Rating: 
Summary: dragon wings reivew
Review: Dragonwings
By: Laurence Yep
Reviewed by: K. Kim
Period: P.5 Dragonwings by Laurence Yep is a fantastic book. The story revolves around a young Tang Chinese boy named Moon Shadow. He lives with his mother and grandmother in China, while his father works in the "Land of the Demons", which is really the "Land of the Americans". Moon Shadow's father is Windrider. The two have never met each other in the past, but they keep in touch by letters. Moon Shadow remembers his father's wondrous kites, and hopes to see Windrider someday. He finally gets an opportunity to when his cousin Hand Clap visits China from America to announce some surprising news. Windrider requested that his son join him in the land of the demons. At first, Moon Shadow's mother and grandmother object, but Moon Shadow is eventually allowed to go. The Americans are not known for being friendly or kind towards foreigners or even to each other. However, Moon Shadow arrives safely in California and finally meets his father. They get to know each other, and stay within the building of the Company, an organization of Tang men which acts like a guild. They mainly do the demons' laundry for a living in America. Moon Shadow soon learns of his father's lifelong dream of becoming a dragon once again. According to a meaningful dream Windrider once had, he was a dragon in the past with amazing healing powers. However, he disgraced himself and was reborn as a weakling human. Windrider believes that if he achieves flight, he may redeem himself as a dragon. In the company, there is another distant cousin named Black Dog. He was once good, but his life was harsh and he took to opium. He loots for the purpose of buying more drugs. Once, while Moon Shadow was collecting the rents of the Tang residents in the village, Black Dog stole the money bag and left Moon Shadow unconsious. Windrider promptly sought Black Dog out and a showdown took place in the darkest of alleys. Black Dog was defeated and still lived, but his cheating accomplice was killed by Windrider. Windrider and Moon Shadow then had to live someplace else in case people were vindictive and looked for revenge. They stay in a stable that belongs to a kindly "demoness", Ms. Whitlaw. She has a pure soul and a strong heart. Her niece is the same, just a bit boisterous. The four of them become good friends, and help each other through troubles such as the American bullies, a disastrous earthquake, and a wildfire. After the houses of each are burned from the fire, Windrider and Moon Shadow must move once again. The Whitlaws move as well, but all of them keep in touch. Once at their new home, Windrider and his son begin construction on Dragonwings, a flying machine. Windrider's hopes of becoming a dragon are raised as the machine is completed and approved. However, their rent money is stolen by Black Dog. Windrider and Moon Shadow don't have to worry for long, because their friends and the Company back them up with money and even encourage Windrider on his flight attempt. He does fly for a short while, but crashes, breaking a few bones here and there. He awakens to realize that being a dragon wasn't just about having claws or flying. Dragons had big families, so Windrider decides to devote himself to his family.
I first picked this book up because the title had the word "dragon" in it. I thoroughly enjoyed the sections that discussed dragons and their characteristics. I did disagree with some comments in the story, but then I saw that different points of views were acknowledged, and I was pleased. I liked the way the author portrayed how dragons can be good and bad, destructive and kind, or terrible and gentle. In this quote, Moon Shadow presents to Ms. Whitlaw his opinion on dragons: ""Dragon do terrible thing, yes," I said, struggling for the right words. "But dragon, they do good thing, too. Bring rain for crops. They king among all...all reptile. They emperor of all animal.""
I really didn't dislike this book at all. Another one of its high points were the points of view on different cultures. Moon Shadow thinks that American devices and foods are strange while Ms. Whitlaw is interested in how cream and sugar doesn't go into Chinese tea. These small everyday things we have may seem bizarre to others, while their common customs or items may intrigue us. This quote describes a scene where Moon Shadow and Ms. Whitlaw have a chat over tea: "She put water on to boil and then sat down across from me and picked at the tea until she could hold up one of the small white, delicate blossoms. "Isn't that a lovely idea. Flowers in your tea." She got up and returned with a small white thingamabob that had thickened cow's milk in it. Thickened, yet! And it had an oily kind of smell that nearly made me sick." I enjoyed reading over these parts. Having cream described like that was an interesting experience.
My absolute favorite part of the book is where Moon Shadow and Windrider meet Ms. Whitlaw. As I said before, Ms. Whitlaw is a kind, elderly lady who has great honor and a strong spirit. Moon Shadow and Windrider know limited English, so they speak to each other in Chinese, and to the lady in broken English. I was amused at how nervous Moon Shadow was, and when he became slightly bolder his father scolded him in Chinese. Ms. Whitlaw had offered cookies and milk to Moon Shadow, things he had never eaten before. He was disgusted by the milk and claimed that it was "cow's urine". Windrider replied to his son in Chinese, "No, no, stupid. Milk comes from the cow's udders. Now drink it." I had a good time reading that section of the book, because it made me laugh and loosen up a bit.
The book was overall very enjoyable and a great read. I recommend it to anyone who is eager for pages filled with delight.
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