Four stars! A good read. The book was true to the quote on its back cover: " The story reminds me that all human beings are on an individual journey-like me, here on the edge of the Sea of Death." Many parts of the book seemed real, like chapters about a tea ritual and Dante's visit to the Museum of Abnormal Medicine. The writing is uncomplicated and spare, like a fable or parable. I'm recommending it to my friends. There is a lot of wisdom about the life in "The Mystic" TODD SMITH (Santa Barbara, CA)

After reading Paulo Coelho's book, The Alchemist, I was looking for another inspirational book. The Mystic fit the bill. It is an entertaining read taking the reader to intriguing locations in Japan and China with the most unique characters. If you have an interest in Zen and personal spiritual journeys, you will enjoy reading this book! (TONY BLEASDALE, Vancouver, BC, Canada)

The Mystic is a travel adventure about a young man's natural inclination to understand the dynamics of life through his firsthand relationships with sages and contemporaries in the digital world. I particularly enjoyed how the book characterized his "applied mysticism" in the everyday choices he made. This book is food for thought for parents and their children or those who look for relevance in the integrity of their choices. M. WHITE (Boston, MA. May 1, 2008)

An enjoyable read, but even more, the story remains with me each day as I take my own everyday journeys. (PATRICIA HADDAD)

Dante, the protagonist in Howard Eaton's delightful little story, is the perfect avatar for a young reader to engage in a gentle exploration of the wisdom of the East and the awareness of other ways of seeing the world. Dante, a wonderfully sincere and benevolent misfit (he's a high-school drop-out, and a genius computer-game creator), embarks on an adventure/vision-quest to the Far East to find his true calling. He is continually challenged with new and provocative ideas, and manages to learn from each encounter while expanding his sense of himself and his place in the world. He also has a profound influence on each of the people he meets. He's a great character, and the world through his eyes is both humbling and inspiring. The book jacket promises "... danger, crisis, death, poverty, wealth, and love..." but each of these is touched on in age-appropriate ways for the younger reader. As an adult reader, I hope Dante's adventures continue. CRAIG LINCOLN (Los Angeles, CA. May 19, 2008)