloquently relates Jings journey from blindly obedient little girl to strong, confident young woman. In the end, Jing knows exactly what she wants, follows through, and finds refuge. Fantasy, history, folklore, memorable characters, and even a hint of humor converge for a great read. (Historical fantasy. 9-14)

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November 1, 2016

Gr 5-8-When 11-year-old Jing is sold by her family to be a future bride for a wealthy three-year-old, she is thrust into a life of humiliation and punishment by her new in-laws. When her plans to flee are thwarted, her in-laws sell her to be trained as a concubine. Jing learns that the concubines-in-training receive lessons in art and politics, and their physical duties are hinted at by one of China's most celebrated concubines, who eventually assists the girl in escaping. Upon leaving the concubine house, Jing stumbles upon a young boy and encounters a village that is seemingly being slowly poisoned by a tree. Jing's triumphant rescue of the poisoned village and her hopeful future are joyous conclusions to this somber story. Her constant deprivation and painful punishments are chillingly detailed. The relationship between Jing and Jun'an, her toddler-aged future husband, is one of the few reliefs Jing has from constant harassment and harsh words, although Jun'an is rather verbally advanced for a three-year-old. Chinese words, as well as Jing's internal thoughts, are italicized, with definitions of Chinese words woven into the narrative. An author's note gives further background on the time period and traditions of 1100 CE China. Magical elements throughout bring much-needed wonder and hope to Jing's life. Although this title is set in ancient China, the theme of children being sacrificed for profit and sold into slavery or prostitution remains relevant. VERDICT An unusual and fascinating though dark tale. Purchase where novels set in ancient China are popular.-Jennifer Schultz, Fauquier County Public Library, Warrenton, VA

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2016
Grades 4-7 Eleven-year-old Li Jing adores her baba, but she doesn't understand why he sacrifices precious crops to the Great Golden Huli Jing, the village's tutelary fox spirit, or why he doesn't prevent her from being sold to the Guo family as a tongyang xi (nursemaid-wife) for their three-year-old son. Although Jing attempts to be a dutiful daughter-in-law, the Guos and their bratty daughters treat her as a servant. One evening, a spider jing asks for help rescuing her egg sac from Jing's sister-in-law's bedroom. As a token of gratitude, the spider weaves a crystal-like ribbon that can be burned as a call for help. And Jing desperately needs help after the Guos sell her to a chinglou, or courtesan house. Jing is a compassionate character who shows spirit in resisting unjust treatment. As often happens with child narrators, she seems a bit too articulate for her age. This minor criticism aside, this is a delightful debut featuring lovely prose and a refreshingly unique setting of China during the Song dynasty.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2017
Eleven-year-old Jing is forced into an arranged marriage with the three-year-old son of a rich family that treats her as a servant. Eventually, Jing is sold as a courtesan, but with the help of supernatural guardians she is able to escape. Abundant cultural and historical details of the medieval-China setting offset the occasionally stilted narration and uneven pacing.

(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)