The Distance of Hope

Although I'm not particularly fond of young adult fantasy, this novel read well and engaged my curiosity. On a quest for sight from the White Bean Lama in Tigristan, Yeshe and two trusted guards embark on a journey and face several challenges enroute to an unknown land several kingdoms away. Not only is Yeshe successful in locating the Lama, he also embraces Lepanna's friendship and welcoming relationship as he recognizes the reason for his diminishing sight and comes to term with his future responsibilities as the ruler of his own kingdom. Adequate imagery and description allow the reader to follow Yeshe on his journey and feel like a traveling companion also facing successes and failures in decision-making. Reading Hite's book is worth the time and energy. It's filled with a recognition that Yeshe's journey is like any other's in the quest for answers through the realization that one must look inward first to make all the difference.