Takes readers on a tour of wacky and folkloric methods that humans have used to try prolonging their lives, from ancient immortality elixirs and quests for a fountain of youth to modern-day research into cryogenics and robotics.

When a Jake is offered a chance to race in China for a world class BMX team he is not sure that he wants to go--but when one of his friends asks him to smuggle a mysterious drug called Dragonbone that can prolong life to her dying mother in China he feels he has to take the trip, whatever the danger.