The nine moons of Han Yu and Luli

Two tweens living in different timelines embark on parallel journeys to save their families in this absorbing magical adventure by Yan Glaser (the Vanderbeekers series). In 731 Chang'An, China, Han Yu sells steamed buns at the market with his father. At home, Han Yu's affinity with animals is overshadowed by the accomplishments of his remarkable sibling, which span various trades and academic fields. In 1931, Luli Lee sells similar goods at her family's restaurant in New York City's Chinatown, and spends her free time joyfully indulging in her artistic passions and engaging with her community. When medical and financial circumstances, stemming from each timeline's respective historical events, jeopardize their families' livelihood, Han Yu and Luli must each embark on a journey to secure their loved ones' futures. As Han Yu treks to reunite with his family, who are quarantined with a mysterious lung disease, Luli seeks to save her parents' business from foreclosure following Black Thursday. Polished prose renders the characters' treacherous quests, throughout which the protagonists encounter both wayward strangers and lifelong friends. Each well-researched timeline offers digestible accounts of the events addressed while quaint b&w pencil sketches ground the bustling plot, making for an endearing tribute to bravery and friendship. An author's note and bibliography conclude. Ages 8--12. Agent: Ginger Clark, Ginger Clark Literary. (Sept.)

Make space on your shelf for this delectable, suspenseful adventure spanning more than a thousand years. Eleven-year-old Luli Lee lives in 1930s New York City, in the tightly knit Chinatown neighborhood. Her family hopes to own their building, a seemingly unachievable goal during the Depression. As their dim sum restaurant and other businesses suffer, Luli looks for ways to support her family. Han Yu, also eleven years old, lives in eighth-century China. Despite his unusual gift with animals, including an elusive, protective tiger, he has not found his purpose. He helps his father make and sell steamed buns at a local market; when his family members fall ill, he begins a dangerous trek along the Silk Roads to acquire medicine and funds to help out. Sharing a curious yet intrepid spirit, Luli and Han Yu seek to support their families through difficult times in their own ways. Their stories weave together clues about an unusual silk artifact that bears traces of a mysterious poem that could result in a change of fortune for both families. Glaser infuses each unforgettable story line with immersive sensory details, situating the reader on the dusty trails of Han Yu's trek or surrounded by Manhattan pushcart vendors calling out their delicacies for sale; interspersed black-and-white vignettes further provide a sense of time and place. Perfect for readers looking for historical fiction with both mystery and self-discovery. An author's note offers background about the Silk Roads; a bibliography is also appended. J. Elizabeth MillsNovember/December 2025 p.68 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A boy in China in 731 C.E. and a girl in New York in 1931 face separate hardships and adventures but are connected by common threads. Eleven-year-old Han Yu lives a simple life in Chang'An. He's seen as unusual because of the various animals that are drawn to him--even a tiger, which has earned him the nickname "Tiger Boy." But Han Yu enjoys ordinary activities, like making steamed buns to sell with his father at the busy market. Eleven-year-old Luli Lee has a modest and happy Depression-era existence in New York City's Chinatown. She's been helping her immigrant parents run their restaurant in the building they're saving up to buy. But disaster strikes both children's lives: Members of Han Yu's family contract a mysterious, deadly respiratory illness, and Luli's family business and home are at risk of foreclosure. Both young people summon their courage, creativity, and determination as they go on adventures to help their families. As two exciting parallel stories of family, friendship, and community unfold, they bravely confront a variety of challenges, supported by loyal animal companions. While their storylines are distinct, they're connected through cultural elements that reverberate through their historical eras. The alternating third-person chapters following Han Yu's and Luli's story arcs are strongly paced and highly suspenseful. Detailed descriptions make this a vibrant love letter to Chinese culture, food, history, poetry, and art. Final art not seen. Thrilling, heartwarming adventures highlight commonalities that span centuries. (maps, author's note, bibliography)(Historical fiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.