A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix
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- € 6,99
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- € 6,99
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In the Remixed Classics series, authors from marginalized backgrounds reinterpret classic works through their own cultural lens to subvert the overwhelming cishet, white, and male canon. Two intrepid queer girls of color embark on a legendary treasure hunt in this YA remix of Treasure Island, flipping the script on a notoriously Euro-centric sausage-fest of a classic.
1826. The sun is setting on the golden age of piracy, and the legendary Dragon Fleet, the scourge of the South China Sea, is no more. Its ruthless leader, a woman known only as the Head of the Dragon, is now only a story, like the ones Xiang has grown up with all her life. She desperately wants to prove her worth, especially to her mother, a shrewd businesswoman who never seems to have enough time for Xiang. Her father is also only a story, dead at sea before Xiang was born. Her single memento of him is a pendant she always wears, a simple but plain piece of gold jewelry.
But the pendant's true nature is revealed when a mysterious girl named Anh steals it, only to return it to Xiang in exchange for her help in decoding the tiny map scroll hidden inside. The revelation that Xiang's father sailed with the Dragon Fleet and tucked away this secret changes everything. Rumor has it that the legendary Head of the Dragon had one last treasure—the plunder of a thousand ports—that for decades has only been a myth, a fool's journey.
Xiang is convinced this map could lead to the fabled treasure. Captivated with the thrill of adventure, she joins Anh and her motley crew off in pursuit of the island. But the girls soon find that the sea—and especially those who sail it—are far more dangerous than the legends led them to believe.
Praise for A Clash of Steel:
A Cosmopolitan Best YA Book of 2021
"This deeply immersive adventure features deftly interwoven Chinese and Vietnamese, luscious culinary descriptions, and well-rendered explorations of imperialism, treasure, found family, and love." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Vividly realized and brimming with romantic adventure. Rooted in the legend of Chinese pirate queen Ching Shih, C.B. Lee’s A Clash of Steel is richly imagined and thrilling to the end." —Malinda Lo, bestselling author of Last Night at the Telegraph Club
"Lavishly drawn and studded with jewels from the original, C.B. Lee has written a remix that delves deep into questions of family, love, and treasure. This is a book I wish I'd had as a young, queer teen and it deserves a spot in any collection." —Natalie C. Parker, author of the Seafire trilogy
The Remixed Classics Series
A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C.B. Lee
So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Morrow
Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix by Aminah Mae Safi
What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix by Tasha Suri
Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix by Anna-Marie McLemore
My Dear Henry: A Jekyll & Hyde Remix by Kalynn Bayron
Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo & Juliet Remix by Caleb Roehrig
Into the Bright Open: A Secret Garden Remix by Cherie Dimaline
Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Lee (the Sidekick Squad series) elegantly situates Robert Louis Stevenson's 1882 Treasure Island against a richly embroidered Qing dynasty backdrop in this carefully crafted queer interpretation. It's 1826, and Shi Xiang, 16, hopes her cold, seldom-around merchant mother will allow Xiang to leave the quiet village she was raised in for the big city of Canton. While ambitious, curious Xiang hopes to explore the city's abundance and learn the ropes of her mother's bustling teahouse and merchant business, her mother prefers a safe, domestic life for her. But after spending a magical day in Canton with quick-fingered Hoa Ngọc Anh, a 17-year-old Vietnamese sailor, Xiang wants more. When Anh steals Xiang's gold pendant—the only memento Xiang has of her father, who was lost at sea—and a fire threatens the teahouse, Xiang is set to be sent home. But then Anh returns, and a secret the pendant holds changes everything. Inspired by female pirate Zheng Yi Sao, this deeply immersive adventure features deftly interwoven Chinese and Vietnamese, luscious culinary descriptions, and well-rendered explorations of imperialism, treasure, found family, and love. Back matter includes an author's note, language notes, a pronunciation guide, historical notes, and recommended reading. Ages 13–up.
