"Tokyo Ever After" by Emiko Jean

Tokyo Ever After (May 18, 2021) by Emiko Jean.

It’s not always a walk-in-the-park being a person of color in mostly white Mount Shasta, California. Fortunately, Izumi Tanaka isn’t alone, for she has the best friends of their self-dubbed AGG (Asian Girl Gang): Noora, Hansani and Glory. Izumi has been raised by her single mother and it’s a book on rare orchids that gives Izumi and Noora a clue as to who her father might be. What she’s not expecting is for her dad to be Crown Prince Makotonomiya Toshihito, first in line to become emperor of Japan. According to Hansani, he’s “the Asian George Clooney,” “Pre-Amal and twins,” adds Glory. So, SURPRISE, Izumi is an American-born, American-raised, Japanese princess! Her Imperial Highness (HIH) Princess Izumi travels to Japan to meet her father and the royal family. Being a princess isn’t all fancy gowns, glittering tiaras and a graceful wave. Nope. Feisty, irreverent Izumi is feeling really basic in a country that she thought she’d sidle right into (because she blends in). It isn’t only the thousands of years of tradition and innumerable cultural differences she must navigate, but catty cousins, a ferocious press, a mulish but annoyingly attractive  Imperial guard named Akio Kobayashi, and learning an entirely new-to-her language. At home, Izumi doesn’t feel “American” enough, but in Japan, she doesn’t feel “Japanese” enough. Will this Lost Butterfly fly? Or will she crumble under the overwhelming weight of royalty?

            Move over, Princess Mia. There’s a new princess in-residence! While princess stories can induce eye rolls, I found “Tokyo Ever After” to be a fresh, vibrant YA novel with a headlining female who’s spunky and relatable, learning to blend her American upbringing with her Japanese heritage. Readers receive a modern fairy tale that is part “The Princess Diaries” and part “Crazy Rich Asians.” It’s a royal romp with an easily-navigable storyline, and it will have appeal that’s beyond Asian-only readers. There’s laughter and tears, structure and chaos, sumptuous detail and mouthwatering food. There are castles and drama, swoony confessions of affection and crushing deception. I’m actually pleased by how solid this story is. It’s not a story littered with glitter; it has personal growth and depth.

Rutabaga's Reads 2022: Part 4

I haven’t designated any posts solely to chapter books in the most recent years, and this is already the second one (the first featuring the first five books in the Mindy Kim series). Remember that chapter books do contain occasional pictures through the story, though the story is told primarily through prose.

A Royal Rescue (May 8, 2018) by Helen Perelman.

   Olivia Chin Mueller, illustrator.

*This is the first book in a series.*

No one wants to be late to one’s first day at the Royal Fairy Academy. Certainly not Princess Mini, royal fairy princess of Candy Kingdom, but she notices someone in trouble and stops to help. Gobo, a troll, is stuck in a caramel thornbush. A sticky place to be stuck, to be sure, but nothing a drop of icing can’t fix. Will Princess Mini still make it to school on-time? Can she keep Gobo a secret from her less-than-sweet-and-more-like-sour twin cousins, Prince Frosting and Princess Cupcake?

            My impression in the QUIX Royal Sweets series is that this story is delightfully sweet and deliciously simple. With a straightforward, easy-to-follow plot, young readers new to chapter books will confidently follow the storyline and appreciate characters with familiar words-as-names like Lady Cherry (a teacher), Princess Taffy (Princess Mini’s best friend) and Butterscotch (Princess Mini’s royal flying unicorn). For young readers who like fairies and candy-coated kingdoms, sweet royals and sour, this little tale is as cute as a display of petit fours and as tasty as your favorite treat.

Athena & the Magic Land (May 14, 2019) by Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams.

   Yuyi Chen, illustrator.

*This is the first book in a series.*

When one thinks of Athena, one thinks of the Greek goddess of wisdom. Well, this Athena isn’t her. At least, she isn’t yet, and has no idea why she’s traveled to a magic land (it’s Mount Olympus) via a strong, sparkly wind. It’s here that her dog, Oliver, from the Happy Perky Pets game is real, and she knows another young girl named Medusa. But how is she on Mount Olympus, and how does she have snakes for hair and the power to turn other people and creatures to stone? Athena meets Hestia and Persephone, the latter of whom is convinced that she only has bad luck, and is told by three colorful owls (the Owlies) that she will find Zeus in Sparkle City on the top of Mount Olympus if she follows the Hello Brick Road, but she must not stray off of it. With the help of new friends – and a pair of winged sandals – Athena must find Zeus if she wants to return home. She also needs to keep those sandals away from “meanie Medusa.”

            This QUIX Little Goddess Girls series starter is one part Greek mythology, one part The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and all parts cutesy. Unlike Athena, I wasn’t carried away to a magical land when I read this, but perhaps that is not fair, as I’m nowhere near 5-8 years old. While I think the blending of mythology and Oz is unique and certainly has its fun merits (e.g. Hello Brick Road instead of the familiar Yellow Brick Road), the plot likely won’t captivate older, more advanced chapter book readers. I do hope that it will win over readers who are new to chapter books who may be prompted to ask more questions about Greek mythology (or mythology in general, as the world is plentiful with world mythologies if only we seek them out). The lettering is large with black-and-white illustrations, and despite me not loving the tale, it radiates magical sunshine and puppy-dog-eyes cuteness.

The Lost Stone (Apr. 1, 2014) by Jordan Quinn.

   Robert McPhillips, illustrator.

*This is the first book in a series.*

Every child needs a friend. Prince Lucas, son of Queen Tasha and King Caleb of The Kingdom of Wrenly, has none. It’s lonely for eight-year-old Lucas. His father has forbidden him to play with the village children, because “a proper prince does not play with village children.” When his mother’s prized emerald goes missing, Lucas takes it upon himself to retrieve it. He’s allowed to re-befriend Clara Gills, daughter of Queen Tasha’s personal dressmaker, and together, the two of them re-trace the queen’s route to try to track the emerald. They visit Primlox (ruled by fairies) and talk to Queen Sophie, then sail to Burth (which belongs to the trolls). On their way to Hobsgrove (the island of wizards), they pass by Crestwood (where dragons roam). But the emerald is nowhere to be found on land. Might the mermaids know something?

            What a charming tale this is (The Kingdom of Wrenly series)! It’s filled with black-and-white illustrations against a medieval setting that has a sprinkling of fantasy. The typeface is large, the structure, including the plot, are simple, and the language is basic, which is to be expected for the target audience (ages 5-9). The story reads quickly thanks to the adventurous nature of the tale, which should be encouraging to emergent readers.

Mindy Kim and the Big Pizza Challenge (Sept. 14, 2021) by Lyla Lee.

   Dung Ho, illustrator.

*This is the sixth book in a series.*

Wishbone Elementary’s eighth annual PTA Trivia Night has almost arrived, and Mindy is excited to participate with her dad, Brian, his girlfriend, Julie, and her best friend, Sally Johnson, and her family. Mindy’s dad knows it’s important to have fun and do their best, but Mindy wants to win. The grand prize is a year of free pizza! (By free, it’s one free pizza per month for a year.) But, sadly, she also wants to “prove” that they’re as good as any two-parent families. The trivia questions are sometimes trickier than she expects. Will Mindy and her teammates on Team Flamingo out-trivia the other teams? Will she realize that her family is just as awesome as any other, two parents or one, immigrant parents or none?

            Having read the first five books in this series, I expected this one to be cute, and I wasn’t disappointed. I don’t want parents or young readers to think that cute means that it lacks substance, for that is not the case. Like any young person approaching a competition, the stakes feel high, and stress is real. It’s compounded for Mindy, as her concerns feel heightened when she compares herself to other students in her class who have two parents, and none of those parents are immigrants like her dad (he grew up in Korea). It’s a short tale, a quick read, but it’s so important. I grew up adopted in America with Caucasian parents and so have never had this specific struggle, yet it still resonates, because I can imagine the challenge and the feelings through Lee’s prose. Also, I plain love the representation of a Korean main character.

            Mindy Kim Books 1-5: A compilation post

Snow Place Like Home (July 30, 2019) by Christina Soontornvat.

   Barbara Szepesi Szucs, illustrator.

*This is the first book in a series.*

It’s gotta be pretty cool being a princess, with a sweet dog named Gusty, who’s the daughter of a Windtamer mother (she has power to control the wind and weather) and a Groundling father (that is, he’s a regular human) and the granddaughter of the North Wind. Yes, the North Wind. Also known as Boreas. You know, a wind god. The expectation is that Lina is a Windtamer, too, but the reality is that she struggles to control the wind. Her granddad wants her to live with him, but she wants to attend Groundling school. No amount of mango-and-whipped-cloud pudding is going to convince her to live at her granddad’s palace in the sky. She concocts a plan with her best friend, Claudia, who’s a Groundling. Too bad that when she’s nervous or scared or happy, things accidentally happen … like icicles on the classroom ceiling or the boys’ bathroom turning into an ice rink. She can figure out a way to control it, right? If she only thinks warm thoughts, that’ll do the trick?

            Right off, this chapter book in the Diary of an Ice Princess series made me think: Tell me your characters are diverse without actually telling me they’re diverse. Thanks to the pictures strewn through the story, the reader can see the diversity, even though there’s never mention of any specific ethnicity, and I love that. It makes racial diversity a common, everyday thing, like it is and should be. Written as a diary, Lina figures out what it means to be her based on her skills, and it’s cotton-candy sweet, though without the sticky mess at the end. The book’s illustrations are color-coordinated; they’re black, white, gray and pink. Lina’s world is cute and magical, but relatable to anyone who’s ever attended Groundling school.

"The Spark of Love" by Amanda Cabot

The Spark of Love (Mar. 1, 2022) by Amanda Cabot.*

*This is the final novel in a trilogy.*

With dust in her hair and extra padding around her midsection, Alexandra Tarkington flees her aunt’s New York mansion for Mesquite Springs in the Texas Hill Country. Her father, Calvin, is building a hotel there. By going to Mesquite Springs, she hopes she can throw off Franklin Beckman’s pursuit. She knows he only wants to marry her because she’s an heiress, and his threats scare her. Her father isn’t overjoyed to see her in Texas, but she finds fast friends in Laura Downey, Dorothy Holloway and Evelyn Clark. Encountering Gabe Seymour, an investigator, on the last leg to Mesquite Springs, has been an unexpected delight, too. Unbeknownst to Alexandra, Gabe has been hired by Jason Biddle (who, unbeknownst to Gabe, knows Franklin) to investigate her father for swindling, and, also unbeknownst to Alexandra, Calvin has hired Gabe to court her. He dreads sharing either truth with her. Even more dreadful is newcomer Martin Lewis and his persistent pursuit of Alexandra. Is Martin the one putting her life in danger? Alexandra and Gabe certainly care for one another, but will sparks fly and grow into glowing flames of love? Or will that spark die down like a fire left unattended?

            I have had the opportunity to read all three of the books in the Mesquite Springs trilogy, and this one is my favorite. While I like all of the protagonists over all the stories well enough, this installment is extra busy. Not in a wildly chaotic way, but in a way that keeps a good grip on the plot. You know who the antagonists are, but I didn’t find that it detracted from the danger of certain situations. This Christian fiction novel also gives readers adventure, drama and clean romance against a historical setting (1857). The book is emotive, because the characters are expressive, whether it’s due to fear, love, anger, happiness, frustration or joy. It’s a charming, uplifting story. I’m even pleasantly surprised by the return of Sam Plaut; he has turned himself around and has become a confidant to Gabe. The author writes that her next series will also be situated in the Texas Hill Country, and I hope to read it.

            Book One: Out of the Embers

            Book  Two: Dreams Rekindled

 

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"The Red Palace" by June Hur

The Red Palace (Jan. 25, 2022) by June Hur.

*This is a standalone novel.*

“The more urgent a circumstance, the calmer we must be” is a line drilled into the nurses trained (and training) at the Hyeminseo by Nurse Jeongsu and which palace nurse (or uinyeo) Baek-hyeon (Hyeon) heeds regularly. In 1758, during the Joseon Dynasty, the 18-year-old is an illegitimate daughter, and while she knows Lord Shin (the Minister of Justice) is her father, he’ll never officially claim her and give her his last name, so Hyeon works hard and is meticulous in all she does. That is how she worked her way up as a palace nurse. She keeps her head down and seeks perfection in all she does in desperate hope of winning her father’s approval and seeks to be more to her mother than a girl she wishes were born a boy. (Baek-hyeon translates as “virtuous elder brother,” a strange name to therefore bestow upon a girl.)

            One night, there’s a massacre at the Hyeminseo. Four women killed. A lady of the court, a head nurse and two student nurses. There are rumors – and anonymous handbills – accusing Prince Jangheon of the murders, but it’s Nurse Jeongsu, Hyeon’s mentor and more a mother to her than her own mother, that is about to be tortured and convicted of this gruesome crime. Hyeon rallies herself to hunt for the truth and crosses paths with Seo Eojin. (Eojin is a half cousin to Hyeon’s closest friend, Jieun, also an illegitimate daughter of a concubine, but one claimed by her father. They are both of the cheonmin class, lowest of the low.) While she originally mistakes him for a pauper, he is, in fact, a jongsagwan, a police inspector. He’s a prodigy, too, being only 18 and already a jongsagwan. Unlike Commander Song, who likes to terrorize the weak and anyone he doesn’t like, Eojin seeks truth and justice, and he wants Hyeon’s help. He needs her help. They will look out for one another, deepening their unexpected connection, but that vigilance may not save either of them from bloodshed.

            An author whose works I’d never read prior, I was blown away by this YA novel. Like with Hyeon, Hur’s world-building is meticulous and sweeping, the story is complex and devastating, and the characters are gripping and authentic. It’s a fast-paced, murder-mystery with rich historical detail that is stunning to read. There’s a blossoming romance, a societal hierarchy whose historical truth drives me batty and culture taking the reader back over 250 years ago. For those who don’t know, the Joseon Dynasty was real, as was Crown Prince Jangheon, who was executed at the age of 27; it’s not make-believe, though this story is a work of fiction. Hur includes more in her Author’s Note, which is definitely worth reading. The entire cast of this novel is Korean, and I wholly admit that that felt amazing to read.

Rutabaga's Reads 2022: Part 3

Am I a grown woman? Yes. But that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the American Girl (AG) brand. (This post is NOT sponsored by AG or anyone affiliated with AG. Books were purchased by me.)

            This post features AG’s Girl of the Year (GOTY) for 2022: Corinne Tan. Corinne is Asian American (specifically, Chinese). As someone who’s also an Asian American (specifically, Korean), I love that AG is featuring an Asian doll of color!

Corinne (Dec. 30, 2021) by Wendy Wan-Long Shang.

There’s a lot of newness going on in 10-year-old Corinne Tan’s life. She and her younger sister, Gwynn, are about to gain a stepfather. His name is Arne, and when their mom marries him, they all move into his spacious, professionally-designed home in Aspen. There are certain perks, like a fabulous bedroom for the sisters to share and getting a rescue pup, Flurry, from the local shelter, but Corinne is uncomfortable. She hides the truth of her new privilege and living in wealth from her best friend, Cassidy, including when Gwynn begins private skating lessons, because Cassidy thinks all who pay for private lessons are snobs. Then there’s the mean boy who makes xenophobic remarks and the two grown men who say equally bigoted things, making seven-year-old Gwynn cry. Arne seems to want to sweep the negativity under the rug, rather than discuss it. When truths and frustrations come out in a disastrous way, Corinne flees to her home outside of home. But will her survival skills kick in when it becomes clear that she’s lost?

            Props to the author for crafting such an authentic, current story. The COVID-19 pandemic has, unfortunately, brought a lot of xenophobia toward Asians and Asian Americans to light. I appreciate that the author wrote the story as she did. Corinne needs to be able to discuss the hurtfulness of being a racial target, and it annoyed me terrifically when she wasn’t getting that support from her new stepfather. It’s an intensive topic for all ages, but young people are far more observant than adults often give them credit for, and they need to know that open discussions should always be encouraged. I love the addition of Flurry, a rescue pet, one that’s going to be trained to be a search and rescue dog, and the “sister brain” dynamic shows a closeness between the two sisters that I wish all siblings had. This book, aimed at a 3^rd-4^th grade reading level (according to the book), is written with depth while remaining easy to understand and is a fast read.

Corrine to the Rescue (Dec. 30, 2021) by Wendy Wan-Long Shang.

With no snow now that summer’s here, Corrine worries about keeping up with Flurry’s search and rescue training. Fortunately, with advice from Kim, a dog trainer, Corinne learns that there are things Flurry needs to be comfortable doing for summer searches, such as be able to hop into an all-terrain vehicle, climb onto Corinne’s back (to carry one’s dog so the dog conserves strength and energy) and learn to ride in a canoe (if there were snow, it’d be learn to ride in a sled). Corinne is determined to get Flurry up-to-snuff so that Kim will become Corinne’s mentor, but these tasks are harder than expected due to interference from Gwynn. Corinne thinks that having her own bedroom will fix that issue until their mom shares huge news that will change their family forever. Corinne banks her training hopes on their annual camping trip instead, though Arne’s not easily convinced. When disaster strikes during their trip, their training time becomes a real rescue mission. Her family’s safety is at stake!

            As expected of all AG stories, this is another cute tale with a good message. Life can bring big changes no matter the age, as Corinne experiences in this story with her mom’s news. She’s also written with a good head on her shoulders when she seeks out aid with Cassidy and Flurry with her, though she isn’t 100% brave 100% of the time, making her character more realistic and believable. It’s an adventure-turned-rescue-mission with a sweet bundle of joy at the end. For anyone who follows AG stories, these aren’t to be missed, and I would hope libraries would add them to their collections, especially if they already carry AG books.