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Chaos in China
by Cora Taylor
Regina: Coteau Books
for Kids, 2009, ISBN 978-1-55050-404-0, 156 pp., $8.95 paper. (Juvenile
Fiction)
Chaos in China is the third book by Alberta author Cora Taylor in her Spy Who Wasn't There series. The previous books related adventures of the Arnold twins, Jennifer and Maggie, and their friend Sam. The three get to travel to various exotic places with the girls' grandmother, Mrs. Arnold, known as "Grand." (The children's mother agrees to all these trips because the twins convince her they are educational and will help Jennifer improve her social studies mark.)The first book was Adventure in Istanbul, the second Murder in Mexico, and in both the children live through mystery, excitement and danger including spies, double agents, attempted kidnappings, gun smuggling and murder. Their success in these adventures is mostly due to the fact that Jennifer has discovered a way to make herself temporarily invisible. Grand also has special skills--she knows karate and can handle a gun--and there are hints that perhaps she is a secret agent.
In the newest book the intrepid travellers--the twins are now "nearly fifteen"--are in China, along with Sam's grandfather, Dr. Martell, an archaeologist. He has been invited to observe at the famous site where thousands of terracotta statues of soldiers, sealed up in the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang since 210 BC, are being excavated. Chaos in China begins with the young travellers and Grand exploring this area, but it isn't long before mystery and danger appear again. This time the plot centres on a mysterious black box which may contain a valuable anti-virus vaccine or possibly a deadly serum.
Young readers from about aged ten will enjoy this new adventure, including Jennifer's magical ability, which has to be handled carefully and can cause problems, sometimes humorous and sometimes dangerous. The twins are quite different--Jennifer is adventurous while Maggie is studious and organized--and there is sisterly conflict and rivalry, with Sam sometimes caught in the middle. Readers will also be intrigued by historical details, as well as features of present-day China. The author's skilful use of cliff-hangers at the end of chapters will keep readers speeding along.
The story is told from three points of view--those of the two girls and Sam--which makes for short chapters when a viewpoint switch is needed, but generally works well. Jennifer, with her mysterious invisibility skill, tends to become the main heroine, though the other two and Grand all contribute. (As an adult, I found Grand's willingness to take the young people into dangerous situations and then allow them to do things on their own rather surprising at times.)
Chaos in China can stand alone, as necessary information is carefully worked in, but there are frequent references to the group's previous adventures. Young readers might therefore prefer to read them in order, especially Book 1, where Jennifer's magic ability is discovered and explained in more detail. The story's conclusion hints at further travels for the foursome, so readers will be watching to see where the next adventure takes them.
Donna Gamache is the author of Spruce Woods Adventure (Compascore Manitoba) as well as many short stories for both children and adults.
Buy this book at McNally-Robinson Booksellers.