Sisters Min Rui and Chloe escape a mysterious room thanks to the help of a Naga. Thus begins their adventure in a world of mystical creatures at once strange yet familiar, like the Horbo – part man, part water buffalo. How did they get from the HDB flats of Singapore to this place? Why does Chloe have a bell that does not ring? There are more questions than answers in this debut novel by journalist Lin Xueling but, then again, it is the first part in a series. A refreshing take on the tween quest genre, this book fills a much-needed gap in the market by introducing Asian kids to the myths and history of this region.
Best for ages six and up
By Lin Xueling, illustrated by Stephanie Raphaela Ho (Math Paper Press, $12, from Books Kinokuniya, Books Actually, K+, Cat Socrates, and online at www.booksactuallyshop.com)