Adventures on the Ancient Silk Road
Starred Review. Grade 6–8—The monk Xuanzang, the conqueror Genghis Khan, and the merchant Marco Polo each traveled the Silk Road, years apart. Their journeys, by different routes and for different motives, are gripping historical narratives, sensitively and excitingly fictionalized here, in language that is lively and descriptive, clear but not oversimplified. Vibrant reproductions of art and photos of artifacts leap off every colorful page. Descriptions of smells, sounds, and tastes are used to complement the abundant visuals, and the three stories are artfully structured to maximize drama and hold interest. Sidebars extend the book's reach with information on geography, language, religion, art, architecture, food, animals, and, naturally, silk manufacture. Maps, further-reading lists, a brief update to today's Road, and an index add to the learning value. Readers will be both riveted and informed.—Patricia D. Lothrop, St. George's School, Newport, RICopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.