The Hunt Is On (Seekers of the Aweto 1)
Two brothers, one who can command insects with the tap of his drum and another who can affix wings and fly like an insect himself, are crossing the Gobi Desert in search of a magical plant, the aweto. This plant, which grows on the top of an earth deity and is rumored to contain the soul of the deity, could enrich their poor family and possibly grant eternal life.
In the desert, near the ancient Silk Road, the brothers and their mother find a strange oasis. A community there protects its earth deity, which is about to have a child—just as the aweto seekers arrive. The result is a pitched battle with painful (and bloody) consequences, and the beginning of a strange journey for our two brothers and the angry princess on their tails.
The watercolor illustrations in this young adult graphic novel are stunning, with bright colors glowing between Jun’s energetic lines. This is the first of four books, and perhaps appropriately, it ends on a heart-rending cliff-hanger. Young readers might be confused or distressed by the violence, but teens and adults will revel in this gorgeous book with a heart of gold.
