Red Star, Red Tara

Nine-year-old Trizong and his family suddenly find themselves in the heat of an uprising that has exploded around the ancient Tibetan capital city of Lhasa, against the Chinese rulers. The younger generation of Tibetans face an uphill battle as their parents and grandparents lose their land rights to an ever-growing influx of Han population from the outerland. The atmosphere of helplessness and sadness threatens to envelope Trizong. He feels trapped. But Trizong's old friend, a feisty yogi master, Trulzer Tulku, appears in Trizong's dream to guide him. As events unfold, Trizong realizes that he and his people are not as helpless as he first thought. Together with his elder brother, Ogyan, and their neighborhood friends, the children resist the take-over from the Chinese in a way that is at once non-violent and culturally symbolical. Trizong again feels the enchanted strength that once animated this ancient land. Red Star, Red Tara is a weaving together of author Zedar Thomey's emotions for the future of Tibet, her spiritual practice in the Tibetan tradition and actual accounts she has heard from her Tibetan friends. The "Red Tara" in this book is a true living Tibetan nun named Tsering Tsomo who inspired our author. "Zedar Thomey ...has created a charming, colorful book that I am sure young children will find attractive. The story takes place in Tibet, which will make readers in other lands aware of the existence of our country and the challenges our people face with hope in their hearts." - His Holiness the Dalai Lama

About the Author: Zedar Thomey researched on Tibetan philosophy and folklores in the community of Dharamshala from 2001 to 2006. She is a full-time mom, a full-time graduate student in conflict transformation and writes during her limited free time.