Reviewed by LadyJay for TeensReadToo.com
Danny Vo and his family immigrated from Vietnam to the United States when he was a toddler. He remembers very little about his life and the hardships his family faced in the Communist nation. Life in the United States has been difficult, but rewarding and worthwhile.
Now, Danny's cousin, Sang Le, is finally joining them in Texas. Sang Le has faced extreme suffering; being sent to a re-education camp in Vietnam, and finally escaping to China. Sang Le wants to show his family how grateful he is for what they have done. He starts bringing home huge amounts of cash. Danny knows exactly who Sang Le is working for - Cobra, the leader of a Vietnamese gang.
Danny's influence over his cousin is strong, but is it too late for Sang Le to break his ties to Cobra?
SHADOW OF THE DRAGON is a novel with heart. Danny and Sang Le are well-written characters. The reader will feel sympathetic towards both boys. Danny's struggles are not unlike those of any typical teenager. He argues with his family, attempts to keep his grades up, and is constantly fighting for the attention of a beautiful young lady. Sang Le's issues go deeper. He joins a gang to be a part of something; it feels familiar to him. This is his biggest mistake.
This is a hard-hitting novel that definitely packs a punch. Pick this one up....you won't be disappointed.
Danny Vo and his family immigrated from Vietnam to the United States when he was a toddler. He remembers very little about his life and the hardships his family faced in the Communist nation. Life in the United States has been difficult, but rewarding and worthwhile.
Now, Danny's cousin, Sang Le, is finally joining them in Texas. Sang Le has faced extreme suffering; being sent to a re-education camp in Vietnam, and finally escaping to China. Sang Le wants to show his family how grateful he is for what they have done. He starts bringing home huge amounts of cash. Danny knows exactly who Sang Le is working for - Cobra, the leader of a Vietnamese gang.
Danny's influence over his cousin is strong, but is it too late for Sang Le to break his ties to Cobra?
SHADOW OF THE DRAGON is a novel with heart. Danny and Sang Le are well-written characters. The reader will feel sympathetic towards both boys. Danny's struggles are not unlike those of any typical teenager. He argues with his family, attempts to keep his grades up, and is constantly fighting for the attention of a beautiful young lady. Sang Le's issues go deeper. He joins a gang to be a part of something; it feels familiar to him. This is his biggest mistake.
This is a hard-hitting novel that definitely packs a punch. Pick this one up....you won't be disappointed.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
High school sophomore Danny Vo tries to resolve the conflict between the values of his Vietnamese refugee family and his new American way of life.
High school sophomore Danny Vo tries to resolve the conflict between the values of his Vietnamese refugee family and his new American way of life.
