Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"It’s refreshing to see the Chinese pantheon steal some of the literary attention lavished on the Greek, Roman, and Nordic gods, and Yee handily gets Western readers up to speed on requisite backstories and proclivities."
School Library Journal
**STARRED REVIEW**
"Genie's perspective on the strange turn her life has taken will have readers laughing out loud...Hilarious and action-packed, this fantastically executed tale of the Monkey King in modern-day California introduces a great new character in Genie Lo."
VOYA
**STARRED REVIEW**
"Yee builds a world filled with characters that carry the page-turning plot... presented in a distinctive way, combined with Yee’s vivid action scenes that take place in a familiar setting, will send readers searching for more tales about Sun Wukong."
Kirkus Reviews
**STARRED REVIEW**
"A tough, self-disciplined Chinese-American teen deals with the supernatural derailing of her college-prep activities in this speculative fiction novel that draws on the folklore of the Chinese Monkey King... An exciting, engaging, and humorous debut that will appeal widely, this wraps up neatly enough but leaves an opening for further installments—here's hoping."
Publishers Weekly
**STARRED REVIEW**
"In this dazzlingly fun debut, Yee mixes humor, Chinese folklore, and action to deliver a rousing, irreverent adventure packed with sharp-edged banter."
From the Publisher
**STARRED REVIEW**
"In this dazzlingly fun debut, Yee mixes humor, Chinese folklore, and action to deliver a rousing, irreverent adventure packed with sharp-edged banter."—Publishers Weekly
**STARRED REVIEW**
"A tough, self-disciplined Chinese-American teen deals with the supernatural derailing of her college-prep activities in this speculative fiction novel that draws on the folklore of the Chinese Monkey King... An exciting, engaging, and humorous debut that will appeal widely, this wraps up neatly enough but leaves an opening for further installments—here's hoping."—Kirkus Reviews
**STARRED REVIEW**
"Genie's perspective on the strange turn her life has taken will have readers laughing out loud...Hilarious and action-packed, this fantastically executed tale of the Monkey King in modern-day California introduces a great new character in Genie Lo."—School Library Journal
**STARRED REVIEW**
"Yee builds a world filled with characters that carry the page-turning plot... presented in a distinctive way, combined with Yee’s vivid action scenes that take place in a familiar setting, will send readers searching for more tales about Sun Wukong."—VOYA
International Literacy Association
"Fast-paced action is offset with moments of introspection as Genie is forced to decide what matters most. Ultimately, Genie epitomizes the type of kick-ass heroine promised by the book’s cover—one who uses her wits and brawn in her battles."
Chicago Tribune
"Genie is a unique and uniquely funny heroine, a trove of biting cultural commentary, insight on life as an Asian-American teen, and compelling interpretations of ancient Eastern legends."
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2017-07-02
A tough, self-disciplined Chinese-American teen deals with the supernatural derailing of her college-prep activities in this speculative fiction novel that draws on the folklore of the Chinese Monkey King. In a dry, wickedly funny, first-person voice, overachiever Genie Lo easily brings readers into her corner as she puzzles with irritation over the behavior of gorgeous, goofy Quentin, newly arrived from China, who presents himself as a new student at her school and seems to think he knows her. As his story—and subsequently hers—reveals itself, it will surprise no one that the two have an extensive history together, though her actual relationship to him is a clever and fascinating detail. Genie gradually warms to him in a true-to-type romantic comedy that is filled with witty banter and valiant attempts by Genie to resist their attraction. Genie's poignantly rendered immediate family history and incisive observations about her mostly Asian classmates and community balance the plentiful action in the battles she and Quentin undertake against a plethora of ferocious, eerily described yaoguai. Readers unfamiliar with the story of the Monkey King are easily brought up to speed early on, and the contemporary setting provides plenty of comedic juxtaposition. An exciting, engaging, and humorous debut that will appeal widely, this wraps up neatly enough but leaves an opening for further installments—here's hoping. (Fantasy. 13-18)
