xiran jay zhao zachary ying and the dragon emperor

“First and foremost, I wrote it for the Chinese diaspora: Kids who feel caught between East and West.” The bildungsroman ends with Ying discovering his roots.īook cover for Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay ZhaoĪs a first-generation Hui Chinese immigrant who moved from a small town in China to Vancouver, Canada, during their teenage years, Zhao previously struggled with their cultural identity and hopes that their book helps Chinese adolescent immigrants learn self-acceptance. His mission involves sealing the portal to the Chinese underworld, which has been compromised, and saving his mother. However, he is given a chance to explore China and Chinese culture after being summoned by a spirit.

It is the author’s hope that their novel will resonate with the Chinese diaspora.Īt the start of the book, protagonist Ying has little knowledge about Chinese culture, seeing his mother is always too busy making ends meet. What sets Zachary Ying apart from its contemporaries is the inclusion of Chinese elements. “Although magic and technology are often kept separate in their cozy niches, I really love it when fantasy and sci-fi collide.” In an email correspondence with RADII, Zhao said: Zhao, a devout fan of anime, derived inspiration from popular Japanese series Yu-Gi-Oh as well as American fantasy pentalogy Percy Jackson & the Olympians. Keep an eye out for China’s first emperor Qin Shi Huang (or more like his ghost), who plays a pivotal part in the story. A post shared by Xiran Jay Zhao Zhao’s latest book, titular character and 12-year-old Zachary Ying journeys across China while stealing magical artifacts and meeting famous figures from Chinese history.

Xiran jay zhao zachary ying and the dragon emperor