Defying Times: Stories for Teens and Young Adults

Chapter 13. New Adventures The cafeteria buzzes with the excitement of the last days of school as classmates eagerly swap stories about summer camps, family vacations, and adventures yet to come. But Asher's thoughts are elsewhere. He can't stop thinking about the missing crystal, Marcus's mysterious disappearance, and the unanswered questions that continue to haunt him. As his own par...

Chapter 16. The First Battle The Yellow Turban army has seized Mount Daxing, amassing a force of 50,000 soldiers and spreading fear across the countryside. With seasoned generals nowhere to be found, Liu Bei is appointed commanding general of a small band of determined volunteers. Standing beside his sworn brothers, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, he leads his outnumbered force into their very first battle...

Chapter 12. Ruins of Pompeii During spring break, Asher and his family travel to the snow-covered mountains of Utah, where they reunite with classmates from New York for an unforgettable ski adventure. But the excitement turns to unease when Maximus narrowly avoids a devastating collision with a mysterious skier who vanishes without a trace. Shaken by the incident, Asher begins to wonder if danger...

Chapter 15. Three Pillars of War The three brothers soon realize their growing force is missing three essential foundations. As they secure each pillar of a true army one by one, their journey leads them to the empire's once-great royal bladesmith, who agrees to forge three extraordinary weapons—each meticulously crafted to reflect the unique personality, strengths, and destiny of its bearer....

Chapter 9. Dividend Aristocrats, The Boring Beauties Asher discovers that the greatest advantage an investor can have isn't money—it's time. He learns how compounding works and why the "boring beauties"—consumer staples and Dividend Aristocrats such as Coca-Cola Company, Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, and PepsiCo., etc. that quietly sell everyday products and steadi...

Chapter 11. Disappearance Asher continues his search for the truth behind the stolen diamond at the American Museum of Natural History and the sudden disappearance of Marcus. Hoping his new ally might somehow reappear, he heads to a chess tournament, following nothing more than instinct—and a glimmer of hope. Follow the link below to order print or digital books from Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www....

Chapter 14. The Oath of the Peach Garden As the Han Empire falls into chaos, three strangers—Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei—swear an oath of brotherhood beneath blooming peach trees. Bound by loyalty, honor, and a shared mission to save their country, they begin a legendary journey that will shape the fate of China for generations. Follow the link below to order print or digital books from Amazon...

Chapter 8. Compounding, The Eighth Wonder Asher's cool Uncle Nathan stops by with towering pastrami sandwiches from legendary Katz's Delicatessen, sparking an unexpected conversation: What gives some businesses the power to thrive for more than a century? From iconic New York institutions such as Katz's and Moscot to a forgotten investment account that quietly compounded for decades, A...

Chapter 10. The Paper Plane Too young to have their own phones, Asher and Marcus devise a clever way to communicate between their apartment windows across the courtyard.  But when Asher wakes up to a series of surprise messages waiting outside his window, he discovers that something unexpected happened overnight. Follow the link below to order print or digital books from Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://w...

Chapter 13. The Three Brothers In a time of chaos and rebellion, Liu Bei and Zhang Fei reunite by chance years after their first encounter. Though their lives have taken different paths, both remain troubled by the suffering of the people and the decline of the Han Empire. As shared purpose re-emerges, fate brings them together once more—setting the stage for an oath of brotherhood that will chang...

Chapter 7. The Knicks, SpaceX, and the Art of Pricing the 'Priceless' (Part II) Asher and his friends spend a summer weekend at the Shine family's Long Island beach house, where a conversation about Knicks valuations, SpaceX IPO, and the art of pricing teams and companies turns into a lesson about how stories, brands, and future possibilities create value. Their discussions culminate o...

Chapter 9. The Chase Asher and Marcus join forces and venture out to the New York Historical Society to continue the search together, but danger is closer—and more imminent—than they ever imagined as they discover they are not the only ones in pursuit of the mystery. Follow the link below to order print or digital books from Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Young-Guardians-Circle-Treasure-Hu...

Chapter 12. The Immortal of Hedong As rebellion spreads across the empire, two future legends meet for the first time. Guan Yu, a wandering warrior with a mysterious past, crosses paths with Zhang Fei, a fearless butcher and fighter known for his fiery temper and immense strength. Their unlikely friendship becomes the first step toward one of history's most famous brotherhoods. Discover the me...

Chapter 6. The Knicks, SpaceX, and the Art of Pricing the 'Priceless' (Part I) Fresh off the excitement of a historic Knicks playoff run, Asher discovers that the same question drives both sports fans and investors: What is something really worth? As his parents reminisce about the famous "Priceless" campaign, Asher begins to see that some of the most important things in life der...

Chapter 8. The Alliance As the mystery deepens, news breaks that a rare rough diamond at the American Museum of Natural History has vanished overnight without a trace. As questions swirl and investigators scramble for answers, Asher Shine and Marcus Chen step outside their comfort zones and begin working together to uncover what really happened. Armed with little more than curiosity, determination...

Chapter 11. A Flicker of Hope As the Han Empire slid deeper into decline, the Yellow Turbans ravaged villages while corruption spread through the imperial court. In Luoyang, the powerful Ten Eunuchs tightened their grip on the emperor and the empire alike. As Liu Bei sought a brief respite from the growing turmoil, he unexpectedly encountered someone who had long been forgotten. Inspired by the an...

Chapter 10. A Hero's Resolve Returning from a perilous journey with a priceless gift of tribute tea, Liu Bei expects his mother to be delighted. Instead, her response leaves him stunned. Inspired by the ancient Chinese classic Romance of the Three Kingdoms,  Empire in Flames: The Legend of Three Brothers  stays faithful to the original classic while vividly reimagining the legendary tale for m...

Chapter 5. AI, Robotics,and SpaceX On a weekend escape to a mountain resort in Upstate New York, Asher and his family find themselves talking about some of the biggest ideas shaping the future. After learning that he didn't get into a popular robotics class, Asher wonders whether robotics still matters in the age of AI—and what kinds of human skills are still needed to make the AIxRobotics fut...

Chapter 7. The Dragon Circle At the iconic New York Public Library, Asher encounters a mysterious stranger who reveals the existence of the Dragon Circle—a secret network hidden beneath layers of history, and forgotten clues. Asher must decide whom to trust and what dangers lie ahead. Is he finally getting closer to the truth, or stepping deeper into a centuries-old maze of mysteries that has trap...

Chapter 9. The Fierce Man of Yan Liu Bei and Lady Lotus are relentlessly pursued by the Yellow Turbans when an unexpected figure emerges from the chaos to save them — marking the fateful first meeting of the heroes. Inspired by the ancient Chinese classic Romance of the Three Kingdoms,  Empire in Flames: The Legend of Three Brothers  stays faithful to the original classic while vividly reimagining...

Chapter 4: Keith Haring, Street Musicians, and the Art of Bagels Asher and his older cousin Kai visit the Brant Foundation to see the Keith Haring exhibition and wander through the East Village. They discuss everything from the art and magic of New York bagels to contemporary art, and subway musicians. Along the way, they reflect on why some talents are celebrated while others are overlooked — and...

Chapter 6. A Secret Hidden In the Odyssey This chapter follows Asher to the towering marble lions Patience and Fortitude guarding the entrance of the New York Public Library, where the key to a mysterious object may be hidden. Beneath the shadows of the grand library, Asher searches for the hidden treasure that would uncover much bigger secrets. Follow the link below to order print or digital book...

Chapter 8. Danger Everywhere In this chapter, Liu Bei continues his journey to bring precious tribute tea home to his mother. But the road is far from safe. As storms gather and hidden threats emerge, Liu Bei must rely on courage, quick thinking, wisdom, and determination to protect the priceless gift and survive the dangers ahead. Inspired by the ancient Chinese classic Romance of the Three Kingd...

Chapter 3: Mega Millions and the Business of Selling Hope A curious NYC kid, a young babysitter dreaming a West Village life, and a glowing Mega Millions sign at a bodega spark a surprisingly deep conversation about money, luck, probability, psychology, behavioral economics, FOMO, herd mentality, and the dreams people chase. Learn more about us: mentornyc.org

Chapter 5. The Package A mysterious, ancient-looking package arrives at Asher’s Upper West Side home, carrying a cryptic message unlike anything he’s ever seen. Could this be the moment that pulls him into a hunt far greater than he ever imagined? Or has the hunt already begun? Follow the link below to order print or digital books from Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Young-Guardians-Circle-Trea...