Dragonkeeper

Eleven-year-old Ping, the protagonist of the novel, is a round character who develops significantly as she embarks upon a classic coming-of-age journey. She is a young girl who is initially enslaved at the palace of Huangling; at first, she does not even know her own name, but Danzi reads her necklace and reveals her name to her even as he embarks with her on an epic journey toward greater freedom for them both. Even at her most inexperienced, Ping is determined, capable, and caring, but she is also crippled by self-doubt and insecurity due to her life of abuse and enslavement. With Danzi’s encouragement (which often takes the form of forcing her to undertake new tasks despite her doubts), she eventually gains the confidence to make challenging decisions and choosing paths that put her into conflict with others for the sake of the greater good.

Much of Ping’s character is informed by the trauma of her life at Yuangling. Her mistreatment throughout her childhood makes her believe that abuse is comfortable and familiar, and this mindset traps her in a cycle from which only her own kindness to Danzi can free her.