In the time of the Han Dynasty in ancient China, a young orphan prepares for a difficult journey. Ping has grown to become a skilled Dragon Keeper, but her greatest challenge is yet to come. After rescuing the baby dragon, Kai, from the evil Emperor, she brings him to a safe haven near the border of the Empire. Now, as Kai grows into a restless young dragon, Ping faces a tough decision. She must find a way to take Kai to the ancient haven of the dragons. Following cryptic clues left by the wise dragon, Danzi, Ping and Kai set off on a long and dangerous journey filled with old friends and new enemies. But the biggest surprise awaits them at the end of their travels, when Ping quickly learns that the hardest part of being a Dragon Keeper may be realizing when it’s time to let go. With this story of tender friendships and heroic adventure, Carole Wilkinson brings her epic trilogy about dragons in ancient China to a thrilling and satisfying end. Grade 5–9—In this final book in the trilogy, Ping has grown into a responsible Dragon Keeper for Kai. Danzi, Kai's father and Ping's first dragon, has left instructions for the girl to take Kai to the Dragon Haven where he can grow up safe from human influence. Following an ancient and faded map, the two set out to discover if Kai, now an adolescent, is the last of the dragons. During the journey, many of Ping's old friends are rediscovered. The story, set during the Han dynasty, offers an unusual combination of fantasy and ancient Chinese culture in which the dragons have extraordinary lives that not only affect Ping, but all of China as well.— June H. Keuhn, Corning East High School, NY Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. The satisfactory conclusion of the Dragon Keeper trilogy, set in ancient China, features lone female dragon keeper, Ping, and her young dragon, Kai. As Kai’s future at Beibai Palace grows more dangerous, Ping unravels puzzles left by Kai’s father, Danzi, that instruct her to deliver Kai to the safety of a secret dragon haven. The long and difficult journey relies on coincidence and contrivance, but the humor, mild danger, and human-dragon friendship will appeal to young fantasy readers. Math teachers may want to read aloud the passage about the seven-cunning-pieces puzzle to accompany tangram geometry activities. Grades 4-6. --Cindy Dobrez Used Book in Good Condition