By Karina Yan Glaser
New York: Allida, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2025. Fiction. 420 pgs.
In this sweeping middle-grade historical novel, two parallel stories of bravery and family love intersect across 1,200 years. In 731 C.E. China, young Han Yu leads a simple life helping his father sell steamed buns—but he carries the weight of the early events that happened to earn him the name "Tiger Boy." Meanwhile, in 1931 New York City, Luli works odd jobs to help her immigrant parents save their Chinatown restaurant during the Great Depression.
Though separated by centuries, both children face drastic changes that force them to summon incredible strength to protect their families. Connected by Chinese culture and shared family threads, their journeys reveal that courage is timeless. It is a masterful tale of resilience that proves how the bonds of the past can help us navigate the challenges of the present.

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