The Legend...When China's Cangzhen Temple is destroyed 350 years ago, only five young warrior monks survive. Each is named after a different animal--Tiger, Monkey, Snake, Crane, Dragon--for each is the youngest-ever master of that animal's kung fu fighting style. 
 

The five young monks separate and begin teaching not only their formidable martial arts skills, but also their peaceful philosophy of life. It is said that today's martial arts come from the teachings of these five young warrior monks, who must uncover the secrets of their own pasts if they are to become...The Five Ancestors. 
 

The Five Ancestors series is currently published in twelve languages. Audio versions are available in two languages, and Nickelodeon has optioned the film rights. 
 
 

Book Seven: Dragon

It is a race to the Forbidden City. The winner will rule China.

Long, the young dragon kung fu master, has in a single evening become the Grand Champion of the Shanghai Fight Club and the number one enemy of the state. The Emperor has been kidnapped, and to stay alive must comply with Tonglong's wishes. And the four other Cangzhen survivors are working with the bandits to cut off Tonglong's army. 
 

But Ying has disappeared into the mountains. It was his brutal attack on Cangzhen that started this conflict, but he seems to have had a change of heart. Will he assist the Dragon, Tiger, Snake, Crane, and Monkey to set things right, or will he follow the nature of his given name, Saulong--Vengeful Dragon? 
 

Jeff Stone concludes his action-packed series with a rousing tale filled with intrigue and adventure. From the Great Wall to the Forbidden City, the fate of China depends on seven young heroes. 
 
 

About the Author

Jeff Stone grew up in Detroit, Michigan, and currently lives in Carmel. He is married and has two children, a daughter and son. He thinks it's important to 'write what you know.' 
 

Like the main characters in his award-winning Five Ancestors series, Jeff was an orphan. He was adopted as an infant and always had a strong urge to uncover the secrets of his past. He began searching for his birth mother when he turned eighteen, and found her fifteen years later. A year after that, he found his birth father. 
 

Also like his characters, Jeff practices the martial arts. He holds a black belt in Shaolin Do Kung Fu, and often trains in other styles as part of his research for his books. In 2005 he traveled to China with the Shaolin Do grandmaster to take his black belt test inside the legendary Shaolin Temple. Fortunately, he passed. 
 

Jeff has traveled to China on other occasions, most importantly in 1996 for a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony to his wife in her native Hong Kong. (He passed that test, too.) Jeff thinks his English skills are pretty good, but his Chinese still needs a lot of work. 
 

These days, Jeff writes and speaks to kids full-time. It's the longest single job he's ever had.