Julie Downing

Travel to the dramatic mountaintops of Korea in the early 1800s, where the safety of the entire kingdom relies on a single spark. You will learn how the king watches for signal fires from the distant countryside every night; a burning fire means peace, while a dark mountain means trouble and war. You will meet young Sang-hee, the son of the village firekeeper. When his father suffers a sudden injury, the heavy responsibility of lighting the evening flames falls directly onto Sang-hee's small shoulders. Though he knows how vital the fire is for peace, a part of him desperately wishes to leave the mountain dark just once, so he can finally see the king's majestic soldiers ride into town. Witness the brilliant firelight and deep shadows as Sang-hee wrestles with this incredibly difficult choice. Discover the true meaning of duty and peace in this radiant, beautifully painted historical tale.