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A review by illstoptheworldandreadwithyou
Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit by Jesse Q. Sutanto
4.0
Set in San Francisco, California, at a time when money can buy magic, flying cars, and flying shoes, Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit asks what does it cost to have those luxuries.
First generation Chinese-American Theo has spent his childhood eschewing as many aspects of his Chinese culture as possible, but when tragedy strikes his family, Theo and–formerly his brother’s, now his–companion fox spirit Kai are thrust into a quest that will delve into aspects of their culture, identity, and ancestry and will raise questions about what actions are ethical and moral.
The book was a bit slow-going for me at first as I came up-to-speed with Theo’s world, but once I hit the point where he and Kai are accepted into the Know Your Roots program at Reapling in Mountain View (Silicon Valley), things took off.
I enjoyed watching the bond grow between Theo and Kai, the struggles they undertook together, and their friendship with Namita. I liked seeing Theo find his courage and his inner magic (qì) The story is a nice mix of heavier themes and humor. This would be a good book for parents and elementary schoolers to read together.
Told in the alternating points-of-view of 12-year-old Theo and snarky, shape-changing Kai, Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit takes you on an adventure vacillating between an America run on commoditized magic and the Chinese spirit worlds of other realms. You even visit the gates of hell.
Content warnings: death of a sibling, violence, greed, depictions of demons, versions of hell
I received an advance ebook copy from Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
First generation Chinese-American Theo has spent his childhood eschewing as many aspects of his Chinese culture as possible, but when tragedy strikes his family, Theo and–formerly his brother’s, now his–companion fox spirit Kai are thrust into a quest that will delve into aspects of their culture, identity, and ancestry and will raise questions about what actions are ethical and moral.
The book was a bit slow-going for me at first as I came up-to-speed with Theo’s world, but once I hit the point where he and Kai are accepted into the Know Your Roots program at Reapling in Mountain View (Silicon Valley), things took off.
I enjoyed watching the bond grow between Theo and Kai, the struggles they undertook together, and their friendship with Namita. I liked seeing Theo find his courage and his inner magic (qì) The story is a nice mix of heavier themes and humor. This would be a good book for parents and elementary schoolers to read together.
Told in the alternating points-of-view of 12-year-old Theo and snarky, shape-changing Kai, Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit takes you on an adventure vacillating between an America run on commoditized magic and the Chinese spirit worlds of other realms. You even visit the gates of hell.
Content warnings: death of a sibling, violence, greed, depictions of demons, versions of hell
I received an advance ebook copy from Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.