The Dreamweavers

by G. Z. Schmidt

Overview

Twin siblings journey through the City of Ashes and visit the Jade Rabbit to save their grandpa in this Chinese folklore-inspired fantasy adventure.

Since their parents' strange disappearance several years ago, 12-year-old twins Mei and Yun been raised by their grandfather, who makes the best mooncakes around using a secret ingredient.

On the day of the Mid-Autumn Harvest Festival, the emperor sends his son to sample Grandpa's renowned mooncakes—but instead of tasting wonderful, they are horrible and bitter, strangely mirroring the odd, gloomy atmosphere and attitudes that have been washing over the village in the last few days. Grandpa is arrested for insulting and harming the prince, and Mei and Yun realize they are the only two people who will come to Grandpa's aid.

The twins set out on foot for the long journey to the emperor's palace where Grandpa's being taken, but a surprising stop in the eerie City of Ashes, a visit with the legendary, mystical Jade Rabbit, and an encounter with a powerful poet whose enchanted words spread curses, influence just how Mei and Yun will manage to clear their grandfather's name.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823444236
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	09/14/2021
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	513,474
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

G. Z. Schmidt was born in China and immigrated to the United States when she was six. She grew up in the Midwest and the South where she chased fireflies, listened for tornado warnings, and pursued a love of reading. In the third grade, she began writing stories in a spiral-bound notebook, and never looked back. Foreword Reviews called her debut No Ordinary Thing,"no ordinary time travel story; it contains timeless lessons on friendship, bravery, and letting go."She currently lives in Switzerland with her husband and their tuxedo cat.

Editorial Reviews

08/30/2021

In the 1500s, 12-year-old fraternal twins Mei and Yun Wu, who have lived with their grandfather since their parents disappeared six years ago, eagerly anticipate the Mid-Autumn Festival, especially since the son of China’s emperor will visit the village to sample Grandpa Wu’s famed secret-ingredient mooncakes. But when strange weather sours the mood—and Grandpa’s mooncakes—the prince is insulted, and Grandpa is taken away by royal officials. Opposite but balanced, the twins combine their strengths to devise a rescue plan, hoping to learn the truth behind their scholar parents’ mysterious disappearance along the way. Their trek leads them to the cursed City of Ashes, where an encounter with the mythical Jade Rabbit reveals a tantalizing inherited gift. Armed with this knowledge, and striking a deal with a vengeful riddle-speaking poet, the twins sneak into the Imperial Palace for answers. In homage to her Chinese roots, Schmidt adroitly interweaves fantastical mythology with the historical context of the Ming Dynasty. Though some plot points skew predictable, the twins’ unbreakable bond, paired with rich folkloric details, make for a heartening read. Back matter features an author’s note detailing story influences. Ages 8–12. Agent: Adria Goetz, Martin Literary Management. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

★ 10/02/2021

Gr 3–7—Twelve-year-old twins Mei and Yun live in the mountains near the Pearl River with their grandpa and cat, Smelly Tail. The villagers find the twins strange and gossip about their parents' mysterious disappearance on a venture to the City of Ashes. Grandpa makes irresistible mooncakes for Mei, Yun, and the villagers using his secret recipe. When the buzz on Grandpa's renowned mooncakes travels to the emperor himself, he sends his son on a special trip to sample the dessert. It is the auspicious Autumn Festival and Grandpa is elated for the prince to try his homemade mooncakes. Instead, a nightmare transpires as the mooncakes taste horrid, the prince is displeased, and the villagers haggle to no end. Grandpa's arrest is the final straw as the village falls into chaos and the weather goes bonkers. It is up to Mei and Yun to grasp the reins and save their grandpa, village, and parents. United, they bravely journey to the obscure City of Ashes where they meet the Jade Rabbit, fly on a magic cloud, and attempt to undo the 70-year-old curse plaguing their village. Set in the mountains of southern China, Schmidt beautifully weaves a tale rooted in Chinese folklore. The book resonates with excitement and fantasy as Mei and Yun experience magic firsthand while using their wits and brainpower. The character development is evident and convincing. Peeling away at the many layers of the narrative sits revenge and love at the center. The captivating resolution is an emotional rollercoaster, but well worth the escapade. The story is balanced with imagination, love, sadness, new friends, old foes, and enchantment. When two ordinary siblings are guided by compassion and big dreams, the sky's the limit as they collaborate to achieve the unthinkable. VERDICT Rick Riordan fans will find this story to be entertaining and engaging as the magical adventure unfolds.—Suraya Jairam, Queens P. L., Hollis, NY

School Library Journal

2021-07-27
Fraternal twins embark on a magical adventure to rescue their grandfather and break a decadeslong curse.

After their parents’ mysterious disappearance in the City of Ashes, 12-year-olds Mei and Yun have been outcasts in their village. Their orphan status and reputation for seeing vaporous auras have left them with few friends. The sister and brother have been raised by their grandfather, who is known for his delicious cooking. Word of his talent has reached the Imperial City, and the Emperor’s son will be visiting to taste their grandfather’s famous mooncakes. But a sour mood has overtaken the village, and the mooncakes taste disgusting and rotten. The twins’ grandfather is taken away to the palace to await trial for supposedly using harmful magic on the prince. Determined to rescue him, Mei and Yun undertake a dangerous journey that reveals hidden truths about their family’s roots and the cursed City of Ashes. Set in ancient China during the Ming dynasty, this fantasy incorporates elements of Chinese folklore, with the Jade Rabbit acting as a spiritual guide for the twins, references to the Monkey King, and the presence of a mirrorlike dream world. The twins’ sibling bond never wavers throughout the challenges they face; like yin and yang, their individual personalities and strengths balance each other and highlight the story’s theme of achieving peace by acknowledging both the light and the dark and creating your own destiny.

An enchanting tale. (author's note, cultural notes) (Historical fantasy. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews

"A magical adventure, which shoots for the moon—and succeeds."—Entertainment Weekly

★ "The book resonates with excitement and fantasy as Mei and Yun experience magic firsthand while using their wits and brainpower. . . . The story is balanced with imagination, love, sadness, new friends, old foes, and enchantment. . . . Rick Riordan fans will find this story to be entertaining and engaging as the magical adventure unfolds."—School Library Journal, Starred Review

"Schmidt has nicely woven Chinese mythology and history into a fantastic adventure. Readers will find themselves entranced by Schmidt's writing, which will draw them in much in the same way that a storyteller captivates listeners when retelling a folktale."—Booklist

"Schmidt creates a beautifully folkloric atmosphere imbued with elements of Chinese culture and myth. Mei, with her gut instinct and fighting skills, and Yun, with his nearsightedness and quick intelligence, make for a compelling lead duo, with plenty of opportunity for comedy and plot-propelling revelations."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"An entertaining tale . . . . "—The Horn Book

"In homage to her Chinese roots, Schmidt adroitly interweaves fantastical mythology with the historical context of the Ming Dynasty. . . . the twins' unbreakable bond, paired with rich folkloric details, make for a heartening read."—Publishers Weekly

"Seamlessly incorporates folklore and magic into a vivid middle-grade adventure about sibling bonds and destiny. . . . Chinese mythology and philosophy play a prominent role in The Dreamweavers, with Schmidt sewing the Jade Rabbit (a popular character in Chinese culture), the dream world, and yin and yang into her spellbinding story. . . . An entrancing story about the power of dreams, helping others and controlling our own destinies."—Shelf Awareness

"An enchanting tale."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher