The Examination

The Examination, written by Malcolm Bosse, is a gripping adventure novel with two main characters, brothers, with two different ambitions. The story is set in the Ming Dynasty, sometime after the rule of the great emperor of Yangle, but "his successors had grown weak, until now the whole country was again facing disaster"(Bosse 89). Lao Hong, 15, the younger brother, is "born under the sign of the Tiger...People declared that in every respect young Hong was true to his birth sign"(1). Hong is reckless, loyal, hot-tempered, compassionate, and with little respect for authority. Throughout the book, Hong showed all these personalities. Lao Chen, 17, the older brother, was born under the sign of the ox, which made him "patient and stubborn, with a gift for language"(1). His language is very advanced and sophisticated. Chen often uses poetry to try to prove a point in an argument. They live in a poor village in Sichuan. Their mother has died before the book starts, and their father has become a drunk and a gambler. In the beginning, Hong, knowing his family is poor and that order to take Chen to the examinations in order to be a scholar, fights with crickets and wins a match, earning them a sizeable sum of silver. Chen has already placed first in the county examinations, and received the rank "Flowering Talent". Before they set out on their journey, many villagers entrust them with important letters that will prove to be pivotal to the story. The set out for their trip, to Chendu, the provincial capital, knowing well that they may never return to their village. They walk steadily for two weeks, and they meet a man one night during their stay at a barn, who tells them that a famine wiped out his whole family. This exposes to the brothers the horrors of the countryside. While walking one day, they notice locusts, and Chen fears that they might migrate to their village, killing everyone. Hong tries to comfort Chen, but he continues to think about Daiyun, a girl back home. They finally reach Chengdu, and while they were waiting to take the exam, Chen notices that he is young for someone who is taking a provincial exam. Most men have been trying for a long time. They meet a man in his thirties in their lodgings, Shen Ding. Chen goes to the examination compound and takes it with great confidence, even though at first, he feels, in his cell, that he is trapped. He always finishes first with everything written perfect. On the last day, Shen Ding tells Chen to bribe the grader, but out of respect for Confucius and suspicion, Chen does not. Later he learns that all those who bribed were banned permanently. In the meantime, Hong has delivered a letter written by his schoolmaster to Ye Pan, a barber. The barber reveals that he is a member of a secret society called the "White Lotus". That society is trying to restore the Mandate of Heaven that they believe, the Ming emperor has already lost. Hong is both mystified and scared. He however, wants to join it if his

I love reading well researched historical fiction which gives a lot of detail and flavor of daily life. I am impressed by the author's ability to get us inside the minds of characters from another century and another culture (I am not Chinese). I found it fascinating, and have read it twice. It inspired me to read more fiction set in this same time period.

Okay, so I'm only 11. So what? I have a high reading level, and can read about anything. I am also very picky about books, LOL, so this book will hold you attention. Its about two brothers, each with their own personality. One, who is Chen, is a high-classed scholar, and the other, who is Hong, is a spy for a group called the White Lotus. The brothers face many difficulties, such as starvation and river pirates. At the end, Chen goes off and serves China, while Hong continues to be a part of the White Lotus. This book is a page-turner! For those kids in AR (Acelerated Reader), this books' reading level is 7.7 and the points are 17. Belive me, you'll love this book!

Bosse doesn't always say in his book exactly how his characters are feeling. At first, this gives the novel, although entertaining, a slightly historical feel. However, as you travel with the brothers, (I felt like I'd been all over China at the close of the book!), you come to really see inside of them, and the contrasts, similarities, and interaction between the two brothers really pulls you in. You come to care for each of them through the other's eyes, so that when they separate, you know what each of them is feeling-- because you are feeling it yourself. More impressive than Bosse's research were his plot twists and the flow and freshness of the brothers' experiences on their journey. And its reality. The thing I like about this book is that it's not just about a young man taking a test, it's about ambition, it's about pirates and secret societies, it's about love and friendship and loss and fear, missing home and finding home, conflicts of ethics and religion, and uncertainty about the future. Three cheers for Bosse! I hope he keeps writing :)

In the story, the author seemed have researched a lot about Chinese history. China has its own complicated history, but he described Chinese from a particular point of view. fight for survive. It is interesting that how two brothers went through every kinds of defence to find their dream.