by Katie Zhao
To my very first Twitter writer-friend, Amélie Wen Zhao: when we met, I knew you were special, but I had no idea how special, nor how much our lives would change just shortly after we met. We’ve joked that we’re cousins, but I truly look up to you as the older sister I never had, whose footsteps I’ve followed in the publishing world. Thank you for offering me so much: from your whip-smart editorial insights, to your knowledge of balancing corporate and author life—to your very own apartment! I’m inspired by your empowering and beautiful writing each and every day, and I’ll fangirl over your books—and you—until the end of time. To Becca Mix, one of the kindest, funniest, and most generous people I know: thank you for making Michigan more bearable, and for being a constant light in my life. I still laugh over how on-brand it is that we became friends by fangirling over Amélie’s book Blood Heir. Thank you for always being able to cheer me up with your jokes, for always speaking up for what is right, and for being my role model. Your compassion and empathy are truly limitless, and I admire you endlessly as an author and friend. And, you have the BEST cats! To Grace Li: I still can’t get over how lyrical and exquisite your writing is, how powerful and hauntingly tragic. I’m blown away by your intelligence, your talent, your kindness, and your endless support. Who else but you could have the brains to be both a kid lit author and a doctor? I can’t believe you’ve kept up with reading my super-extra amount of books, and have understood the heart of my diaspora stories so well. I don’t deserve your friendship, but I’m so grateful for it every day, and I can’t wait to keep reading your amazing stories, #ownvoices or otherwise, until the end of time! To the gracious and humble Molly Night: you are one of the most compassionate people I know, and it shows in your incredible work. Thank you for writing the Chinese stories I so desperately wanted to read as a child. We’ve both faced and fought against gatekeeping in the industry to get our #ownvoices stories out there, and encouraged each other along the way. I’m so proud of all that you’ve accomplished, and to call you my friend. And I don’t care what anyone else says, you will always have the BEST chocolate!
To my friends, cheerleaders, and CPs, who read through countless drafts of this book and cheered me on. Aly Eatherly, your friendship, sharp editorial vision, and publishing wisdom have been invaluable to me. Francesca Grandillo, your kindness and powerful writing amaze me every day. Lyla Lee, we’ve had many ups and downs together—so grateful to have your friendship on this journey! Britney Shae, I can’t thank you enough for your friendship and your continuous enthusiasm for my stories. Cassandra Farrin, I’m so grateful for your support, and beautiful and emotional stories, which break my heart and mend it over and over. Jamar Perry, I couldn’t have made it without your friendship and without us cheering each other on through this wild publishing journey; thank you for sharing your important #ownvoices stories with me, and for always being there as a friend. June Hur, thank you for being one of my very first writer-friends—your words are pure magic, and your hair is gorgeous! Priyanka Taslim, thank you for cheering me on and letting me read your incredible, magical #ownvoices stories in turn. Elinam Agbo, your friendship and endless enthusiasm has meant so much to me—thank you for being one of my first Michigan writer-friends! Ana Franco, you’re always so bright and kind—I love your writing and I couldn’t have done this without you. Aneeqah Naeem, you are one of the most generous writers I know, and I’m lucky to be on this journey with you. Roselle Lim, you are one of my favorite authors, and I’m so honored to be able to call such a kind, talented, and generous author my friend. Shealea I, thank you and so many other online book bloggers for supporting Asian authors—it truly means more than we could ever say. Adam Gaylord, George Jreije, and Jessica Jade Ng, thank you for all your guidance and feedback on this book, which would not have seen shelves without your help.
To my mother and father: thank you for bringing us to this country, for forcing me to go to Chinese school against my protests, and for ensuring that I grew up with rich stories from our culture, including the classic tale Journey to the West, which inspired much of this story. (We had our own journey to the West, and it’s been pretty successful, if I may say so myself.) I’m proud of who we are and where we come from, and I’m proud to be your daughter. To my little sisters, Jessie and Ember: if you’re reading this, you owe me dumplings.
Finally, to you, the reader: Faryn Liu would like to say thank you for giving this book about a Chinese diaspora heroine a chance. And, if you’re reading this during the Lunar New Year, you’d better run. The nián is coming!
BLOOMSBURY CHILDREN’S BOOKS
Bloomsbury Publishing Inc., part of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
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BLOOMSBURY, BLOOMSBURY CHILDREN’S BOOKS, and the Diana logo are trademarks of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
First published in the United States of America in October 2019 by Bloomsbury Children’s Books
Text copyright © 2019 by Katie Zhao
Illustration by Vivienne To
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Zhao, Katie, author.
Title: The dragon warrior / by Katie Zhao.
Description: New York : Bloomsbury, 2019.
Summary: Twelve-year-old Jade Society member Faryn Liu may be destined to command the Jade Emperor’s army of demon-fighting dragons, but first she must complete a daring quest across several Chinatowns before the Lunar New Year.
Identifiers: LCCN 2019004273
ISBN 978-1-5476-0200-1 (hardcover) • ISBN 978-1-5476-0201-8 (e-book)
Subjects: | CYAC: Adventure and adventurers—Fiction. | Demonology—Fiction. | Dragons—Fiction. | Gods, Chinese—Fiction. | Racially mixed people—Fiction. | Chinatown (San Francisco, Calif.)—Fiction. | San Francisco (Calif.)—Fiction.
Classification: LCC PZ7.1.Z513 Dr 2019 | DDC [Fic]—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019004273
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