Wild Orchid: A Retelling of the Ballad of Mulan

by Cameron Dokey

Book Overview

Once upon a Time Is Timeless

Wielding a sword as deftly as an embroidery needle, Mulan is unlike any other girl in China. When the emperor summons a great army, each family must send a male to fight. Tomboyish Mulan is determined to spare her aging father and bring her family honor, so she disguises herself and answers the call.

But Mulan never expects to find a friend, let alone a soul mate, in the commander of her...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416971688
• ISBN13: 9781416971689
• Release Date: February 2009
• Publisher: Simon Pulse
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.1" x 6.8"
• Age Range: 12 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 12

Customer Reviews

Wild Orchid

Wild Orchid is part of the YA Romance line of books 'Once Upon a Time' from Simon & Schuster. I've been with this series since the very beginning (The Storyteller's Daughter, Cameron Dokey 2002) and so far only two books have let me down in any great way. Wild Orchid holds a special place for me because in 1998 I fell in love the Disney Animation 'Mulan', and while realizing even then that Disney liked to romanticize their movies a great deal, the story itself fascinated me. To be certain I read the english translation of the originator (Ballad of Mulan) and laughed myself silly over the changes. I went into the book with similar expectations as that of the Disney counterpart. Its short, just over 199 pages and the first half is almost exclusively about Mulan's childhood and how she was different from other girls her own age. I got worried when the next quarter of the book dealt with her father returning home and yet there was still no mention of Mulan running off to war. Her actual time in the army was short, couldn't have been over a month (in the ballad she was in the army for 12 years!) and almost immediately she singles herself out for notice. This portion of the book--that of her army exploits and meeting Prince Jian--seemed very rushed and hurried. We meet Jian's two older brothers--Ying the oldest and Guang the second oldest--but very little time is given to either one. We are told that Ying is a subtle thinker and less warrior then scholar. We are told and briefly shown that Guang is a manipulative person, very deep in court intrigues and secrets. I would have liked to see the two more, especially Ying since I didn't understand why his brothers respected him enough to halt their bickering. Then also the romance between Jian and Mulan is quick and almost literally love at first sight for Mulan (then in the guise of Hua Gong-shi). Later when Jian admits he feels as if their hearts beat as one, still believing Mulan is a male foot soldier under his command, I couldn't help but wonder that he didn't seem at all worried by this. Is it so normal then for a commander and foot soldier be so attuned with each other? Over an archery match no less? Still I enjoyed this novel. It wasn't exactly what I wanted as a retelling of of the Ballad, but it at least built up her background much better then I could have hoped for. Incidentally reports vary about Hua Mulan--her origins, when she fought etc. Some report that she was trained in warfare early on in life, as was normal for daughters of ranking military officiers. The book however makes it clear that its considered unladylike. Also some reports say that Mulan told her father outright her plans. So I wonder at what pieces Dokey took from which sources to make up the fabric of the story.

Read it. You'll cry. And peace will rest at your heart.

It was a softly vivid, and quick, lovely read. It touched my heart. It was like a more grown-up bedtime story. It had its thrills and joys and cracks of sadness and laughter. I believe you will enjoy it.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

Mulan's mother died during labor. Her father, a great General in the army, was heartbroken. He's never been home since he heard the news. Thus, Mulan lost both her parents on the same day. Mulan is not your typical girl. Instead, she climbs trees and despises needlework. She meets the boy next door and the two of them form a friendship. He teaches her archery, how to ride a horse, how to use a sword, and, finally, how to read and write. When her father comes home, everything changes. First, she must learn how to trust and obey him. Second, she must learn how to love him and her new stepmother. Just when she's finally found herself a new family, the Huns appear on the horizon of China. The men are called back to war. Mulan, unwilling to let her father go with a bad leg and a new family, disguises herself and takes his place instead. Her first day there, she catches the ears of one of the king's sons. He engages her in an archery contest. From then on, Mulan is famous throughout the camp. With the Huns quickly approaching, all three princes have different ideas on how to defend China. Mulan mistakenly speaks out during a strategizing session. Prince Jian immediately seizes her idea. But will it be enough to save China? This new ONCE UPON A TIME addition weaves together the wonders of ancient China, a budding romance, a feisty girl, and the true meaning of both friendship and family in a fantastic fairy tale edition. Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel

Another Good Addition to the Series

I love the "Once Upon a Time" series, and this was another good addition written by Cameron Dokey. The story seems to go off of the Disney movie a bit, while mixing in a bit of the original Chinese legend and still being its own tale. Again, like in Ms. Dokey's previous works, the characters in the story are varied and realistic. Mulan is not a perfect character, and much of the book spends time explaining how she became the young woman who would join the Chinese army in her father's place. Her childhood is explored, as well as her relationship with her father. I liked how time was spent really getting to know and understand Mulan before she went off to war. The male protagonist, though he shows up about half-way through the book, is done well. He is as three-dimensional as he can get in his page time, and is a very likable character. His relationship with Mulan is more believable because of their encounters and conversations. The story is a bit sadder than previous ones in the series, but then again, it does include a war. Still, the ending is happy and beautiful. Ms. Dokey does a good job of painting a image of Mulan's home and other imagery. I think this is better for the series than the previous book, Belle, for its interpretation is more easily accepted (Beauty and the Beast is hard to write for since so many people have set examples of how the story should be, where Mulan only has the popular Disney movie and not the exact ballad to offer most people). I would recommend this book for those who like the series, or who are willing to read another Cameron Dokey novel similar in quality to some of her previous novels. Easy to read and get through quickly. Good for a lazy afternoon or rainy day.

An enjoyable retelling of the Ballad of Mulan.

Mulan is not like most other girls in ancient China. She has grown up without a mother, and rather than spend her days doing ladylike tasks and dreaming of marriage, she has learned to fight using a sword and bow. Her father is somewhat distant and doesn't like to speak of his late wife, and Mulan often wonders if she is a disappointment to him. When the Emperor forms an army to fight the Huns, every household must send one male to fight. Mulan's aging father has recently remarried, and Mulan remembers well that her own mother died giving birth while her father was away at war. Fearing for her father's safety and not wanting her stepmother to go through what her mother did, Mulan decides to disguise herself as a boy and go in her father's place. She becomes close to Prince Jian, the commander of her unit, but telling him that she is really a girl, and her feelings are deeper than friendship, could lead to disaster. This was an overall enjoyable book from the Once Upon a Time series. I liked that it had a very unusual setting compared to other books in the series, and the story isn't one that has been retold many times. Although this book wasn't among my top favorites, it was a solid, enjoyable read that should appeal to readers who enjoyed other books in this series.