A review by briarrose1021
Momotaro Xander and the Lost Island of Monsters by Margaret Dilloway
5.0
Just before a school break, Xander gets in trouble at school after drawing a caricature of a student who was bullying him without even realizing it. When he gets home, his father gives him a comic to read - a comic about a Japanese folk hero named Momotaro - that Xander apparently wrote himself, though he has no memory of it. Xander and his best friend, Peyton, are in his room reading that comic when suddenly a huge tsunami hits the area and his father disappears.
Xander's grandmother tells Xander that his father can reverse the tsunami, and prevent all the other climate change problems that are being caused by oni (Japanese demons), but Xander has to rescue his dad first. To do that, Xander must become who is really is - Momotaro. Will Xander and Peyton be able to rescue Xander's dad? Will they be in time for Xander's dad to reverse the tsunami?
This was a cool story with a mythology that I don't see often in books, so it was really nice to engage with it. The relationship between Xander and Peyton was done really well, and I liked that the two complete opposites had maintained their friendship into middle school when those relationships tend to break down. Xander's love of his friends and family truly comes through in everything he does.
I absolutely loved to see Xander's growth through the book, and I can't wait to read the sequel and see what other trouble he gets into - and out of. As an added bonus, I laughed when it was revealed that his dog's name is the Japanese word for cat, largely because I once had a cat whose name was the Japanese word for cat.
I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook, which was narrated by Chris Patton, was really good. Patton's performance was really good, providing just the right amount of tension and emotion to truly bring the scenes to life. Whether I read or listen to the next book, I know I will enjoy it.
Xander's grandmother tells Xander that his father can reverse the tsunami, and prevent all the other climate change problems that are being caused by oni (Japanese demons), but Xander has to rescue his dad first. To do that, Xander must become who is really is - Momotaro. Will Xander and Peyton be able to rescue Xander's dad? Will they be in time for Xander's dad to reverse the tsunami?
This was a cool story with a mythology that I don't see often in books, so it was really nice to engage with it. The relationship between Xander and Peyton was done really well, and I liked that the two complete opposites had maintained their friendship into middle school when those relationships tend to break down. Xander's love of his friends and family truly comes through in everything he does.
I absolutely loved to see Xander's growth through the book, and I can't wait to read the sequel and see what other trouble he gets into - and out of. As an added bonus, I laughed when it was revealed that his dog's name is the Japanese word for cat, largely because I once had a cat whose name was the Japanese word for cat.
I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook, which was narrated by Chris Patton, was really good. Patton's performance was really good, providing just the right amount of tension and emotion to truly bring the scenes to life. Whether I read or listen to the next book, I know I will enjoy it.