High-flying action

Wow!  I had a hard time putting down The Kite Rider by Geraldine McCaughrean.  The story is set in 13th-century China. Haoyou is twelve years old, and his father just died.  Trying to earn money to help his widowed mother, Haoyou becomes a kite rider in the traveling Jade Circus.  That means Haoyou is actually strapped to a kite and flown waaaaay high in the sky, which is frightening, dangerous, and exciting, all at once.  Haoyou has mixed emotions when finding out he'll be performing for the Mongol conqueror Kublai Khan, and he's shocked to learn the secret of The Great Miao, the circus master, and how it involves the Khan himself.  The characters are great - you'll love Haoyou's cousin Mipeng and despise his great-uncle Bo - and the sense of adventure, energy, loyalty, betrayal, and friendship will keep you fascinated.