In a society where status comes from how far back one can trace the generations of their family, Sai has only a father who’s a thief. That Sai is apprentice to the famed mapmaker Paiyoon Wongyai is a testament to both her skill and intelligent deception. Sai’s island nation of Mangkon has recently emerged the victor from years of war; now Sai is accompanying Paiyoon Wongyai on a journey to map unknown territories on a ship led by war hero Captain Sangra, the queen’s niece. On board the ship, the captain’s friend Rian befriends Sai, while Sai befriends a young stowaway, Bo, and agrees to help hide him from everyone else. When Rian reveals the queen wants them to search for the Sunderlands, the rumored great southern continent, she asks Sai to help convince Paiyoon to chart a likely course. Paiyoon’s reluctance to do so comes from having seen firsthand what conquerors do to the places they “discover.” And while some sailors are hesitant to make the journey south because of rumors of dragons, most are eager to claim a share of the cash prize being offered for the continent’s discovery. This fantasy features a well-drawn world, engaging characters, and satisfying plot twists with deception, betrayal, friendship, and loyalty all on display. It also illuminates the impact of colonialism on both the human and natural worlds and features a compelling protagonist in Sai, whose relationships with Paiyoon Wongyai and Bo are particularly satisfying elements of this fantasy adventure. (Ages 9-13)

A Newbery Honor Book
A Walter Dean Myers Honor Book for Teen Readers

From Christina Soontornvat, the visionary and versatile author of three Newbery Honor Books, comes a high-seas adventure set in a Thai-inspired fantasy world.

In a fantasy adventure every bit as compelling and confident in its world building as her Newbery Honor Book A Wish in the Dark, Christina Soontornvat explores a young woman’s struggle to unburden herself of the past and chart her own destiny in a world of secrets. As assistant to Mangkon’s most celebrated mapmaker, twelve-year-old Sai plays the part of a well-bred young lady with a glittering future. In reality, her father is a conman—and in a kingdom where the status of one’s ancestors dictates their social position, the truth could ruin her. Sai seizes the chance to join an expedition to chart the southern seas, but she isn’t the only one aboard with secrets. When Sai learns that the ship might be heading for the fabled Sunderlands—a land of dragons, dangers, and riches beyond imagining—she must weigh the cost of her dreams. Vivid, suspenseful, and thought-provoking, this tale of identity and integrity is as beautiful and intricate as the maps of old.