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A review by queer_bookwyrm
Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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? No
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: fantasy violence, religious persecution, anti-Asian sentiments, suicide mention, bullying
Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor is book one in the first middle grade series by Xiran Jay Zhao. I originally started this book as a before bed read with my youngest, but since she's not around much, I figured I would finish alone, because I was enjoying it so much!
We follow Zachary Ying, a Uyghur Muslim immigrant living in Maine with his mom. Zack is a shy kid who gets bullied a lot for being Chinese, when suddenly while wearing his Mythrealm glasses, a spirit tries to possess, fails and possesses his VR headset instead. Turns out Zach is related to one of the most notorious Chinese historical figures: Qin Shi Huang. Zack now has water powers and must find a way to save his mother's soul that was stolen by another spirit. He is accompanied by his teen idol who, is possessed by Emperor Tang Taizong; and a pop star possessed by Wu Zetian, the first and only female emperor of China.
This book was actually a hilarious wild ride! Zhao admits they just wrote their 12 year old self into anime they wished had ended better 😂. This book is great if you love video games, anime, pop culture references, and lots of Chinese history. As an American who never learned anything about China in school, it was fascinating learning about Chinese history and their influence on China's myths and legends. I also love that Zhao always makes the villain the main character, we get some lovely middle grade morally gray action.
The lessons my kid took away when we were reading together was to not point out when someone looks different than you, to believe in yourself and not give up before even trying, and to stand up to bullies. An additional lesson is that there is no such thing as Good VS. Evil in real life. Everyone has done wrong, but they can also do good. We also get the beginnings of Zack questioning his sexuality, and might be explored more in later books. This is a wonderful middle grade read, and I look forward to the rest of the series!
Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor is book one in the first middle grade series by Xiran Jay Zhao. I originally started this book as a before bed read with my youngest, but since she's not around much, I figured I would finish alone, because I was enjoying it so much!
We follow Zachary Ying, a Uyghur Muslim immigrant living in Maine with his mom. Zack is a shy kid who gets bullied a lot for being Chinese, when suddenly while wearing his Mythrealm glasses, a spirit tries to possess, fails and possesses his VR headset instead. Turns out Zach is related to one of the most notorious Chinese historical figures: Qin Shi Huang. Zack now has water powers and must find a way to save his mother's soul that was stolen by another spirit. He is accompanied by his teen idol who, is possessed by Emperor Tang Taizong; and a pop star possessed by Wu Zetian, the first and only female emperor of China.
This book was actually a hilarious wild ride! Zhao admits they just wrote their 12 year old self into anime they wished had ended better 😂. This book is great if you love video games, anime, pop culture references, and lots of Chinese history. As an American who never learned anything about China in school, it was fascinating learning about Chinese history and their influence on China's myths and legends. I also love that Zhao always makes the villain the main character, we get some lovely middle grade morally gray action.
The lessons my kid took away when we were reading together was to not point out when someone looks different than you, to believe in yourself and not give up before even trying, and to stand up to bullies. An additional lesson is that there is no such thing as Good VS. Evil in real life. Everyone has done wrong, but they can also do good. We also get the beginnings of Zack questioning his sexuality, and might be explored more in later books. This is a wonderful middle grade read, and I look forward to the rest of the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Racism, Violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide and Death