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kallbri's review against another edition
4.0
Another class read. So popular with 6th graders, several read the book on their own and tried to spoil the ending. Use the glossary at the end to help with Hmong word pronunciation.
tiffani_reads's review
4.0
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book
Let me start of this review by saying that the formatting for the ARC that I received of this book was absolutely awful and made this book so difficult to read but none the less I persevered and absolutely adored this book and it's characters.
Pahua is such a wonderful character, she is determined and fierce but flawed and humble all at the same time. She knows that she does not know everything, and the way that she learns about her own culture throughout the book and subsequently the reader learns along with her is amazing. I will admit that going into this book, I knew absolutely nothing about the Hmong people and their culture and I would like to thank the author for writing this book that has given me a chance to read and learn about them in the most delightful and fascinating way. I sincerely hope that this becomes a series because I want to read more about Pahua, her family, shamans, and her culture.
Let me start of this review by saying that the formatting for the ARC that I received of this book was absolutely awful and made this book so difficult to read but none the less I persevered and absolutely adored this book and it's characters.
Pahua is such a wonderful character, she is determined and fierce but flawed and humble all at the same time. She knows that she does not know everything, and the way that she learns about her own culture throughout the book and subsequently the reader learns along with her is amazing. I will admit that going into this book, I knew absolutely nothing about the Hmong people and their culture and I would like to thank the author for writing this book that has given me a chance to read and learn about them in the most delightful and fascinating way. I sincerely hope that this becomes a series because I want to read more about Pahua, her family, shamans, and her culture.
caitlin_bookchats's review against another edition
The library recalled this audiobook before I finished
phyrre's review
5.0
You can read my full review on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Den, here.
Many thanks to Rick Riordan Presents and Rockstar Book Tours for a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Overview
I’m back with yet another Rick Riordan Presents books! I utterly could not wait for this one (though I say that a lot when it comes to RRP). Pahua was a bit more special, though, because I’ve previously read Lori M. Lee’s Forest of Souls, which I absolutely loved. So of course I was eager to check out her middle grade!
Pahua and the Soul Stealer is a foray into the world of Hmong mythology, featuring diverse characters, strong females, sibling bonds, and an utterly irresistible (and gloriously sarcastic) cat demon sidekick.
And if that doesn’t convince you to read it, I don’t know what will. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ If you don’t do it for the adventure or the mythology or the hecka interesting Hmong stories, do it for the cat demon, okay?That is literally probably the only time you’ll ever hear someone say that. Unless your life is as . . . interesting . . . as mine . . . and then probably not.
I went in not quite knowing what to expect but trusting Lori M. Lee to just work her magic, and she did! This is easily one of my favorite Rick Riordan Presents series now, right up there with Tristan Strong.
My Thoughts
- Prepare yourself for a world filled with Hmong mythology and legends, curtesy of the latest Rick Riordan Presents by Lori M. Lee. If you haven’t read Lee’s other work, you obviously should. If you have, you sort of know what to expect when it comes to her fabulous world-building skills and the way she pulls readers straight into her books. I was utterly hooked from page one and immediately knew I was going to have a good time with this one.
Hmong mythology isn’t something I’m particularly familiar with. I’ll admit that I had to lean on the glossary here a lot also, because Hmong words aren’t even close to spelled phonetically. I thought Gaelic was bad when it came to just shoving sounds into random letter combinations, but then Hmong said, “Hold my naab vaam.” Lee does a fantastic job of trying to translate the sounds of a tonal language (please do look this up, because it’s fascinating) into something young readers can imitate, and I absolutely loved learning more about this language and culture!
Also, Hmong is a culture filled with stories, and Lee really brings that to life. All sorts of stories and myths are shared throughout the book, and I really enjoyed the emphasis on storytelling.
- Pahua is such a fun protagonist, because she’s obviously special (I mean, she can see spirits that others can’t!), but she’s also very much an outsider 11-year-old who lives in her own head a little too much. And if that’s not the most relatable thing ever, I’m not sure what is, okay? Pahua is the quintessential reluctant hero because not only does she not particularly want to be nor think of herself as a hero, she’s also not very good at being a hero. Not that she doesn’t have her strengths, of course, as do we all. However, she’s a teeeeensy bit hopeless. In an adorable way. She means well, though, and that’s what really matters.
- Did I mention that there’s also an incredibly sarcastic, very funny cat demon sidekick that mostly only Pahua can see? Boy does this cat snark, as any cat should. Miv takes the whole idea of an animal sidekick and kicks it up a notch. If you’ve read and loved Nevernight by Jay Kristoff, Miv very much reminds me of a cleaner, less violent, more wholesome version of Mr. Kindly. Which is high praise, considering how much I utterly adore that cat.
Miv isn’t without his secrets, of course. Needless to say, he’s an enigmatic entity that has, for some reason, attached itself to Pahua from a young age and follows her on her adventures. Why would an ancient, immortal being do that? Well, who’s to say for sure, really? Cats are curious creatures.
- Pahua’s adventure takes her (and the reader) to the Spirit Realm—an afterlife that is probably nothing like you ever imagined, and inhabited by all sorts of characters—some good, some bad, and some just larger than life. I love the Spirit Realm. I said it. It’s dangerous and sexy and filled with elephants (you’ll get it when you read the book, because elephants are spirit guardians, but honestly, who wouldn’t want an afterlife filled with elephants?!). There are also quite a few interesting characters that Pahua and her friends meet along the way. Not all are particularly nice, but they do tend to crack me up, which I loved! In their own ways, of course.
- Also, because I just couldn’t choose from all the fantastic quotes in this book (I have so many flags in it for quotes that narrowing it down to just these took some effort), I decided to leave you with just one more quote from our favorite cat demon sidekick. You know, because Miv is really the only “adult” that gets to go on this adventure, and I feel like he speaks for a lot of the adults that may also be reading this book. Really, he says what we’re all thinking. Bless him for that.
Many thanks to Rick Riordan Presents and Rockstar Book Tours for a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Overview
I’m back with yet another Rick Riordan Presents books! I utterly could not wait for this one (though I say that a lot when it comes to RRP). Pahua was a bit more special, though, because I’ve previously read Lori M. Lee’s Forest of Souls, which I absolutely loved. So of course I was eager to check out her middle grade!
Pahua and the Soul Stealer is a foray into the world of Hmong mythology, featuring diverse characters, strong females, sibling bonds, and an utterly irresistible (and gloriously sarcastic) cat demon sidekick.
And if that doesn’t convince you to read it, I don’t know what will. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ If you don’t do it for the adventure or the mythology or the hecka interesting Hmong stories, do it for the cat demon, okay?
I went in not quite knowing what to expect but trusting Lori M. Lee to just work her magic, and she did! This is easily one of my favorite Rick Riordan Presents series now, right up there with Tristan Strong.
My Thoughts
- Prepare yourself for a world filled with Hmong mythology and legends, curtesy of the latest Rick Riordan Presents by Lori M. Lee. If you haven’t read Lee’s other work, you obviously should. If you have, you sort of know what to expect when it comes to her fabulous world-building skills and the way she pulls readers straight into her books. I was utterly hooked from page one and immediately knew I was going to have a good time with this one.
Hmong mythology isn’t something I’m particularly familiar with. I’ll admit that I had to lean on the glossary here a lot also, because Hmong words aren’t even close to spelled phonetically. I thought Gaelic was bad when it came to just shoving sounds into random letter combinations, but then Hmong said, “Hold my naab vaam.” Lee does a fantastic job of trying to translate the sounds of a tonal language (please do look this up, because it’s fascinating) into something young readers can imitate, and I absolutely loved learning more about this language and culture!
Also, Hmong is a culture filled with stories, and Lee really brings that to life. All sorts of stories and myths are shared throughout the book, and I really enjoyed the emphasis on storytelling.
- Pahua is such a fun protagonist, because she’s obviously special (I mean, she can see spirits that others can’t!), but she’s also very much an outsider 11-year-old who lives in her own head a little too much. And if that’s not the most relatable thing ever, I’m not sure what is, okay? Pahua is the quintessential reluctant hero because not only does she not particularly want to be nor think of herself as a hero, she’s also not very good at being a hero. Not that she doesn’t have her strengths, of course, as do we all. However, she’s a teeeeensy bit hopeless. In an adorable way. She means well, though, and that’s what really matters.
- Did I mention that there’s also an incredibly sarcastic, very funny cat demon sidekick that mostly only Pahua can see? Boy does this cat snark, as any cat should. Miv takes the whole idea of an animal sidekick and kicks it up a notch. If you’ve read and loved Nevernight by Jay Kristoff, Miv very much reminds me of a cleaner, less violent, more wholesome version of Mr. Kindly. Which is high praise, considering how much I utterly adore that cat.
Miv isn’t without his secrets, of course. Needless to say, he’s an enigmatic entity that has, for some reason, attached itself to Pahua from a young age and follows her on her adventures. Why would an ancient, immortal being do that? Well, who’s to say for sure, really? Cats are curious creatures.
- Pahua’s adventure takes her (and the reader) to the Spirit Realm—an afterlife that is probably nothing like you ever imagined, and inhabited by all sorts of characters—some good, some bad, and some just larger than life. I love the Spirit Realm. I said it. It’s dangerous and sexy and filled with elephants (you’ll get it when you read the book, because elephants are spirit guardians, but honestly, who wouldn’t want an afterlife filled with elephants?!). There are also quite a few interesting characters that Pahua and her friends meet along the way. Not all are particularly nice, but they do tend to crack me up, which I loved! In their own ways, of course.
- Also, because I just couldn’t choose from all the fantastic quotes in this book (I have so many flags in it for quotes that narrowing it down to just these took some effort), I decided to leave you with just one more quote from our favorite cat demon sidekick. You know, because Miv is really the only “adult” that gets to go on this adventure, and I feel like he speaks for a lot of the adults that may also be reading this book. Really, he says what we’re all thinking. Bless him for that.
booksandpops4000's review
4.0
* I got this book for review from the publisher*
I really loved learning more about the Mong culture. I also really loved how this book was an adventure that focused on the brother and sisters realtionships. I also thought this was super fun and fast pace read, I also like that is story focsued on two girls trying frantically to save the world. I also loved all the various creatures we meet in this read. This book was erriee and creepy but not horror. It had so many classics "rirodan" moments. Will def be checking out more books with this characters!
I really loved learning more about the Mong culture. I also really loved how this book was an adventure that focused on the brother and sisters realtionships. I also thought this was super fun and fast pace read, I also like that is story focsued on two girls trying frantically to save the world. I also loved all the various creatures we meet in this read. This book was erriee and creepy but not horror. It had so many classics "rirodan" moments. Will def be checking out more books with this characters!
antoinettepowb's review
4.0
What an adventure! I enjoyed reading about Pahua and her cat, Miv's, journey to save her brother's spirit from an angry bridge spirit. I think the development of Pahua and Zhong's needed friendship, even if it is out of necessity, is well done and shows the vulnerability about letting someone else get to know you at their age. I was intrigued my the idea of the them being shamans in training and learning the responsibility that comes along with being one. This adventure includes, love of family, discovering identity, and determination. I believe any middle school student will enjoy learning about he Hmong culture and mythology through Pahua's experiences.
gpapp's review
5.0
In a rich field of adventure stories, this is a standout! Twelve year old Pahua is used to being a misfit, since she's been able to see spirits all her life. When she accidentally releases a spirit who then steals her brother's soul, she has to call on gifts she didn't know she had in order to save him. This book allows a girl who is used to being invisible shine.
mekeisha's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sreddous's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Overall, this is a super interesting fantasy story! The stakes are constantly high, and all of the different monsters and spirits are so interesting in different ways. The way Pahua and Zhong both learn how to re-examine their problem-solving approaches is SO satisfying, and while I personally wish they were less mean to each other a litttttttle sooner in the story, it's still realistic how they grow to work together more.
I LOVE the way this ends. Without spoiling too much, it's WONDERFUL to see how all the different lessons Pahua learns about strength come together in her decisions regarding the Bridge Spirit in the end. It's beautiful, and well-built-up, and very very satisfying. I'm definitely cheering for Pahua to keep growing as a shaman!!
There are a few little things that IMO stop this from being a total masterpiece. The pop-culture references got a bit much for me -- there's quite a few times where if you aren't familiar with things like Star Wars or Sailor Moon, the narration and dialogue won't make any sense. But that's just my personal preference, that I am annoyed by pop culture references.
Also, while I think the monsters are super interesting and the descriptions of scenery are nice, the plot is just maybe a tiny bit slow for my taste. Overall this isn't MUCH of a problem, as the lessons Pahua learns about bravery and solving problems in her own way feel earned and feel well-built-up-to, so on that note I'm glad the pacing isn't TOO fast. It needs to be a little slow. But there's a slightly weird balance here -- sometimes things are REALLY fast and it feels info-dump-y and rant-y how we get some information, and then the pendulum swings the other way and sometimes it feels like we go back-and-forth a bit too often in the spiritual realm. So maybe things could have been condensed juuuust a tiny bit to keep everything more focused.
But those are pretty nitpicky opinions. Overall this is well-developed and detail-oriented, and is a super cool lens into myths and stories from a culture that doesn't get a ton of 'screentime' in media in the USA. I'm super excited to read more from this series!
I LOVE the way this ends. Without spoiling too much, it's WONDERFUL to see how all the different lessons Pahua learns about strength come together in her decisions regarding the Bridge Spirit in the end. It's beautiful, and well-built-up, and very very satisfying. I'm definitely cheering for Pahua to keep growing as a shaman!!
There are a few little things that IMO stop this from being a total masterpiece. The pop-culture references got a bit much for me -- there's quite a few times where if you aren't familiar with things like Star Wars or Sailor Moon, the narration and dialogue won't make any sense. But that's just my personal preference, that I am annoyed by pop culture references.
Also, while I think the monsters are super interesting and the descriptions of scenery are nice, the plot is just maybe a tiny bit slow for my taste. Overall this isn't MUCH of a problem, as the lessons Pahua learns about bravery and solving problems in her own way feel earned and feel well-built-up-to, so on that note I'm glad the pacing isn't TOO fast. It needs to be a little slow. But there's a slightly weird balance here -- sometimes things are REALLY fast and it feels info-dump-y and rant-y how we get some information, and then the pendulum swings the other way and sometimes it feels like we go back-and-forth a bit too often in the spiritual realm. So maybe things could have been condensed juuuust a tiny bit to keep everything more focused.
But those are pretty nitpicky opinions. Overall this is well-developed and detail-oriented, and is a super cool lens into myths and stories from a culture that doesn't get a ton of 'screentime' in media in the USA. I'm super excited to read more from this series!