nicolemhill's review against another edition
4.0
A solid addition to the middle grade mythology pantheon.
fionak's review against another edition
4.0
The story really takes a while to get going but is worth the tedium. Very much set up for the sequel; I might pick it up out of curiosity despite my resentment at being manipulated by such an unresolved ending.
dlsmall's review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5…Surprising, complex, and heartfelt. Kind of a strange coincidence to read this the week after Loki S1’s completion (you’ll see). Also…annoying to finish both this and Gearbreakers, in short order, and have to wait to resolve yet another excellent cliffhanger…way down the line…
readloveirie's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ccleeds7's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
rachemouse's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
bookjockey's review against another edition
5.0
Girl Giant and the Monkey King is a creative and engaging take on the meet-the-gods genre. Thom is not only battling the popular bullies on her soccer team, she also has to hide her growing super strength. When she accidentally frees a demon demigod, she might finally get the chance to remove her curse, or find out it's not a curse after all.
This story is full of well-realized characters and mythology that will be new to many readers. Also there's Kha, who I would have immediately fallen in *squee* love with as a tween. The last third of the book is non-stop. I cannot wait to read the sequel. I would recommend it to any kid who feels like they don't belong.
Also, it's super satisfying to read something by someone you know and discover it's pretty great. :)
This story is full of well-realized characters and mythology that will be new to many readers. Also there's Kha, who I would have immediately fallen in *squee* love with as a tween. The last third of the book is non-stop. I cannot wait to read the sequel. I would recommend it to any kid who feels like they don't belong.
Also, it's super satisfying to read something by someone you know and discover it's pretty great. :)
lprongs's review against another edition
Thom has super strength and is so desperate to get rid of it, she works with the Monkey King, a legendary trickster who everyone says is using her. But he's the only one who really accepts her, right?
emperor_e's review against another edition
3.0
I found the mythology in this book interesting, as I did not know much about Vietnamese mythology. However, I found the pacing of the story to be a bit slow, and I didn’t feel that it had a satisfactory climax. I also felt like it was too predictable.
SPOILERS BELOW
Additionally, I was annoyed by the main characters disregard for the warnings of many people to not trust the monkey king. I mean of course he’s going to betray you, why are you surprised? I also don’t get how she didn’t guess who her father was before, it’s pretty obvious.
All in all, while I may have some issues with it, it was not a horrible book. I would recommend Dragon Warrior by Katie Zhao if you enjoyed this book.
SPOILERS BELOW
Additionally, I was annoyed by the main characters disregard for the warnings of many people to not trust the monkey king. I mean of course he’s going to betray you, why are you surprised? I also don’t get how she didn’t guess who her father was before, it’s pretty obvious.
All in all, while I may have some issues with it, it was not a horrible book. I would recommend Dragon Warrior by Katie Zhao if you enjoyed this book.
rukistarsailor's review against another edition
3.0
There was nothing really wrong with Girl Giant and the Monkey King: the message is wonderful (proximity to white culture is not a true indicator of a person's value) and I loved learning more about Vietnamese/Chinese culture. It's just hard for me to read middle-grade novels at this point because I'm clearly not the target audience.