Message in the Mooncake
A Legend from Ancient China
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, Su-Ling’s small village is planning a rebellion against the Mongolian invaders – and Su-Ling wants to help! Can she use her wits and courage to deliver a secret message hidden in a box of mooncakes, without getting caught by Mongol guards? Set 800 years ago in the Yuan Dynasty, this thrilling tale is based on an ancient Chinese legend, which is explained in the educational endnotes.
Key Selling Points:
- CULTURAL REPRESENTATION: Set in a time and place not often seen in picture books (China in the 1200s CE), during a major cultural celebration – the Mid-Autumn Festival.
- STRONG HEROINE: Main character is a courageous young girl who perseveres in a time of conflict and comes up with her own creative solution to the challenge.
- GRAPHIC NOVEL ADJACENT: Illustrator Xiaojie Liu brings an exciting, fresh, contemporary feel to the artwork with panels, speech bubbles, and graphic text design.
- RELEVANT MESSAGE: Universal, timeless theme of resistance against oppression.
- SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING: Delivers a strong message about cleverness, courage, and bravery, wrapped in a thrilling, high-stakes story that will engage even reluctant young readers.
- EDUCATIONAL ENDNOTES: Includes more information about mooncakes, the history of the Mongol invasion during the Yuan Dynasty, and the ancient legend behind this story.
