When the Sea Turned to Silver is a captivating story set in ancient China. Pinmei is a gentle young girl living with Amah, her aging grandmother. Amah is known throughout China as the great Storyteller. One devastating night, the emperor’s soldiers kidnap Amah, leaving Pinmei all alone.
The only thing that will convince the emperor to release Amah is the Luminous Stone That Lights the Night. Pinmei and her friend Yishan embark on a journey across China to find the Luminous Stone, and their aid comes from an unlikely source -- Amah’s stories.
In young Pinmei’s quiet village, her wise grandmother, Amah, is famed for her wonderful stories. Eager listeners are enthralled by Amah’s steady voice and rare ability to bring the rich myths of their Ancient China to life. Stories provide a way to forget about the worrying lack of food and the suspicious new emperor, who raids villages for workers to build an enormous wall around the kingdom. But no story can distract from the sudden abduction of Amah by the emperor himself!