The Blue Dragon: A Tale of Recent Adventure in China

"The Blue Dragon: A Tale of Recent Adventure in China" by Kirk Munroe is a story set in the early 1900s about a young Chinese boy named Joseph Lee who travels to America for school but is met with unkindness from kids as soon as he gets there. The book is about dealing with being different, figuring out who you are, and learning to fit in, during a time of change. When Jo comes to a factory town called Hatton, some boys make fun of him and even hurt him because he is Chinese. The book shows clearly what happened on his first day, and makes you feel bad for Jo and want someone to help him. Rob Hinckley, whose dad is the leader of the church, is one of the first to stand up for Jo, leading to a fight between the boys. This sets the stage for exploring what it really means to be a friend, to be loyal, and the difficulties that many newcomers face when they come to a new country, highlighting how America changes Jo.