After suffering an economic downturn, Mark and his family take on the adventurous opportunity of teaching English as a foreign language on the other side of the world. Banding together with an eclectic mix of teachers from around the globe, they experience the wonders (both good and bad) that China has to offer. With the outbreak of SARS and the quarantines that come with it, a daring escape plan has to be hatched to save their very lives.
There are many things that Mark Bond does very well in China in the Age of SARS. Interesting details about the Chinese culture and economy set a nice foundation for the story. Mark’s description of the various teachers he works with is both humorous and entertaining. And his inclusion of certain events, such as the shocking discovery of the tunnel in the fish market, are remarkably striking. However, this story unfortunately falls apart in a couple of ways also. The progression of the story feels disconnected at times. And aspects of the formatting style, such as a lack of paragraph breaks in conversations, make some parts difficult to read.
Mark Bond provides a first-hand glimpse into a world that many of us will never see in person, but through the pages of this book we can experience it in the safety of our own homes. China in the Age of SARS is overall an immersive read that is both informative and entertaining, and concludes in a tense and exciting finale.
