cover image The Examination

The Examination

Malcolm Bosse. Farrar Straus Giroux, $18 (320pp) ISBN 978-0-374-32234-2

Bosse's (Captives of Time; Deep Dream of the Rain Forest) latest offering excels as both fiction and history, telling a moving tale of fraternal love and courage as it reveals a wealth of insights into the traditions and politics of medieval China. Set in the 16th century, the story revolves around two brothers, Hong and Chen. The studious Chen must travel from the family's tiny Sichuan village to Beijing and the Forbidden City, having earned the right to participate in the palace examination of the kingdom's most learned scholars. Hong, the more practical brother, elects himself guardian and companion for the trip. While Chen struggles with the difficult exams, Hong joins a secret society dedicated to overthrowing the Ming dynasty. Performing several dangerous missions for the group, Hong discovers his calling as a soldier and adventurer. A pirate attack, several brief flirtations and a stint with an imaginative inventor are just a few of the many stirring episodes. Bosse memorably conveys the workings of a culture that balances the needs for both military and scholarly institutions, and his detailed descriptions of the rivers and cities of China have a visceral impact. Moreover, he allows the closeness between the two brothers to unfold over the course of the narrative, illustrating that difficulties and struggles are an integral part of human growth. Ages 12-up. (Oct.)