Endgame
The Secret Force 136
- Publisher
- Plumleaf Press
- Initial publish date
- Oct 2023
- Category
- General, War & Military, Military & Wars
-
Hardback
- ISBN
- 9781738898244
- Publish Date
- Oct 2023
- List Price
- $22.95
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Where to buy it
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age: 8 to 13
- Grade: 3 to 8
Description
In Endgame: The Secret Force 136 Alex’s imagination takes him to medieval Chinese battlefields as he learns to play Xiangqi (Chinese chess) with his great-grandfather, Tai Gong. In the months that they spend over the chessboard, Alex comes to understand the important strategies that guided Tai Gong and his decisions as he navigated life as a Chinese Canadian in an anti-Asian era in Canada. In the process, Alex learns about the mysterious Force 136 and the sacrifices its members made to show their loyalty to a country that had utterly disregarded them.
About the authors
Catherine Little's profile page
Sean Huang is an artist and illustrator from Regina, Saskatchewan. His picture books include Molly Misses Nainai and I Am Not a Ghost: The Canadian Pacific Railway.
Excerpt: Endgame: The Secret Force 136 (by (author) Catherine Little; illustrated by Sean Huang)
"Suddenly, I saw the big picture. I understood that Tai Gong and the other men thought joining Force 136 was part of a strategy to build a better life. They were thinking many moves ahead, like good Xiangqi players. They were planning ahead to the endgame."
Editorial Reviews
“Endgame: The Secret Force 136 is a valid and praiseworthy use of Xiangqi. The story and message are deeply touching. This is an important book for all children and for the Chinese community, illuminating a little known chapter of Canadian history.” - Elton Yuen and Bill Brydon, Toronto Xiangqi Association
"Endgame is a captivating children's picture book that skillfully intertwines the remarkable story of Canada's Secret Force 136 with the heartwarming tale of a great-grandfather imparting his knowledge of Xiangqi, the Chinese chess game, to his eager great-grandson, Alex." - Rebekah Qu, Asian Stories Library
"For so long invisible, Endgame: Secret Force 136 brings out of the shadows a brief glimpse of the courageous and selfless contribution of a handful of Canadians who, despite the denial of certain birthrights, stepped forward to defend a thankless country. A young lad and his great grandfather share an afternoon and, through a game, illuminate how we stand on the shoulders of those who came before. The text and the artwork weave together well to tell this important story." - Elvin Wingay, nephew of Force 136 Veteran Edward Chow
"Endgame is a captivating blend of art, history, and literature that beautifully illuminates the remarkable story of Force 136 - a relatively unknown but crucial part of Canada's History." - Steven Hu, Documentary Filmmaker (136: Canada’s Forgotten Soldiers), Canadian Forces Veteran
