Coatsworth admirably recreates Buddhist legend and tradition in a nonjudgmental fashion. She neither preaches nor condemns; instead, she leaves it to the reader to formulate his or her own ideas about the religion. The novel explains the spiritual aspects of Buddhism in a fashion which young adult readers can clearly understand, yet with a certain subtlety and charm. As a Western author, Coatsworth avoids cultural stereotypes; instead, she realistically creates a fantasy while at the same time being informative.
Source: Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults, ©1999 Gale Cengage. All Rights Reserved. Full copyright.
(The entire page is 81 words.)
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