The Walled City

About this book

Run Fast. Trust no one. Always carry your knife. These are the three rules of survival in the Walled City.

In this labyrinth, Dai works as a drug runner for Longwai, the most brutal gang lord in the city. In order to win his freedom he needs to find someone who can be invisible, someone he can trust. But he's running out of time.

Jin came to the Walled City to find her sister. She disguises herself as a boy to protect herself from getting thrown in one of the brothels or attacked by a vicious street gang. She'll do anything to find her sister…

Mei Yee is trapped in a brothel and dreams of escape, even as she sees one girl after another try and fail, with devastating consequences. She is about to accept her fate and give up when an unexpected face shows up in her window.   

In a race against the clock, the three characters come together, and attempt to defy insurmountable odds.

Inspired by the infamous Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong, The Walled City is an adrenaline-fuelled adventure. Even when it looks like all hope is lost, the characters show courage, resilience, and ingenuity. The novel is equal parts brutal and beautiful, and Ryan Graudin's unique writing style pulls the reader in and fully immerses them in the world of her characters. The Walled City tells a powerful story about trust, family, and hope.

NB: content suited to a young adult audience only