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Text and interior illustrations © 2024 Union Square & Co., LLC

Cover illustrations © 2024 Karl James Mountford

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ISBN 978-1-4549-5096-7

ISBN 978-1-4549-5097-4(e-book)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Sheih, Anita, author. | Wu, Cheng’en, approximately 1500-approximately 1582. Xi you ji.

Title: Monkey king / retold from the Wu Cheng’en original by Anita Sheih.

Description: New York : Union Square Kids, [2024] | Series: Classic starts | Summary: “A retelling of the classic Chinese novel, Journey to the West, where the Monkey King embarks on a grand quest to deliver Buddhist scriptures”—Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2023014063 | ISBN 9781454950967 (hardcover)

Subjects: CYAC: Monkeys—Fiction. | Monsters—Fiction. | Quests (Expeditions)—Fiction. | China—Fiction.

Classification: LCC PZ7.1.S5116 Mo 2024 | DDC [Fic]—dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2023014063

For information about custom editions, special sales, and premium purchases, please contact specialsales@unionsquareandco.com.

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Interior illustrations by MUTI

Interior design by Liam Donnelly

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

About the Book

List of Characters

PART I: THE ORIGIN

CHAPTER 1

The Birth of the Monkey King

CHAPTER 2

Monkey’s Quest for Immortality

CHAPTER 3

Monkey’s Training Continues

CHAPTER 4

Monkey Visits the Dragon King

CHAPTER 5

Monkey Goes to Heaven

CHAPTER 6

The Battle Wages On

CHAPTER 7

A Deal with the Buddha

PART II: THE JOURNEY

CHAPTER 8

The Buddha’s Mission

CHAPTER 9

The Scripture Pilgrim

CHAPTER 10

Monkey’s New Crown

CHAPTER 11

The Group Expands

CHAPTER 12

One More Disciple

CHAPTER 13

A Daunting Disagreement

CHAPTER 14

A Troubling Encounter

CHAPTER 15

A Blundering Attempt

CHAPTER 16

Monkey’s Grand Return

CHAPTER 17

The Turtle’s One Question

CHAPTER 18

The Three Impossible Challenges

PART III: THE END OF THE ROAD

CHAPTER 19

Meeting with the Buddha

CHAPTER 20

The Final Ordeal

What Do You Think?