NOVEMBER 2021 - AudioFile
Emily Woo Zeller offers an exciting narration of this sapphic TREASURE ISLAND retelling with Asian characters. Xiang wants more than the sheltered life her mother plans for her. She is desperate to prove that she can assist her mother with her expansive business empire. After Anh steals Xiang’s pendant, they discover that it contains a map to the lost treasure of Zheng Yi Sao, and they team up to find it. Zeller deftly handles Chinese and Vietnamese words throughout the story, and her emotional connection with the characters emphasizes fierce female characters and the slow-burn romance between them. An author’s note at the end, narrated by Lee, details the inspiration behind the story. A.K.R. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
★ 10/04/2021
Lee (the Sidekick Squad series) elegantly situates Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1882 Treasure Island against a richly embroidered Qing dynasty backdrop in this carefully crafted queer interpretation. It’s 1826, and Shi Xiang, 16, hopes her cold, seldom-around merchant mother will allow Xiang to leave the quiet village she was raised in for the big city of Canton. While ambitious, curious Xiang hopes to explore the city’s abundance and learn the ropes of her mother’s bustling teahouse and merchant business, her mother prefers a safe, domestic life for her. But after spending a magical day in Canton with quick-fingered Hoa Ngọc Anh, a 17-year-old Vietnamese sailor, Xiang wants more. When Anh steals Xiang’s gold pendant—the only memento Xiang has of her father, who was lost at sea—and a fire threatens the teahouse, Xiang is set to be sent home. But then Anh returns, and a secret the pendant holds changes everything. Inspired by female pirate Zheng Yi Sao, this deeply immersive adventure features deftly interwoven Chinese and Vietnamese, luscious culinary descriptions, and well-rendered explorations of imperialism, treasure, found family, and love. Back matter includes an author’s note, language notes, a pronunciation guide, historical notes, and recommended reading. Ages 13–up. Agent: Thao Le, Sandra Dijkstra Literary. (Sept.)
From the Publisher
Praise for A Clash of Steel:
A Cosmopolitan Best YA Book of 2021
"Lee (the Sidekick Squad series) elegantly situates Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1882 Treasure Island against a richly embroidered Qing dynasty backdrop in this carefully crafted queer interpretation. ... Inspired by female pirate Zheng Yi Sao, this deeply immersive adventure features deftly interwoven Chinese and Vietnamese, luscious culinary descriptions, and well-rendered explorations of imperialism, treasure, found family, and love." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
"'Fun' doesn’t even begin to describe this rich and imaginative retelling of Treasure Island. ... It’s obvious that this book was a labor of love, which made it all the more enjoyable to read. Pirate stories don’t get much better than this." —Hypable
"In this work inspired by but also completely unique from Treasure Island, Lee introduces readers to an enthralling adventure story filled with twists and turns. ... The well-researched narrative with vivid descriptions of food, clothing, and markets of the era will transport readers. A great addition to all libraries." —School Library Journal
"Vividly realized and brimming with romantic adventure. Rooted in the legend of Chinese pirate queen Ching Shih, C.B. Lee’s A Clash of Steel is richly imagined and thrilling to the end." —Malinda Lo, bestselling author of Last Night at the Telegraph Club
"Lavishly drawn and studded with jewels from the original, C.B. Lee has written a remix that delves deep into questions of family, love, and treasure. This is a book I wish I'd had as a young, queer teen and it deserves a spot in any collection." —Natalie C. Parker, author of the Seafire trilogy
"A Clash of Steel is an action-packed tale of fierce friendship and queer found family, with a playful sapphic romance that will make your heart flutter! C.B. Lee immerses you in the world of the Qing dynasty with vivid and authentic detail—you will feel the danger of the waves and yearn for the tastes and smells of the markets. Filled with shocking twists, A Clash of Steel is a truly extraordinary retelling that artfully blends the classic story of Treasure Island with the history of most infamous pirate ever to rule the seas." —Julia Ember, author of Ruinsong
"C.B. Lee has masterfully (and, it feels, effortlessly!) elevated a familiar classic. A Clash of Steel is not merely a retelling, but a more than worthy installment to the literary canon itself. From two incredible heroines and their found family (that literally brought tears to my eyes from how much I loved them), to sweeping adventure and gripping stakes, every element is wielded to its best effect in a way that I am sure will linger in readers' minds long after they've left Anh and Xiang's world." —Karuna Riazi, author of The Gauntlet
Praise for the Sidekick Squad series:
"Lee delivers YET AGAIN with another SIDEKICK full of heart, guts, and all the queerness you could wish for." —E.K. Johnston, #1 New York Times-bestselling author, on Not Your Backup
"With realistic (and supportive!) relationships anchoring the narrative, Lee crafts a well-paced story of self discovery, brimming with effortless inclusivity and thrilling dose of heroic adventure." —Claire Kann, author of Let's Talk About Love, on Not Your Backup
"Not Your Sidekick, Not Your Villain, and Not Your Backup are entertaining and propulsive novels written with confidence, charm, and cheek. C.B. Lee gets not only how to elevate superhero tropes but how to write teenagers in an honest and compelling way. Everything from the worldbuilding to the plots to the character development are firing on all cylinders." —Alex Brown, Tor.com
"Jess and Abby are delightful characters and superhero fans like this reviewer will especially enjoy Lee's take on how superpowers work. I'm ready for the sequel!" —RT Book Reviews, on Not Your Sidekick
"Lee offers up a fast-paced, engaging tale set in a quasi-dystopian 22nd-century America where the line between hero and villain is often blurred. With a diverse cast of characters, both in terms of sexuality and ethnic background, and a wholly adorable romance for Jess, it s a lively exploration of morality in a superpowered age." —Publishers Weekly, on Not Your Sidekick
School Library Journal
10/01/2021
Gr 9 Up—It's 1826 and Xiang dreams of leaving her small village on the river. She lives and breathes the stories of distant lands filled with music, food, and adventure. She wants to experience it all, but her mother, a successful merchant who is often away at sea, wants Xiang to remain safe in the village. When Xiang finally convinces her mother to let her go to Canton, she meets Anh, a young woman who steals the pendant Xiang always wears around her neck. It was the only thing left from her father, who died before she was born. Anh returns it to Xiang explaining that the pendant hid a map with a secret code to a hidden pirate treasure. Xiang realizes her father must have been a part of the Dragon Fleet, pirates who used to roam the seas led by the Head of the Dragon, Zheng Yi Sao. She hid the treasure and went into hiding after the Dragon Fleet was disbanded. Xiang joins Anh's ship, which is run by a motley crew who grow to feel like family. In this work inspired by but also completely unique from Treasure Island, Lee introduces readers to an enthralling adventure story filled with twists and turns. Xiang and Anh have very different life experiences and their blossoming relationship will keep readers invested and engaged. The well-researched narrative with vivid descriptions of food, clothing, and markets of the era will transport readers. VERDICT A great addition to all libraries.—Kristyn Dorfman, Friends Academy, Locust Valley, NY
NOVEMBER 2021 - AudioFile
Emily Woo Zeller offers an exciting narration of this sapphic TREASURE ISLAND retelling with Asian characters. Xiang wants more than the sheltered life her mother plans for her. She is desperate to prove that she can assist her mother with her expansive business empire. After Anh steals Xiang’s pendant, they discover that it contains a map to the lost treasure of Zheng Yi Sao, and they team up to find it. Zeller deftly handles Chinese and Vietnamese words throughout the story, and her emotional connection with the characters emphasizes fierce female characters and the slow-burn romance between them. An author’s note at the end, narrated by Lee, details the inspiration behind the story. A.K.R. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
