The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli

Han Yu's story was magical. Luli's was hard to get excited about. The book sat on my nightstand half-read for weeks before I really got into it.

Han Yu: A young boy living in 8th century China has a special connection with animals and, when the rest of his family is quarantined at a monastery for a coughing disease, ventures out on a trade route across China all by himself (with a dog and a camel) to earn money for a cure to save them. 

Favorite part: Some merchants try to steal Han Yu's camel Lotus, but then suddenly stop in fear and gather their belongings and book it. Han Yu has no idea what prompted their sudden departure. Later that night, one of the merchants' camels escapes from them and joins Han Yu. Afraid to be accused of robbery, he asks his new friend Du Fu to return the camel to the merchants but then ask if he can keep it. The merchants reveal to Du Fu that they saw a tiger with Han Yu (who they call Tiger Boy) and say he can keep their camel. 

Luli: A young girl living in Chinatown in NYC during the great depression discovers her parents might lose the mortgage on the restaurant they own and tries to help by quitting school and, eventually, selling steamed buns on the street corner.

Least favorite part: Two art robbers try to kidnap Luli and her friend (it just doesn't make sense in their line of work why kidnapping two kids is going to help them secure the ancient Chinese silk they're after) but they are saved by pigeons ex machina swooping down and attacking them! Because a man from a neighboring building trains pigeons? And apparently can command them to perform a coordinated attack on random art thieves? 

Conclusion: I'm not even sure what they taste like, but I would really like to eat some steamed buns right now.