Rebels of the Heavenly Kingdom — Katherine Paterson

Wang Lee is a young peasant boy, caught up in a secret group dedicated to overthrowing the hated Manchu emperor of China. Wang Lee faces a tough challenge: he must learn to be a soldier and kill for his cause. As the battles rage on, Wang Lee finds himself surrounded by a shifting world -- women who show their strength against all odds, and peasants transforming into a noble army.

With her signature grace, style, and compassion, Paterson has created an epic tale of 19th-century China, full of adventure, insight, and hope.