Deep in the Mountains: An Encounter with Zhu Qizhan

I have been waiting for another publication by Mr. Cheng since I read his first book, Sons of Heaven. His style of writing is so wonderful and captivating. The reader feels as if they truly get to know the characters upon completing his books!! This particular novel was such a fast read-- I could NOT put it down. Despite having nothing in common with Tony, I felt as if I could relate to him on some level. I think that this novel is appropriate for all age groups from teen to adult, and should be included as part of a school curriculum. The story takes him from his unfulfilled, and troubled, life in the Bronx, to a completely enriched coming of age in China. It was an enjoyable and profound journey for Tony, as well as for me! I can't wait for another masterpiece by Terrence Cheng-- he has quickly become one of my favorite authors.

Once I picked up this book, I couldn't put it down. The main character pulled me in immediately. I loved the way the author combined the two worlds - the Bronx graffiti art world and the old world Chinese art of the great Zhu Qizhan. Both worlds - though completely different - were portrayed so accurately. From the sights, the sounds and the smells I really felt as if I had taken the journey with the main character. It's a great read for all ages.

An amazingly well written book that depicts a young chinese teen's struggle to find his identity in America and express himself as an artist. Early in the book we feel Tony's pain as he is rejected and abused by the social elite in his school. Graffiti art is Tony's sole outlet and the author does a masterful job of portraying the history, techniques and scope of the grafiti art world. Tony struggles with his desire to be a good son and this rebellious art form that he has grown to love. Plus graffiti may be the only path this young man has to gaining peer acceptance and friends. After an explosion of frustration, the type of frustration we can all identify with from our own teenage years, Tony is sent to work for his Uncle in China. Through a well crafted storyline, Tony meets the master painter Zhu Qizhan and learns about his culture's hsitory and art. Zhu Qizahn's character is so deftly written and intimately detailed that it is at times hard to remember this is a fictionalized account of this important artist. The author succeeds in weaving together a story of the growth of a young boy's mind, body, spirit and art, with the history and works of a master painter and the last 100 years of chinese history. He then presents it to us like a 4 course gourmet meal that you wish would never end. I highly recommend this book.

I was instantly drawn in by Tony's story and his struggles with his parents and other classic teen issues. The fact that he is into graffiti (he lives in the Bronx) is very cool, and graffiti culture is brought to life in the early section. The writing throughout is vivid and tight and I could genuinely feel Tony's world, and his pain. The plot moves quickly, but never feels too thin, so it's almost like a page-turner, but not in a cheap or bad way. When Tony goes to Shanghai the cast of characters continue to be strong and believable and Tony's intensifying problems become even more engaging. Shanghai is also graphically depicted, makes you feel like you're there. And when Zhu Qizhan enters the picture, his character and his words are filled with imagination and a pure artistic spirit. Master Zhu's life story as a slice of Chinese history is extremely moving, and inspiring. I also learned a lot about Chinese art and painting, which is described in an engaging and informative way, and never feels stiff or boring. I think this book would be great for junior high kids because it it relatable on all levels: characters, plot, and style. But it's a good solid book for any reader because it is done so well on so many levels.

I really enjoyed this book. Although I started reading it to find out about the artist, I was quickly caught up in the story of a boy finding himself in a land and a culture so unlike his native NY .The main character pulled me into the story right away. I felt his desire for making art as well as his desperation for his situation in school and in his own body. I appreciated the details of how the graffiti art was created as well as how to work with a Chinese brush, and enjoyed learning about Chinese culture and history through the stories of Zhu Qixhan. I will definitely be adding this to my art room library.