Of all the Zenta books, this one is the best. It is fun, and will keep you guessing until the last page. Unfortunetly, this whole series is out of print. But if you can, try and get one of these books, they're great. (It is best to read "The White Serpent Castle" last, as it reveals things about the characters' pasts that should be known only after reading the other books first.)

I've long been a fan of Lensey Namioka's books, especially her mysteries featuring the two Japanese samurai, Zenta and Matsuzo. However, her new series of books featuring the irrepresible Yang family have proven to be delightful. I thought this installment, featuring the eldest Yang child, was thoughtful and well-written. It tells of the problems that eldest children have to go through (I'm one myself) and how hard work can overcome the worst of odds- like when Yang the Eldest injured his finger, which is absolutely devastating to any violin player. This novel illustrated the cultural differences that exist between China and America and the lives of a family of Chinese immigrants trying to make it in America.

Ties that bind, ties that break
By: Lensey Namioka

An excellent story about the true tradition and history of china. Taking us through this fascinating novel is the superb main character, Ailin Tao. As you get more into the book you learn to love, and admire Ailin, because of her braveness, and actions through out this great novel. I would recommend this amazing book to those people who like to read about true breaking stories. I believe the author wanted to intoduce us to this Chinese story by ushering us into a wealthy Chinese family, with a little 5-year-old girl walking us through her foot binding problems. Ailin has 2 sisters, a baby brother, mother and a father and grandmother that are the only two who really understand her best. Ailin is to be married to Hanwei Lui, which was organized by her grandmother, but was broken off when ailin refused to bind her feet. It seemed to Ailin that after the foot-binding incident everything went down hill, because of her grandmother's death.
Through out all this happening, Ailin starts going to a public school, which was very weird for Chinese girl to do. She has a great time leaning English and socializing with other people than the ones in her house. After her father dies of tuberculosis her malevolent, inferior Big Uncle is in charge of the family and will no longer pay the tuition for Ailin's school. To Big Uncle paying school for a GIRL is a waste. Now Ailin has to find a way to support herself because since her feet are not bound nobody will marry her, which means no one, is supporting her.
I hope you really enjoy reading this great page-turner!

This is a book about a Chinese family. A little girl named Ailin she is the main character. There is one named Big Uncle, he is a mean direct character. Ailin talks back to adults and speaks whatever is on her mind.
They are living in the time when American missionaries were just starting to come to China. There was a tradition in China that girls had to have their feet bound by the age five, so their feet would be small and they would have to wobble around, only the rich society did this. Foot binding is when they bend back all the toes except for the big toe.
Ailin is living in the time when most people still believe in foot binding, but some but some families didn't believe in it. She didn't want her foot bound and after a few arguments with her parents she won and did not get her feet bound, which canceled her engagement with Liu Hanwei(at the age of five she has an engagement). Where she then had the choices to become a nun, farmer's wife, or a concubine, a concubine is a baby maker. But she decided to baby-sit for an American family at the age 12. She babysitted a boy and a girl, her whole life changed...
Interested???
Then go get this book at a library near you!!!!...

"Ties That Bind, Ties That Break", by Lensy Namioka, was a great novel on a 1911, wealthy Chinese girl who rebells against the ancient Chinese tradition of foot binding - and learns the consequences.

Headstrong, playful Ailin, when 5 years old, is told she must begin to bind her feet. However, when she sees how her sister was crippled, she refuses, and her loving father said that she doesn't have to.

Later, when her father dies, her uncle becomes head of the household, and he gives now 12 year old Ailin three choices, since the boy she was betrothed to broke their engagement because of her unbound feet. But Ailin doesn't like the choices for a girl with "big" feet - she wants something more to do with her life.

This was a great book on a strong girl not so very long ago, and I'd recommend this book for ages 12 and up. I'd also definitely recommend "Shabanu", by Staples, about another girl who's against tradition, and must learn the consequences.

Namioka's "young adult" book is a gentle, amiable mystery story set in Medeival Japan. While it didn't have quite enough historical detail for my tastes (I like a book that "takes me someplace I've never been"), I enjoyed the idiosyncratic characters and the low-key atmosphere. It's not too tough to solve the mystery, however!

It's a shame to see that this book is out of print. I found it when I was ten, and loved it. This should be required reading for fifth graders everywhere. It has a very fine story, with unexpected twists and endearing characters that make you wish you owned the rest of the series featuring these two samurai. If you see it, buy it.

Den of the white fox by Lensey Namioka is a compelling book. Two Ronin Samurai Zenta and Matsuzo go into to a mysterious forest that is said to be haunted by The White Fox. These two samurai's experience many things that are not normal and they also meet some rather strange like Kinu and Jiro that offer them shelter for the dark cold nights in the forest. Their journey teaches Matsuzo a young samurai some of the dangers of life, it's a very exciting story with all the puzzles and problems these two samurai face in the book. I recommend this book to people that would like to read a good action/adventure novel It's a wonderful book and if you don't read that much and want to start reading more, or if you aren't having good luck with finding a good book this is a book that will help you if you have any of these problems. I know this because I had these problems and this book helped me with my reading choices. This book flows very well and I and it's a really fun to read. But if you aren't interested in samurais or the Japanese culture this may not be the book for you. Still this is a good book for fun and instead of analyzing it you should enjoy it; any ways there's not that much cultural instances in the book. But you should really read this book if you want to start reading more often. I enjoyed this book and you should too if you read it.

This book is meant for the 4th grade to 6th grade level I'm guessing. So in high school, I'm really not part of the book's target audience. I originally picked it out for a younger friend, but ended up reading it myself. It was surprisingly delightful. It reminded me of my transition from Chinese culture to American culture and the psychological mind games that all children play when they like someone or think someone likes them. This is a story from the point of view of a young Chinese boy in the U.S. and his attempt to fix his rather traditional older sister up with a boy. Some cute mix-up's occur in his devious little plan. This story is more enjoyable if children can relate to it. But even if they don't, it contains some fun.