Silverfish - Book Blurbs

Princess Shawl by Shirley Lim (Maya Press, RM 18.90)

MeiLi inherits a shawl from a grand-aunt she doesn't know, which whisksher to historical times and places. Before she turns ten in two weeks,she must rescue the Chinese princess, Li Po, from the barren islandwhere the wicked bomoh hasexiled her. Mei Li meets women in Singapore, Cameron Highlands andMalacca who teaches her about courage, nurturing, trust and skills suchas cooking, nursing, and climbing mountains. With the help of a magichairpin, of special rogue and of water that can bring you home, she succeeds in uniting the Princess with the brave Sultan Mansur.

"A powerful book. Mei Li, nine years old almost ten, lives in Singapore with parents from Malaysia and China. Her daily life is magical enough, but then a shawl for a princess arrives in the mail...

Like a magic carpet, the shawl flies her away to far lands and times. She must help the wounded and the lost during a war among Portugal, Holland and Melaka. Among the many powers she learns is the ability to heal others. An enchanting and realistic book."

Maxine Hong Kingston
author of The Woman Warrior and Chinamen.

"In this enchanting story of resourceful bravery and love between family members by blood and
choice, between a sultan and a princess, between young and old, Shirley Lim with the utmost economy weaves a brilliant overview of history and culture. A delicious tour de force."

Anca Vlasopolos author of The New Bedford Samurai