THE CROSSBOW OF DESTINY, by Brandon Hoang, Scholastic Press, Aug. 6, 2024, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 8-12)

A Vietnamese American girl travels through Vietnam in search of an ancient magical crossbow in The Crossbow of Destiny, by Brandon Hoang.

When Vietnamese American Freddie Lo finds herself in Vietnam for the first time since she was little, she’s not quite sure how to feel. The memories of her extended family are more like distant echoes; she has a tough time speaking Vietnamese; and she can’t help but feel like she just isn’t Vietnamese enough. Still, this is her chance to reconnect with her family, especially her Ong ngoai — or grandfather — who is receiving a big award.

That’s when Ong ngoai reveals his secret: He knows the location of an ancient legendary crossbow, one with the power to decimate armies — and he’s hidden it away from those who intend to use its magic for evil. But when Ong ngoai is kidnapped, it’s up to Freddie, her cousin Lien, and a mysterious boy named Duy to get to the crossbow before it ends up in the wrong hands. 

In this Indiana Jones-style adventure, readers will travel through Vietnam — from its seaside villages, to the swamps of the Mekong Delta, to the majestic Marble Mountains of Da Nang — as Freddie learns what it takes to be a hero. —Synopsis provided by Scholastic Press

The Crossbow of Destiny starts off with a bang — a Vietnamese ruler saves his kingdom with a magical crossbow, but the power goes to his head, and everyone he loves ends up dead. Fast forward 2000ish years and Freddie must find the same crossbow and save her grandfather.

This adventure-filled story is fast-paced and full of surprises.

Author Brandon Hoang’s writing is clear and accessible. His pacing is strong and his ability to set a scene makes you want to visit Vietnam. The sights, smells and sounds are all there.

I read an advanced copy that didn’t have a glossary, but the final copies do. This is a great addition for kids not familiar with Vietnamese. Although, Hoang does provide a lot of context around that vocabulary making it fairly easy to understand what’s going on.

At approximately 250 pages, The Crossbow of Destiny is a good length for middle-of-the-road middle readers. It’s a strong standalone novel that will appeal to a large cross-section of readers.

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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PEARL: A Graphic Novel, by Sherri L. Smith and Christine Norrie, Graphix, Aug. 20, 2024, Paperback $11.99 (ages 10 and up)

A Japanese-American girl must survive years of uncertainty and questions of loyalty in Hiroshima during World War II in Pearl, a graphic novel by Sherri L. Smith and Christine Norrie.

Amy is a 13-year-old Japanese-American girl who lives in Hawaii. When her great-grandmother falls ill, Amy travels to visit family in Hiroshima for the first time. But this is 1941.

When the Japanese navy attacks Pearl Harbor, it becomes impossible for Amy to return to Hawaii. Conscripted into translating English radio transmissions for the Japanese army, Amy struggles with questions of loyalty and fears about her family amidst rumors of internment camps in America — even as she makes a new best friend and, over the years, Japan starts to feel something like home.

 Torn between two countries at war, Amy must figure out where her loyalties lie and, in the face of unthinkable tragedy, find hope in the rubble of a changed world. —Synopsis provided by Graphix

I received an advanced copy of Pearl earlier this summer, and my daughter took it with her on a weeklong camping trip. She had five books with her, but she read and reread Pearl at least 16 times (that’s what she says!).

Why did she read it so many times?

“Because it had a good story,” my daughter told me. “I like how the character improves over each year in Japan. And… I like that she almost explodes.”

She has two favorite parts. The end where it says “Life is a treasure… thrive.”  She also liked how Amy is known as many things — a monitor for the Japanese Imperial Army; an atomic bomb survivor; a daughter; a sister; a cousin; a friend.

Pearl “shows the struggles of real people and war conflict,” she explained. “The illustrations are really good. The artist is really creative. I like how she put many different pictures into one panel.”

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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ASH’S CABIN, by Jen Wang, First Second, Aug. 13, 2024, Paperback, $17.99 (young adult, ages 14 and up)

A misunderstood teen searches for a place of their own in Ash’s Cabin, a coming-of-age graphic novel by Jen Wang. 

Ash has always felt alone.

Adults ignore the climate crisis. Other kids Ash’s age are more interested in pop stars and popularity contests than in fighting for change. Even Ash’s family seems to be sleepwalking through life.

The only person who ever seemed to get Ash was their Grandpa Edwin. Before he died, he used to talk about building a secret cabin, deep in the California wilderness. Did he ever build it? What if it’s still there, waiting for him to come back…or for Ash to find it? To Ash, that maybe-mythical cabin is starting to feel like the perfect place for a fresh start and an escape from the miserable feeling of alienation that haunts their daily life.

But making the wilds your home isn’t easy. And as much as Ash wants to be alone…can they really be happy alone? Can they survive alone? —Synopsis provided by First Second

Ash’s Cabin is reminiscent of Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet but with more contemporary issues.

Ash feels misunderstood by everyone — their peers, their siblings, their parents. The only person who really seemed to get them was their grandfather. Ash decides that if they can find grandpa’s cabin, maybe it will be a special place. A place where they can be themselves, away from all the noise.

Ash’s plans are dangerous, yes, but they make sense to them. And that’s what makes sense with Jen Wang’s character study. In Ash, Wang explores gender identity in a way that will feel right to readers.

Wang’s distinct artwork, rendered in muted earth-tone watercolors, sets the tone. Emotion plays out in her illustrations, and her settings are beautiful.

Ash’s Cabin is a fast-moving graphic novel — I read it in one sitting — that stays with you days after completion. It won’t be a good fit for everyone, but it will resonate with the readers who need it most.

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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THE GIRL WITH NO REFLECTION, by Keshe Chow, Delacorte Press, Aug. 6, 2024, Hardcover, $19.99 (young adult, ages 14 and up)

The crown prince’s young bride learns the dark truth the royal family has been hiding for centuries in The Girl with No Reflection, by Keshe Chow.

Princess Ying Yue believed in love…once upon a time.

Yet when she’s chosen to wed the crown prince, Ying’s dreams of a fairy tale marriage quickly fall apart. Her husband-to-be is cold and indifferent, confining Ying to her room for reasons he won’t explain. Worse still are the rumors that swirl around the imperial palace: whispers of seven other royal brides who, after their own weddings, mysteriously disappeared.

Left alone with only her own reflection for company, Ying begins to see things. Strange things. Movements in the corners of her mirror. Colorful lights upon its surface. And when, on the eve of her wedding, she unwittingly tears open a gateway, she is pulled into a mirror world.

This realm is full of sentient reflections, including the enigmatic Mirror Prince. Unlike his real-world counterpart, the Mirror Prince is kind and compassionate, and before long Ying falls in love—the kind of love she always dreamed of.

But there is darkness in this new world, too.

It turns out the two worlds have a long and blood-soaked history, and Ying has a part to play in the future of them both. And the brides who came before Ying? By the time they discovered what their role was, it was already too late. —Synopsis provided by Delacorte Press

The Girl with No Reflection is a YA fantasy loosely based on Imperial China.

At the center of the story is Ying, a young woman who was matched to the crown prince and swept away from her home and everything she’s ever known. Ying’s early interactions with the prince leave her wishing for a life elsewhere, and when she’s given the choice, she takes it. Except, some offers really are too good to be true.

Ying’s a strong, independent character, but she lacks depth and can be unrelatable at times. There’s opportunity for the prince to be the more interesting of the two, but he spends so much time glowering that it feels like a missed opportunity.

The best part of The Girl with No Reflection is the mirror world. This is where debut author Keshe Chow shines. She hooks readers from the start, and really sets the stage going forward. The magical world that Chow creates is exciting and clever, and I wish she had explored it more. And it makes me wonder how the story told from the mirror world Ying’s perspective would have played out.

And while Chow’s magical world is, well, magical, I wish she had spent more time with her prose, which feels contemporary in a story that is very much not. There were a few spots where I actually paused and went, “what?”

That said, I still enjoyed The Girl with No Reflection, reading it in less than three days. It’s a decent YA fantasy.

Sensitivity note: violence, gore, swearing, death, suggestive sexual content

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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ASKING FOR A FRIEND, by Kara H.L. Chen, Quill Tree Books, July 23, 2024, Hardcover, $19.99 (young adult, ages 14 and up)

An ambitious teen is determined to win a business competition started by her late father in Asking for a Friend, by Kara H.L. Chen.

Juliana Zhao is absolutely certain of a few things:

1. 1. 1. She is the world’s foremost expert on love.
      2. She is going to win the nationally renowned Asian Americans in Business Competition.

When Juliana is unceremoniously dropped by her partner and she’s forced to pair with her nonconformist and annoying frenemy, Garrett Tsai, everything seems less clear. Their joint dating advice column must be good enough to win and secure bragging rights within her small Taiwanese American community, where her family’s reputation has been in the pits since her older sister was disowned a few years prior.

Juliana always thought prestige mattered above all else. But as she argues with Garrett over how to best solve everyone else’s love problems and faces failure for the first time, she starts to see fractures in this privileged, sheltered worldview.

With the competition heating up, Juliana must reckon with the sacrifices she’s made to be a perfect daughter—and whether winning is something she even wants anymore. —Synopsis provided by Quill Tree Books

At the center of Asking for a Friend is Juliana, a young woman who feels the weight of her mother’s and community’s expectations on her shoulders. Winning her late-father’s competition would not only fulfill her “duty” but a promise she’s made to herself.

And she knows she can make that happen.

Except — what with her partner dropping her before the competition even begins — things don’t start off well.

That’s where Garrett comes in. Garrett who she once thought could be more than a friend. Garrett who turned his back on her. Garrett for whom she may still have feelings for.

As advice “experts,” Juliana and Garrett become Sunny and Cloudy respectively. These personas are a good juxtaposition, but also serve to show where the two started and where they finish.

This all happens against the backdrop of the small community in Old Taipei. Some of the best moments are born out the community elements and ideas — both old and new.

Asking for a Friend is a fast-moving read that explores topics of family, friendship, expectations, gentrification and community.

Though Asking for a Friend is recommended for readers ages 14 and up, that suggestion is based on character age rather than content. Asking for a Friend is a sweet coming-of-age story with a bit of PG-rated romance.

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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FOUR EIDS AND A FUNERAL, by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and Adiba Jaigirdar, Feiwel & Friends, June 4, 2024, Hardcover, $19.99 (young adult, ages 14 and up)

Ex-best friends join forces to save their Islamic Center from demolition in Four Eids and a Funeral, by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and Adiba Jaigirdar.

The town of New Crosshaven has it all―even its own infamous love story.

These days, Said Hossain spends most of his time away at boarding school. But when his favorite hometown librarian, Ms. Barnes, dies, he must return to New Crosshaven for her funeral and for the summer. Too bad being home makes it a lot harder to avoid facing his ex–best friend, Tiwa Olatunji, or facing the daunting task of telling his Bangladeshi parents that he would rather be an artist than a doctor.

Tiwa doesn’t understand what made Said start ignoring her, but it’s probably that fancy boarding school of his. Though he’s unexpectedly staying at home through the summer, she’s determined to take a page from him and pretend he doesn’t exist. Besides, she has more than enough going on anyway, between grieving her broken family and helping her mother throw the upcoming Eid celebration at the Islamic Center―a place that means so much to Tiwa.

But when the Islamic Center accidentally catches fire, it turns out the mayor plans to demolish the center entirely. Things are still tense between the ex-friends, but Tiwa needs Said’s help if there’s any hope of changing the mayor’s mind, and on top of everything, Said needs a project to submit to art school (unbeknownst to anyone).

Will all their efforts be enough to save the Islamic Center, save Eid, and maybe even save their relationship? —Synopsis provided by Feiwel & Friends

Four Eids and a Funeral is a sweet romance about community and being true to yourself.

At the center of the story are Said and Tiwa. The two were best friends until Said left for boarding school. Now, they can barely stand to be in the same room with each other. Both characters are strong in their own right and their interplay works well.

The writing by by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and Adiba Jaigirdar feels cohesive and comfortable. They have a lot going on but manage to keep everything flowing instead of becoming a jumbled mess.

The book’s strongest asset is the strong representation of South Asian cultures within a Muslim community. This is what grounds Four Eids and a Funeral. The authors have expertly written a book that speaks to a specific audience but is also accessible to readers who don’t have much background.

Four Eids and a Funeral is a fairly fast read that has a wholesome feel to it.

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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WE WHO PRODUCE PEARLS: AN ANTHEM FOR ASIAN AMERICA, by Joanna Ho and Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya, Orchard Books, April 16, 2024, Hardcover, $19.99 (ages 4-8)

In We Who Produce Pearls author, Joanna Ho and illustrator Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya, offers a call to action that highlights Asian American history. 

We Who Produce Pearls, is an anthem for Asian America that celebrates the richness and diversity within the Asian American identity and serves as a reminder of self-worth, legacy and most of all, destiny. Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya’s signature bright and bold palette brings to light the strength and power within us all, creating a mesmerizing, stunning, and magical masterpiece that proves how we can shape our pain and struggle into one of joy and power. Together, Joanna and Amanda remind readers to rise up, speak out, and step into power. —Synopsis provided by Orchard Books

Author Joanna Ho’s poetic proclamation resonates through every turn of the page. Her prose is warm, bold and a pleasure to read aloud.

“We who shine
            have the power to define
            the legacies we leave.
The truths we speak today
            pin themselves to the heavens
            in constellations
            that will guide the seekers
            of tomorrow.”

Illustrator Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya’s artwork pops off the page, with her cover calling readers to delve in. Her multilayered images are a joy to explore.

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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CITY OF WISHES (LEGENDS OF LOTUS ISLAND #3), by Christina Soontornvat, Scholastic Paperbacks, March 5, 2024, Paperback, $7.99 (ages 8-12)

During the New Year break, Plum and her friends travel to fancy, fashionable Nakhon City. There they’ll stay with Sam and his mother, the powerful Lady Ubon.

At first, Plum is dazzled by how big and exciting Nakhon City is. She’s never experienced anything like it! But under the glittering surface, secrets lurk. A storm is brewing, and Plum will have to harness all of her growing powers to survive it. —Synopsis provided by Scholastic Paperbacks

Christina Soontornvat’s, Legends of Lotus Island series is a great entry point into fantasy for middle readers. Like the first two books, City of Wishes is less than 160 pages. It has short chapters and there are illustrations sprinkled throughout, roughly every other chapter. My 10-year-old has moved on to harder books, but that hasn’t stopped her from loving this series. It’s engaging enough that she wants them to be made into movies. “They’re that good!”

ANY WAY YOU LOOK, by Maleeha Siddiqui, Scholastic Press, May 7, 2024, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 8-12)

What do you do with the wrong kind of attention?

Ainy is excited for summer! She plans on working at her mom’s clothing store, having adventures with her best friend, and maybe even starting to wear the hijab—just like her big sister.

Everything changes when a boy from her community starts messaging her and following her around, even showing up at the store while she’s working! Ainy knows his behavior isn’t okay, but she can’t find the words to tell the people around her how the unwanted attention makes her uncomfortable.

Finally, Ainy decides that she needs to start wearing the hijab to get him to leave her alone. She’s always used fashion to express herself, so maybe now she can use it to become invisible.

But things don’t get any better—and Ainy starts to realize that she’s lost her own sparkle along the way. Maybe she can’t handle this all on her own. With the help of her best friend and her sister, Ainy must find a way to stand her ground and get the respect that she knows she deserves—no matter how she looks. —Synopsis provided by Scholastic Press

There’s been a lot of buzz for Any Way You Look and for good reason. It’s an engaging read that empowers young readers to stand up for themselves.

FRONT DESK BOOKS 4 AND 5, BY KELLY YANG

If you’re looking for an excellent group of books for the summer, Kelly Yang’s Front Desk series — Front Desk, Three Keys, Room to Dream, Key Player and Top Story — is a great option. The series follows Mia Tang, a girl whose family immigrated to the United States from China in hopes of better opportunities. Yang balances heavy topics — poverty, racism — with humor, and her books are filled with hope.

KEY PLAYER (FRONT DESK #4), by Kelly Yang, Scholastic Press; Reprint edition, May 7, 2024, Paperback, $8.99 (ages 8-12)

The Women’s World Cup is coming to Southern California, and everyone has soccer fever―especially Mia Tang! The U.S. team is playing China in the finals, and Mia feels like her two identities are finally coming together. But when her P.E. teacher gives her a C, Mia tries to pull up her grade by scoring interviews with the championship teams. It’s not so easy when . . .

1. 1. 1. The two teams are hunkered down in secret hotels in Pasadena and not taking any media requests.
      2. Mr. Yao is back at the motel―as a co-owner! Jason is sure his dad deserves a second chance. Mia is not so sure.
      3. Mia’s parents are trying to buy a house of their very own, which turns out to be a LOT harder than they thought!

As Mia aims for her goals, she’ll have to face strikers from all corners, as well as her own fears. But if anyone can find a way to win big, it’s Mia Tang! —Synopsis provided by Scholastic Press

TOP STORY (FRONT DESK #5), by Kelly Yang, Scholastic Press, Sept. 5, 2023, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 8-12)

Mia Tang is at the top of her game!

She’s spending winter break with Mom, Lupe, Jason, and Hank in San Francisco’s Chinatown! Rich with history and hilarious aunties and uncles, it’s the place to find a great story―one she hopes to publish while attending journalism camp at the Tribune. But this trip has as many bumps as the hills of San Francisco . . .

1. 1. 1. Mia’s camp is full of older kids, with famous relatives, fancy laptops, and major connections! Can she compete with just her pen and passion?
      2. Lupe’s thinking about skipping ahead to college! Will Mia ever get a chance to just chill with her best friend?
      3. Jason’s crushing hard on a new girl. For the first time ever, Mia is speechless…and jealous. Can she find the courage to tell Jason―gulp―that she has a crush on him?

Even for the best writers, it’s not always easy to find the right words. But if anyone can tell a top story, it’s Mia Tang! —Synopsis provided by Scholastic Press

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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WAT KEPT PLAYING: THE INSPIRING STORY OF WATARU MISAKA AND HIS RISE TO THE NBA, by Emily Inouye Huey and Kaye Kang, Shadow Mountain, March 5, 2024, Hardcover, $19.99 (ages 3-8)

Learn about the first person of color to play in the NBA in Wat Kept Playing: The Inspiring Story of Wataru Misaka and His Rise to the NBA, by Emily Inouye Huey and Kaye Kang

As the child of Japanese immigrants, Wataru “Wat” Misaka often felt like he didn’t fully belong in either Japanese or American culture. He was sometimes excluded, treated differently, and bullied, even though he was born in the United States. As he grew up, however, Wat discovered he had a very special talent for playing basketball. Even at just five foot seven, he was unstoppable.

After leading his high school team to a state championship, Wat played for the Utah Utes and helped the team win the 1944 NCAA championship. Wat kept playing even as Japanese Americans from the West Coast were sent to incarceration camps for the duration of World War II. Then, after two years serving in the United States Army, Wat returned to basketball, leading the University of Utah to Madison Square Garden and winning another national championship. The cheering crowd recognized Wat the way he wanted to be seen — as a person who was both Japanese and American and an amazing basketball player. Talent scouts from the New York Knicks were so impressed, they drafted Wat to their team. Wat’s undeniable talent changed history as he became the first person of color to play in the NBA. —Synopsis provided by Shadow Mountain

Wat Kept Playing is an inspiring story of determination and grit in the face of racism. Author Emily Inouye Huey captures Wat’s drive with clear text that drives the story forward. And illustrator Kaye Kang’s use of space and silhouettes expertly conveys emotion. This is a book that will appeal to a large cross-section of readers — fans of history, basketball, WWII, etc. It’s a compelling picture book biography.

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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BAO’S DOLL: A PICTURE BOOK, by Bo Lu, Abrams Books for Young Readers, June 18, 2024, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 4-8)

Distant memories help an immigrant mother and daughter connect in Bao’s Doll, a picture book by Bo Lu.

Whenever Mama says, “when I was a little girl in Taiwan, we had nothing,” Bao stops listening. Mama does not understand Bao, and Bao certainly does not understand Mama.

So when Bao desperately wants a doll—specifically, the beautiful, blonde All-American Artist Amanda doll that everyone else has—Bao takes matters into her own hands and steals Amanda from the store. After getting caught, Bao’s chest feels heavy like a giant rock. But gradually, the awkward silence between Bao and Mama shifts to honesty, and eventually, a deeper understanding of what binds them. —Synopsis provided by Abrams Books for Young Readers

Bao’s Doll was born out of author/illustrator Bo Lu’s own childhood experience trying to steal a Barbie Doll. Like, Bao, Lu was an immigrant who dreamed of being like other kids. However, Lu’s mother never talked about the incident. Lu wrote Bao’s Doll in hopes of offering space for forgiveness and connection.

The heartfelt picture book is deceptively simple. Instead, it’s a master class on emotional intelligence. Lu’s illustrations have an almost dreamlike quality to them, and her use of color supports the theme. It’s a beautiful look at a relationship between a daughter and her mother.

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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