Secret Of the Dragon Mark

“That’s a lie!” Jenny gasped, outraged. “You started the fire! And you left Mr. Mguyen inside to burn!”
Hue ignored her outburst. His hooded gaze traveled across the crowd of Vietnamese. “You have only to ask my neighbors here! they will tell you how we came to help!” There was a shuffling of feet and flickering sideways glances, but no one contradicted Hue’s statement.

“He’s so conceited!” Jenny whispered indignantly to her twin. “He’s so sure no one’s brave enough to tell the truth about it.
”Maybe he’s right!” Justin whispered back soberly.

Book: Secret of the Dragon Mark (The Parker Twins Series, Book 5) by Jeanette Windle, Multnomah Publishers, 1996

Genre: Adventure, Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Boys and Girls 12-18

Subjects: Missions, Fear, Gospel, Showing Love

Summary: In Jenny and Justin’s mind the only mystery of the Dragon Tong is why it is still a mystery! It is obvious who is behind the mask and finding proof for the police that masked men are robbing and threatening Vietemese businesses shouldn’t be hard. Yet for some reason, their new friend, Danny’s, Grandfather gets very upset at the very idea of calling the police! The more time the twins spend with the Vietemes man the more confused they get. It’s not just police that upset him. He’s also furious at the mention of missionaries. They need to figure out what is going on before someone loses a life due to the Dragon Tong!

Notes:  This is the second in the Parker Twins Mysteries series. It starts off as an innocent realistic fiction story about some kids facing a bully in middle school but quickly delves deeper into understanding a culture that has faced extreme trials and suffering. The Vietemese man they get to know has watched the Viet Cong kill his son and daughter-in-law for refusing to renounce their faith. Due to these experiences, the man is filled with hatred and anger towards Christians and a distrust of police. Now the Dragon Ton are using these things to bully and intimidate business owners into silence. There are a couple of spiritual elements in this story. The first is the twins’ attempts to understand Mr. Mguyen and show God’s love to him. When they are confused at his anger towards them, they pray that he will change his mind. They have a good discussion with their dad about why Danny’s parents died for their faith – labeling their martyrs and discussing Romans 8:28. And when in danger they pray for help.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 4/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Matthew 10:28-29 – Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.