This is the most beautiful, fantastic and mysterious novel I've read in a long time. In Silver Phoenix, Cindy Pon, the author, writes about Ai Ling, Chen Yong and Li Rong. Chen Yong and Li Rong are brothers who travel on a journey with Ai Ling. Although the brothers' purpose is different from the reasons Ai Ling makes the journey, the threesome become very close to one another. On this journey Ai Ling is in search for her father. Ai Ling also does not want to have the love of her life picked for her by other people. She is not a girl-woman of the past. She is a girl-woman of the present and future very able to make her own decisions.
The reasons that motivate these three young people are very good ones. However, in order to become stronger in character along the way they meet all sorts of difficulties. Every page of the book is filled with magnificent beauty and at times strange ugliness. For these reasons I never wanted to change places with Ai Ling. I felt satisfied to be her cheer leader by hoping for the best as she and the guys traveled along.
I love this book because Ai Ling is a strong young woman. I think she could have made the journey alone. However, the young men made the journey more exciting. Ai Ling is a perfect heroine for young women. She never turns her back on the worst of the situations. She boldly stares anyone or anything in the face no matter what their plans are for her life. Since Ai Ling is like most young women, there are times when she feels a bit overwhelmed. This is when tears slide down her face. "The tears came again, and she put her face in her hands. She felt the Lady stroke her hair. Something her mother used to do.....The tears dropped like glass into her palm."
Cindy Pon became my guide to an unknown world, the world of fantasy in books. I will look for more of the same genre to read in the coming day. I have been spoiled by the masterful writing of this author. Will I ever meet another girl like Ai Ling? She is able to set her spirit free making it become a part of another person's thoughts and body. Such power is not taken lightly by Ai Ling. She reserves it for special times. She never uses her power for magical show. "She expanded her spirit and wrapped it around his. He continued to struggle, like a slippery fish caught in the binds of her net."
I think many young women will identify with Ai Ling's feelings. Ai Lings says "I cannot imagine a world without men. I envy the men in our society for their freedom at times." In Silver Phoenix young women will begin to realize that there dreams can come true too. The world is not made for just men neither is it made for just women. It is a universe created for all people, no matter the gender, to choose their particular path in life because the reality of equality rings throughout time and space. Our world is one made for magical possibilities. "He showed her a coin trick....The gold coin then turned into an emerald duck and waddled into the shallow water. She clapped her hands with enthusiasm. Yes, it is an amazing world where all kinds of dreams can come true and make us clap our hands with extreme happiness.
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