July 1, 2006
Third in Stone's series about five young kung-fu monks in ancient China, [cf2]Snake[cf1] focuses on twelve-year-old Seh, who, following the destruction of the Cangzhen temple, searches for his "siblings" and tries to uncover the plot against them. Bandits, secret monks, and Seh's own mysterious, untrustworthy mother also appear. Anachronistic dialogue and overly complex plotting weaken an otherwise high-spirited, action-packed adventure.
(Copyright 2006 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)