Book overview
Bodhi Dharma's life is running at full volume. Between joining a new band, training in Kung Fu, learning the Lion Dance, and preparing for a Dragon Boat Festival performance in front of thousands, he's juggling more commitments than he ever imagined. Every part of his world demands something different: discipline, rhythm, and heart. And he's not sure he can keep up with it all.
But Bodhi's world isn't just noise and notes. It's also tradition. His mother reminds him that every drumbeat in the Lion Dance echoes the heartbeat of generations, that every bow in Kung Fu carries a story older than words. And somewhere between the roar of cymbals and the hum of his guitar strings, Bodhi begins to hear it: the rhythm of his Chinese heritage blending with the music he loves.
Then there's Riley, fearless, funny, and just as music-obsessed as Bodhi. Together, they discover the magic that happens when blues meets rock, when ancient traditions meet modern sound, and when friendship becomes the harmony that keeps everything in tune.
As the festival approaches, Bodhi's balancing act begins to crack. Between rehearsals, forms, sparring matches, and guitar strings, he learns that rhythm isn't just something you play. It's something you live. Every mistake becomes a lesson, every chord a chance to start again.
At its core, Bodhi Gets the Blues is a journey through musical and cultural heritage. It explores how American blues gave rise to rock and roll, and how those same themes of struggle, hope, and soul connect to the spirit of Chinese music, movement, and story. Featuring real blues legends such as Robert Johnson, B.B. King, and Muddy Waters, the story bridges continents and generations, showing how music carries memory forward, one riff at a time.
From garage jam sessions to the pounding drums of the Lion Dance parade, Bodhi Gets the Blues celebrates culture, courage, and connection. It is a book about finding balance between East and West, old and new, family and self. It reminds us that sometimes the loudest music comes from the quiet truth of who you are.
Fast, funny, and full of heart, Bodhi Gets the Blues will resonate with anyone who has ever turned the volume up, chased a dream, or tried to find their rhythm in the noise.
