Guest Post by Dori Jones Yang (Daughter of Xanadu & Son of Venice author)

Why Read Historical Fiction Not Set in Europe or America?

Last year, I attended the Historical Novel Society conference in San Diego. Sounds fun, doesn’t it? It was! I met a lot of characters, both on the page and at the dinner table. After the keynote speech on Saturday evening, we had a costume pageant. About twenty authors dressed up as their characters and walked across the stage as an announcer explained the costume. Velvet. Brocade. Taffeta. Lace. Embroidery. Ruffles. Scooping necklines. You can imagine how gorgeous some of the costumes were!

Then came my turn. I was dressed as Emmajin, fictional granddaughter of Khubilai Khan, a Mongolian princess from the 13th century. I wore a stunning blue del with an orange sash, complete with a Mongolian lady’s hat, with pearls hanging down the sides. Emmajin is the protagonist of Daughter of Xanadu, my YA historical novel set in China at the time of Marco Polo and Khubilai Khan. Its sequel, Son of Venice, came out this month, June 2012.

Fortunately, I didn’t take myself too seriously. I pretended to shoot an arrow into the audience, and I had them all laughing with me. After the ruffles and taffeta, my outfit looked pretty ridiculous.
Clearly, I was out of place. Almost all the other books took place in England, France, or North America. When you hear “historical novel,” that’s what you expect, right? Lush costumes, poufy sleeves, jeweled crowns, sweeping skirts. After all, our U.S. heritage is mostly from Europe.

But YA readers don’t see the world that way. Today’s young adults are growing up in a multicultural society and a global world. In school, they learn about Japan and India, the Apaches and the Incas. They read books set in Nigeria and Vietnam and China. Their classmates and neighbors may be from Iran or Israel or Venezuela.

So for a young adult reader, it’s not at all strange to read a novel about a Mongolian princess, an archer who wants to fight for the Mongol Army and have her Latin love interest, too. When I visit schools, students are fascinated to see pictures of nomadic yurts and hear about drinking fermented mare’s milk. They love mugging as they try on Mongolian hats for men and ladies. A few even have classmates from Mongolia.

Why read historical fiction set in an unfamiliar country? Why not? The best historical fiction lets us explore the long-ago and the far-away. The farther away the setting is from my own life, the more it fascinates me—and the more I learn.

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Son of Venice is the sequel to Daughter of Xanadu (Read my review!). This novel continues the story of Marco Polo and Emmajin, granddaughter of Khubilai Khan, after the Great Khan sends her on a voyage to the West. 

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What participants are saying!

Looking for a good read? Check out what the YA Historical Fiction Challenge's  participants are saying about these 2011 books!

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

"Between Shades of Gray is one of the most heartbreaking yet still uplifting stories I have ever read, and I thank Sepetys for sharing this story with all of us." -Consumed by Books

"...Powerful, haunting, and yet ultimately beautiful, hopeful, and worth every tear you may shed over it." -Frenetic Reader

"Sepetys is an absolutely amazing writer... Between Shades of Gray is a must read." -The Story Siren

"I recommend Between Shades of Gray to anyone who has read Anne Frank's diary and felt something for her." -Icey Books

The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell

"A beautiful, rich, Victorian era story that is both haunting and romantic." Mundie Moms

"This is a book for all the people who don't think they like historical reads. Mitchell's craft makes you forget everything except the characters and the plot." -Reading Lark

"Amazing, vibrant, and touching, this is what great books are made of." -Logan E. Turner

"Mitchell perfectly combines young adult historical fiction with a unique and engaging paranormal element and a realistic and believable romance." -Diary of a Book Addict

Daughter of Xanadu by Dori Jones Yang

"With its gripping combat scenes, subtle romance, and tangible, full-bodied descriptions of court and military life in Yuan Dynasty China, Daughter of Xanadu will appeal to the international adventurer in all of us." -Reading the Past

"Daughter of Xanadu bypassed every single expectation I had for it, and it was absolutely amazing! I got addicted to the story, and didn't want to put it down." -The Book Cellar

"Daughter of Xanadu is a fascinating historical novel full of history, romance, and adventure." -Rebecca's Book Blog

Daughter of Xanadu - Dori Jones Yang

Young Adult
Pages: 352
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: January 11, 2011

Athletic and strong willed, Princess Emmajin's determined to do what no woman has done before: become a warrior in the army of her grandfather, the Great Khan Khubilai. In the Mongol world the only way to achieve respect is to show bravery and win glory on the battlefield. The last thing she wants is the distraction of the foreigner Marco Polo, who challenges her beliefs in the gardens of Xanadu. Marco has no skills in the "manly arts" of the Mongols: horse racing, archery, and wrestling. Still, he charms the Khan with his wit and story-telling. Emmajin sees a different Marco as they travel across 13th-century China, hunting 'dragons' and fighting elephant-back warriors. Now she faces a different battle as she struggles with her attraction towards Marco and her incredible goal of winning fame as a soldier.

This is kind of embarrassing to say but I decided I would because many of you might have the same perception.
I flatter myself saying I love historical Fiction, I mean, I even made a challenge just to force myself to read more of it. So, duh. I can even tell you which ones are my favorite historical periods. Uh-huh. Yeah.
Truth is, I totally avoided some periods. I looked at this title, saw the cover, and flinched because I know next to nothing about the Mongol Empire and I had never read about it. It didn't even sound appealing to me, at all. To some I might be ignorant and stupid here, to those of you: you are wise. Now problem is, and this might sound cliched--because it is-- that you cant say you don't like something unless you try it. Boy, what a huge lesson. In my mid-twenties, you'd think I would've learned it by now. Nope.
BUT. I got it for review. Ah, well. What the heck. Start reading. Wait. I cant stop reading. This stuff is awesome! Oh, Marco Polo! [insert swoon] [insert sigh] you are hot, hot, HOT. I WANT TO FREAKING TIME TRAVEL NOW. I want to go back live in that time! I want to read more, know more.
It's High Fantasy that... really happened. Who knew?
Lesson learned.

Daughter of Xanadu was enchanting and brilliant. I now have a vivid image of the Mongol Empire and find myself curious and in awe of what the world was like then. Dori Jones Yang brilliantly brings ancient past to life with this charming tale about embracing our differences and seeking peace. As gripping and thrilling as any epic fantasy story, Daughter of Xanadu gives teens the chance to learn history in the most entertaining way possible.

I absolutely LOVED this story! The Characters were incredibly well done, the plot was an absolute page-turner and the cover was fitting and GREEN! (Sorry, I have a green obsession!) But seriously--warriors, dragons, yummy boy, fierce heroine, royalty, heart-pumping romance, battles with elephants... What else can I ask for? This is my first historical MUST READ of 2011.

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Interview with Dori Jones Yang (Daughter of Xanadu)

What made you write about Mongol Empire?
Dori:  I’m enchanted by ‘long ago and far away.’ I wanted to write about Marco Polo, and I discovered that, in his day, China was part of the Mongol Empire. I love learning about exotic lands and cultures and finding out about people and places I know nothing about. Most of us think of the Mongols as ‘barbarians,’ yet Marco Polo admired them. I wondered why.

What fascinates you the most about this part of History?
Dori:  The 13th century was the moment in history when East met West. Under the Mongols, for the first time, West Europeans could travel safely all the way to the Far East and back. Because I spent eight years in China, I knew how different Chinese people and customs looked to my eyes. What might it have been like, the first time Chinese people saw a European?

Reading Daughter of Xanadu I saw that much of the lessons and messages from the book still apply today. Do you think the world has learned from history?
Dori:  In my lifetime so far, I’ve seen that we don’t learn enough from history. Our main problem is the ‘us vs. them’ mentality. We need to reach out and realize that foreigners may look and speak differently, but they have hopes and dreams and relationships, just as we do.

What would you tell readers (like myself) who are skeptical of ancient history to encourage them to read Daughter of Xanadu?
Dori:  I love reading books by authors who create whole worlds to explore, including the Harry Potter and Hunger Games series. That’s what great historical fiction can be: like fantasy. It’s fascinating to think how someone like you might have dealt with familiar dilemmas: family expectations vs. personal ambitions vs. desires of the heart.


Do you think Marco Polo and Khubilai Khan were in reality, similar to how they are portrayed in the book?
Dori:  It’s hard to know for sure. All we know about Marco Polo is from what he wrote in his own book, and he tells surprisingly little of his personal story. What we do know is that he pleased the Khan with his ability to tell stories, so I assume he was witty, charming, and entertaining. Khubilai Khan was known as Khubilai The Wise because, although he waged war, he listened to smart advisers and focused on ruling wisely. As I showed in the novel, his wife Chabi urged him to show mercy.

Why did you decide to write this story for Young Adults?
Dori:  Young adulthood is a time of life when we make important decisions, about love, life, ambition, action – and how we will be different from what our parents envisioned. Young adults are more open to other countries and cultures, because today our societies are more multicultural and our connections more global. The category of Young Adult books is expanding rapidly, open to fresh ideas and approaches. This is the cutting-edge category for books today!

Thank you so much for the interview, Dori! And for writing this wonderful book! 

Author website

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