I read this with my son and we loved it. My son wanted to know more about the story behind the dragon pearl and didn't want to put this book down.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read and review this book. I haven't read too many middle grade books before, but this was a fun read. This is a book following a thirteen year old names Min. She was a good and interesting character to follow. It was pretty easy to guess what was going to happen, but that makes sense since it is a middle grade book. The writing style was nice; I felt like I was there along the journey with Min. If you like middle grade books definitely give this a read!

I really love reading Rick Riordan's books as well as books like this one - his Rick Riordan presents series. Before reading, I did not know anything about Korean mythology. It is so different than Greek or Roman. I especially love magical creatures like dragons. I also liked the idea of fox spirts. The main character is a strong female protagonist who is a kind and compassionate person who goes on this awesome adventure.

I don't think I have ever read a book that could be considered both fantasy and science fiction, but this one does it and does it well! Min and her family live on one of the poorer planets in the Thousand Worlds. Her brother Jun has already gone off to join the Space Forces. One day, an officer comes to question the family, claiming that Jun has deserted his unit. Min does not believe this, and sets off on her own to find out what really happened to her brother. Using her Fox magic, she is able to both shape shift and Charm others into believing what she says. This exciting space adventure is full of Korean mythology, including dragons, goblins, and ghosts, as well as magical foxes and tigers. It is a story of friendship and family and loyalty. Highly recommended for grades 4 and up.

This book was a lot of fun for me, as I was only vaguely familiar with Korean mythology. Lee has given us a look at his mythology and culture in a way that is very accessible for the target audience. It’s also a fun and occasionally nail-biting adventure.

In order to find her brother and clear his name, Min finds herself getting deeper and deeper into deceiving those around her. She gets into a lot of scrapes. She makes some good friends, and feels bad that she does so while pretending to be someone else—and she does face consequences for her deception.

While she does ultimately triumph in the end, the road to that resolution is a bumpy one, and not all in this story is a “happily ever after.”

Secondary characters are all round, complex individuals. I especially enjoyed Min’s bunkmates.

Possible Objectionable Material:
Min basically runs away from home. Lots of lying and deception. Some violence, not graphic. No swearing, no romance. There are nonbinary characters who use they/them pronouns, and this is taken as a matter of course, nothing exceptional. Those who have strong ideas about gender might find this offensive. And, of course, mythology and magic may offend some readers.

Who Might Like This Book:
Those who like space, adventure, mythology, and learning about other cultures. Min is female, but the story is very accessible to both boys and girls.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing and ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. This review is also at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2022/01/welcome-to-thousand-worlds.html

My daughters both love all things Rick Riordan so it with his name attached to this book, it was easy to get them to sit down and read. My 12 year old daughter enjoyed it more than my 14 year old, but they have two totally different tastes in reading material. My 12 year old raved about how wonderful the story was and how exciting it was to ride along with Min on all the adventures.

Like most books in the Rick Riordan presents imprint, this was a really exciting story. It was very enaging, with a fascinating blend of science fiction and Korean mythology—usually these books are pretty set in the "fantasy" wheelhouse, so this was a really cool twist! Also, a lot of these books are about a young person being suddenly thrust into a fantastical world of magic and myth, and learning about cool powers and abilities they have, but in this one the world and powers are very well established parts of the main character, Min's, life. So it got to explore a whole different aspect of a fantastical adventure, not just the usual "origin story".

A lovely blend of science fiction and fantasy, Dragon Pearl is fun to pick up and even more fun to share. While reading this book, a friend and I spent hours texting back and forth our favorite bits and enjoying the twists and turns in the story. Read this one with a friend :)

I cannot say enough good things about Dragon Pearl. It is a must read for middle school lovers of science fiction. Min is so a lovable character who will capture the hearts of my students.

A fun blend of Korean mythology and sci-fi. It definitely did feel a bit implausible in parts. Like how the friends of the dead cadet being impersonated didn't seem to at all notice that their friend had been replaced by an imposter who knew basically nothing about him. I loved the idea of the dead fourth colony, but unfortunately the ending that took place there seemed to happen in a bit of a rush and not as much time as I was hoping for went into it. I'd also like to know a bit more about how supernaturals interact with humans. Like why are foxes more mistrusted than goblins? Being able to turn invisible and sneak around seems just as shifty as impersonating people. And some of the cadets seemed to hold a prejudice against the supernaturals, but that was kind of just mentioned in passing and then gone? But, despite all my questions, it's a fun middle grade level adventure that would probably be great for fans of Percy Jackson and the like.

This book was read for a potential review on the Skiffy and Fanty Show and was recommended for fans of Young Adult Books on an episode of their Youtube show..

The Dragon Pearl is everything I like about the Rick Riordan imprint: A crash course in Korean mythology through a pretty thrilling adventure — in space! Min is stuck on a backwater planet where the most exciting thing she gets to do is repair the agricultural systems, but she and her big brother Jun dream of the stars. When he's accepted to Space Forces, it seems like Jun's dream is coming true — so why would he blow it all to desert his ship in search of the legendary Dragon Pearl? When Min hears the accusations against her brother, she knows she's the only one who can figure out what really happened and clear Jun's name. She's spent years concealing her fox magic, but now she's ready to cast whatever Charms she needs to to get to her brother and to face whatever she has to to rescue him -- from intergalactic gambling dens to space pirates to vengeful ghosts. It's a rollicking roller coaster of a ride, packed with just-go-with-it coincidences, and a delightful mash-up of space action and Korean myth. (It's also everything I don't like about the Rick Riordan imprint: super predictable with interchangeable secondary characters and an over reliance on plucky stubbornness as characterization, but that doesn't mean it's not a fun read. It is.)

Disclaimer: I received an e-arc of this book and then bought my own copy! Thanks! All opinions are my own!

Book: Dragon Pearl

Author: Yoon Ha Lee

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 4/5

Diversity: This is Asian based!

Publication Date: January 15, 2019

Genre: MG Sci-Fi Fantasy

Recommended Age: 10+ (some violence and death, scary moments)

Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents

Pages: 312

Amazon Link

Synopsis: THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD MIN comes from a long line of fox spirits. But you'd never know it by looking at her. To keep the family safe, Min’s mother insists that none of them use any fox-magic, such as Charm or shape-shifting. They must appear human at all times.

Min feels hemmed in by the household rules and resents the endless chores, the cousins who crowd her, and the aunties who judge her. She would like nothing more than to escape Jinju, her neglected, dust-ridden, and impoverished planet. She’s counting the days until she can follow her older brother, Jun, into the Space Forces and see more of the Thousand Worlds.

When word arrives that Jun is suspected of leaving his post to go in search of the Dragon Pearl, Min knows that something is wrong. Jun would never desert his battle cruiser, even for a mystical object rumored to have tremendous power. She decides to run away to find him and clear his name.

Min’s quest will have her meeting gamblers, pirates, and vengeful ghosts. It will involve deception, lies, and sabotage. She will be forced to use more fox-magic than ever before, and to rely on all of her cleverness and bravery. The outcome may not be what she had hoped, but it has the potential to exceed her wildest dreams.

Review: Overall, I really liked this book! It was parts fantasy and parts sci-fi! I loved the combo that Yoon Ha Lee came up with and it was fun to read! The characters were well developed and the writing was well done. The plot was also intriguing and kept me interested all throughout the book.

However, the book felt circular a bit. The pacing was slow and the characters repeated the same info multiple times. The book was a bit too simple for middle graders in my opinion, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The book just felt really slow and I kept wondering when we would get to the point. I also felt like we needed more world building.

Verdict: It was a good book, but had some slow moments.

Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee is one of the Rick Riordan Presents series. It follows a fox-spirit named Min as she struggles to clear her older brother's name from a crime she's sure that he didn't commit. Lee creates space opera action that will hook readers pulled in by Rick Riordan's name. Recommended for all collections where Rick Riordan's works are popular.

Dragon Pearl is a great science fiction gateway for middle grade readers, with all the spaceships, blasters, and space travel you could ever want. It was not a great choice for me personally- I was bored through a lot of the story. However, I appreciated the way the author weaved Korean mythology throughout and I will definitely purchase it for my library. I have several students in my mind for which this will be a perfect fit.

How did I forget to review this book for so long?! I loved Dragon Pearl! Yoon Ha Lee did an excellent job with world-building, pacing, structure, character development, and mythology. Min is a great protagonist and I loved how mythology was incorporated into and spurred the plot. I genuinely hope there’s a sequel because I’d love to revisit Min and her story.

I loved this one so much! I loved the themes of family, both blood and found. I loved the discussion on wealth distribution! I just loved so much about. I ended up making this a book club pick, and everyone truly had a wonderful time while reading. Yoon Ha Lee is a blessing and the world does not deserve them.

This was a great sci-fi/fantasy trip for younger teens (and older ones). I love the use of mythology and culture to build the world and the story, and right from the start you're invested in the characters and what happens to them. I'm hoping there's some sort of sequel in the future because it's a world I would love to return to.

I thoroughly enjoyed this romp through the Thousand Worlds. Min is an impulsive young fox (shapeshifter) and when she gets news she doesn't believe about her brother in the star fleet, she sets off to find him and bring him home. She sort of commandeers a space ship, is attacked by pirates, and then impersonates a dead space cadet while being haunted by his ghost! Min is determined and is going to do the right thing, even if perhaps not in the correct way. A character full of spunk and immensely likable, I look forward to more adventures with Min in the Thousand Worlds.

Wonderful middle grade science fiction. I had read Yoon Ha Lee's adult novels previously and was excited to see how wonderfully they translate into a book I can recommend to younger readers. There are so many wonderful things here for younger readers - a Korean inspired story set in a very inclusive universe.