Reviews

Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind by Misa Sugiura

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cayeman's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

fountain_ken's review

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3.0

[3-3.5 stars] it started really well. But then, I felt like I couldn't connect to any of the side characters, and Momo was A Lot. Speaking of a lot, the author did so much! I wish some places/characters could have been explored more and the main trio's feelings, too. It's still good, and this is to be taken with a grain of salt because I'm wayyyy out of the age demographic. I am sorta curious about the sequel, though. (Also, why did the epilogue male me think about 90s Power Rangers?) ((Also, also, some of the things said about gender had me ?????))

kansas_b's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

lossanna's review

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fast-paced

Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

katjacatbeans's review against another edition

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adventurous tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I really liked the exploration of Japanese gods & goddesses. The lot is focused on an unbalanced mother-daughter relationship, which was kind of tough for me, and then the friendship between Momo & Danny. I very much appreciate that there's no attempt at romance between them!

nicolemhewitt's review

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5.0

This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction

A middle grade fantasy steeped in Japanese folklore that explores the boundaries of friendship. Momo stopped believing in her mother’s fairy tales long ago, once she realized not everyone saw the spirit world the way she did. And sure enough, once she stopped “imagining” fantastical things around her, they went away. Fast forward years later, and Momo is suddenly confronted with a talking fox and attacked by a death hag straight out of her mother’s stories. Turns out Momo has to–you guessed it–save the world. The book is fast-paced and full of adventure. What separates this one from similar stories is Momo’s companion–her ex-best-friend-turned-bully. Momo hasn’t wanted anything to do with Danny since he became one of the jerky popular kids. And she’s not at all sure she wants his help now, but for better or worse, he can see the death hag when it attacks and enter the spirit world, so she’s stuck with him. I liked the way the book explored the demise of their friendship and the social pressures to fit in. Race and culture are explored since Danny is an Asian boy adopted by a white family and is encouraged to pursue things that will help him assimilate with his classmates instead of standing out. The book delves into these issues without demonizing any of the characters, which is a tough balance. In the end, the book will get kids thinking about what makes a bully and how social pressures can make you do things you might not otherwise do. There are no perfect characters in this book (and that includes Momo), which mirrors the real world. Overall, I’d say this is a great start to a new series!

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley so I could provide an honest review. No compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***