Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao

6 reviews

kiwii091's review

adventurous emotional funny informative mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, and Death

Minor: Toxic friendship, Xenophobia, and Death of parent

fkshg8465's review

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted tense medium-paced

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

4.25

I’m so excited about this new series and can hardly wait for the sequel. In the meantime, I’ll be buying copies for several of my kiddos. This is a fun book and funny at times, also full of adventure and education too.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Death of parent, Grief, Racism, Toxic friendship, Slavery, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

sophiesmallhands's review against another edition

adventurous funny informative lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Racism, War, Death of parent, Violence, Islamophobia, Toxic friendship, and Colonisation

marleywrites's review

adventurous hopeful informative inspiring mysterious medium-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

5.0

This book was amazing! I learned so much and loved reading about Zach’s adventure. I wish I knew little nerdy middle schoolers to gift this book to. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Racism, and Islamophobia

Moderate: Gun violence and Toxic friendship

Minor: War

purplepenning's review

adventurous emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

A fun, fast-paced, intricate adventure with the vibrance and adrenaline of gaming, the depth and philosophy of traditional mythologies, and the heart and hope of family and friends. I was skeptical of the "Percy Jackson meets Yu-Gi-Oh" billing, but it's pretty fair! I don't think I've had this much fun with a middle grade fantasy since the first Tristan Strong book and Kiki Kalliri Breaks a Kingdom.

Things I loved:
• the sensitive discussion and representation of how ethnically diverse China and the diaspora are (our main character, Zach, is Muslim Chinese American)
• the funny chapter titles and pop culture hooks
• the way Chinese history and legends were explained throughout
• how nothing was forced into a simplistic black-and-white perspective 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Islamophobia

Moderate: Confinement, Grief, Xenophobia, Genocide, Religious bigotry, Bullying, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Suicide, Toxic friendship, and Violence

Minor: Kidnapping, Racism, War, and Xenophobia

Possession/loss of will

faduma's review

adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Violence, Toxic friendship, and War