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)