Author: F. C. Lee
Publication: Amulet Books (August 8, 2017)
Description: The struggle to get into a top-tier college consumes sixteen-year-old Genie’s every waking thought. But when she discovers she’s a celestial spirit who’s powerful enough to bash through the gates of heaven with her fists, her perfectionist existence is shattered.
Enter Quentin, a transfer student from China whose tone-deaf assertiveness beguiles Genie to the brink of madness. Quentin nurtures Genie’s outrageous transformation—sometimes gently, sometimes aggressively—as her sleepy suburb in the Bay Area comes under siege from hell-spawn.
This epic YA debut draws from Chinese folklore, features a larger-than-life heroine, and perfectly balances the realities of Genie’s grounded high school life with the absurd supernatural world she finds herself commanding.
My Thoughts: This epic fantasy draws heavily from Chinese mythology for its heroes and villains. Genie Lo is a very ambitious high school sophomore who is determined to leave her sleepy California town for the rarefied airs of a top-notch college. However, Quentin Sun arrives and throws a real monkey wrench into her plans.
In fact, he tells her that he is Sun Wukong the Monkey King and that she is his famous weapon reincarnated as a mostly-human girl. He runs into a slight problem when he learns that she has never heard of him. Chinese mythology not being on the SAT or a requirement for the college of her choice. He also has a problem because she doesn't want to be a demon fighter which will interfere with her studying.
Soon though, Genie and Quentin are fighting demons and interacting with the Chinese pantheon while trying to keep Genie's friends and family safe.
This was an entertaining story with a heroine who doesn't want to be one and a really annoying Sun Wukong who does manage to grow on Genie through the course of the story. The dialog between Genie and Quentin was crisp and humorous. The story was fast-paced. The information about Chinese mythology well-integrated into the plot.
Favorite Quote:
"It doesn't matter whether you're 'adjusting'," he said. "Pull this crap again, and we're gonna have a talk with the faculty."I received this one for review from the publisher. You can buy your copy here.
With the last word firmly in hand, he exited stage left, continuing his journey onward to wherever it is heroic hot guys go during Sixth Period.
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