The Master Swordsman & The Magic Doorway: Two Legends From Ancient China

The Master Swordsman & The Magic Doorway: Two Legends From Ancient China – Alice Provensen (also illustrated)
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0-689-83232-X

My rating; 3.5 out of 5

This book is actually two separate Chinese legends compiled into one book. One thing is certain about the stories – they do not end how you think they will. In “The Master Swordsman,” I can understand the ending and after thinking about it, it makes sense in that it teaches that there are more ways to settle a dispute than through violence. Little Chu did not use his abilities on the bandits, but on food. This caused fear among the bandits and they never attacked. I really like this moral and think it would be good for kids to know.

I do not know if I can say the same about “The Magic Doorway.” The ending was odd and I am not sure if I can think of just what the point of the story is. Perhaps it is something along the line of not double-crossing people, but I’m not sure. It’s a fun story, but I would probably leave it for leisure-time reading.

“The Master Swordsman & The Magic Doorway” is a book that might use if I were doing a China unit, but probably if I couldn’t find a few other ones first.