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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
tense
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
Obsessed!!! I bought this on release day after being absolutely enthralled with iron widow. It didn't yank my heart in different directions like the aforementioned did, but I still loved everything about it. Honestly, it was hilarious and while it's a middle grade book it had a lot of throw backs in it that I could appreciate. The Chinese history and mythology woven throughout it was introduced and explained in a way that felt organic to me, and there was a ton of action packed into this book. I also loved watching Zach grow, and I can't wait for the next one. (There's a next one right? There better be with that ending.)
5/5
** Thank you so much to Net Galley and Simon & Schuster Canada for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. **
WOW!!
This was so action-packed I was on the edge of my seat for like, half the book!
Zachary Ying was a fantastic hero who was so relatable to many. Zachary is a Uyghur boy who was forced to flee China with his Mom when he was very young, and whose Dad was killed by the government for speaking out against the genocide. He and his Mom moved from New York City to Maine at the start of the book, and so Zachary now has to deal with losing his community and sense of belonging because he is one of only a handful of Asian kids at his school.
I loved pretty much everything about this book. It was billed as 'Percy Jackson meets Yu-Gi-Oh', and even though I haven't finished Percy Jackson yet, it DELIVERED. There was action, high stakes, amazing lore, fantastical creatures, magic -- YOU NAME IT!
I loved how prevalent Ancient Chinese history was in this book, and how many different characters we, the readers, got to meet. Being a white, Canadian girl, I am one of maaaaaany who never learnt about Chinese history in school, so it was a lot of fun and super interesting for me to learn alongside Zachary.
Not only is this book a delight and would appeal to so many middle grade readers for the adventure aspects alone, this book also touches on several serious topics such as racism, genocide, religion and religious freedom, good vs. evil/right vs. wrong, JUST to name a few.
I especially loved reading about the author's inspiration/hopes for this book:
"Being Chinese has become so painfully political... Yet on another hand, there’s the necessity of demystifying and defending Chinese culture to combat anti-Chinese racism. Many diaspora like myself are caught in the crosshairs, struggling to find the balance. But what I firmly believe is that traditional Chinese culture and history don't belong to the Chinese government. It belongs to the Chinese people, both native and diaspora... Through Zack’s journey in this book, I wanted to engage with the complexities of Chinese identity, especially as a minority and diaspora, but I also want to have fun."
In my opnion, Xiran Jay Zhao met their goals and THEN some! I can't wait to read the next book and I am so happy that this book exists in the world for children to enjoy and learn from. What are you waiting for? Pick up your copy now!!!
** Thank you so much to Net Galley and Simon & Schuster Canada for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. **
WOW!!
This was so action-packed I was on the edge of my seat for like, half the book!
Zachary Ying was a fantastic hero who was so relatable to many. Zachary is a Uyghur boy who was forced to flee China with his Mom when he was very young, and whose Dad was killed by the government for speaking out against the genocide. He and his Mom moved from New York City to Maine at the start of the book, and so Zachary now has to deal with losing his community and sense of belonging because he is one of only a handful of Asian kids at his school.
I loved pretty much everything about this book. It was billed as 'Percy Jackson meets Yu-Gi-Oh', and even though I haven't finished Percy Jackson yet, it DELIVERED. There was action, high stakes, amazing lore, fantastical creatures, magic -- YOU NAME IT!
I loved how prevalent Ancient Chinese history was in this book, and how many different characters we, the readers, got to meet. Being a white, Canadian girl, I am one of maaaaaany who never learnt about Chinese history in school, so it was a lot of fun and super interesting for me to learn alongside Zachary.
Not only is this book a delight and would appeal to so many middle grade readers for the adventure aspects alone, this book also touches on several serious topics such as racism, genocide, religion and religious freedom, good vs. evil/right vs. wrong, JUST to name a few.
I especially loved reading about the author's inspiration/hopes for this book:
"Being Chinese has become so painfully political... Yet on another hand, there’s the necessity of demystifying and defending Chinese culture to combat anti-Chinese racism. Many diaspora like myself are caught in the crosshairs, struggling to find the balance. But what I firmly believe is that traditional Chinese culture and history don't belong to the Chinese government. It belongs to the Chinese people, both native and diaspora... Through Zack’s journey in this book, I wanted to engage with the complexities of Chinese identity, especially as a minority and diaspora, but I also want to have fun."
In my opnion, Xiran Jay Zhao met their goals and THEN some! I can't wait to read the next book and I am so happy that this book exists in the world for children to enjoy and learn from. What are you waiting for? Pick up your copy now!!!
adventurous
funny
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Extremely fast paced with lots packed in, great cultural and historical connections.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
truly exceptional writing. transcends YA with beautifully written characters.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, War
adventurous
challenging
funny
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
“Qin Shihuang
Real Name: Ying Zheng
Glorious unifier of China. Built the Great Wall, commissioned the Terra-Cotta Army, standardized Chinese writing and measuring systems, invented the “Huangdi” emperor title that all you losers used for the next 2133 years…
DIDN’T KNOW MERCURY WAS POISONOUS, SO STOP ASKING HIM ABOUT IT.”😂
This also makes Zachary Ying his direct descendant, as it turns out, and an unwilling host when Qin Shihuang tries to take over his body to save the world.
The ex-emperor ends up possessing Zachary’s AR headset instead — sending us on a highly imaginative augmented reality-Chinese legend-spirit world adventure that could only come from Xiran Jay Zhao.
Zhao, who goes by they/them pronouns, is a singularly unique Chinese-Canadian author who has combined their deep knowledge of Chinese history and culture and translated this through a diaspora lens.
There’s nothing like it. Reviewers have described it as Percy Jackson-esque (but Chinese legend) or like Japanese manga Yu-Gi-Oh! I’d actually just class this on it’s own: read this, if you’re game for a unconventional journey through China’s ancient history with the cheekiest references.
Zachary, hapless at first, annoys Qin Shihuang because he knows other “A-list conquerors” like Alex, Ramses, Genghis… but not him 👻 but he soon shows his steel when things don’t quite add up to what he’s been led to believe.
This might get a little complex, so I’d say it’s for the more adventurous young reader, and DEFINITELY for fans of @xiranjayzhao (check out their IG or YouTube!)
📚: @times.reads
Real Name: Ying Zheng
Glorious unifier of China. Built the Great Wall, commissioned the Terra-Cotta Army, standardized Chinese writing and measuring systems, invented the “Huangdi” emperor title that all you losers used for the next 2133 years…
DIDN’T KNOW MERCURY WAS POISONOUS, SO STOP ASKING HIM ABOUT IT.”😂
This also makes Zachary Ying his direct descendant, as it turns out, and an unwilling host when Qin Shihuang tries to take over his body to save the world.
The ex-emperor ends up possessing Zachary’s AR headset instead — sending us on a highly imaginative augmented reality-Chinese legend-spirit world adventure that could only come from Xiran Jay Zhao.
Zhao, who goes by they/them pronouns, is a singularly unique Chinese-Canadian author who has combined their deep knowledge of Chinese history and culture and translated this through a diaspora lens.
There’s nothing like it. Reviewers have described it as Percy Jackson-esque (but Chinese legend) or like Japanese manga Yu-Gi-Oh! I’d actually just class this on it’s own: read this, if you’re game for a unconventional journey through China’s ancient history with the cheekiest references.
Zachary, hapless at first, annoys Qin Shihuang because he knows other “A-list conquerors” like Alex, Ramses, Genghis… but not him 👻 but he soon shows his steel when things don’t quite add up to what he’s been led to believe.
This might get a little complex, so I’d say it’s for the more adventurous young reader, and DEFINITELY for fans of @xiranjayzhao (check out their IG or YouTube!)
📚: @times.reads
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes