I really loved learning more about the Mong culture. I also really loved how this book was an adventure that focused on the brother and sisters realtionships. I also thought this was super fun and fast pace read, I also like that is story focsued on two girls trying frantically to save the world. I also loved all the various creatures we meet in this read. This book was erriee and creepy but not horror. It had so many classics "rirodan" moments. Will def be checking out more books with this characters!

I received an ARC of this via Netgalley which in no way influenced my review. I am thrilled by Rick Riordan's line bringing all these diverse authors and their stories to the forefront. These are voices that need to be heard (representation matters).

Pahua is a young Hmong girl in Wisconsin (this made me wish I were still living there) She's been cut off from her Hmong community after a move when her father abandoned the family (I still think there's more to this) and she's lonely. Her mother is working far too much to keep the family afloat and unsurprisingly Pahua is bullied and ignored at school thanks to prejudice. Thinking she has made a new friend she follows the girls to the 'haunted bridge.'

Unlike other kids, Pahua can see spirits and knows the bridge spirit is real. This fateful decision ends up with her accidentally releasing the titular soul stealer who gets hold of her kid brother's soul and brings Pahua into the path of Zhong, a young shaman-warrior in training. Pahua's aunt is a shaman but her mother has no time for such talk so Pahua knows very little.

Here you have the typical MG/YA conundrum, where are the adults? Pahua's mother is in the hospital with Pahua's stricken brother, Matt and Zhong was sent by the shaman school on a quest to find out what happened at the bridge. She is desperate to impress her mentors there so she insists that they can handle this alone vs going to get her mentor. Which okay when you're 11 that probably makes sense to you.

Zhong is a bit of a rude know it all. Pahua is uncertain and feels she isn't brave but has a heck of an imagination. Together they roam Wisconsin and the spirit realms hounded by demons, dragons and all manner of spirit creatures with the only help being Zhong's imperfect knowledge, Pahua's hidden talents and Miv, the cat spirit who is Pahua's best friend.

This story is steeped in Hmong mythology and it absolutely wonderful. The action is unflagging and the girls are great. The storyline is believable and it wraps up nicely. The story is complete but definitely open for more down the road. I can't wait to see more. Pahua's world is filled with fantastical things and highly nuanced. It sucks me right in and I didn't want to put it down. One of the most fun books I've read all year.

My students are huge Rick Riordan fans, so I wanted to try this one out and see if it would be a good fit for them. I zipped through this one, enjoying the action, the quick pace, and the ties to family and culture woven throughout. I appreciated the hero's journey, the challenges and stumbling blocks, and the collaboration and teamwork required of Pahua to accomplish her goals. I enjoyed the magical, whimsical components of this one, and I love the end matter that helps explain some of the cultural relevance of things from the book. As a librarian who serves English learners, seeing diverse characters represented more and more in the offerings of Rick Riordan and his collaborators is encouraging. My students love being able to see themselves and people like them in these books, so I am excited to offer this one up to my kids and see what they think!

What an adventure! I enjoyed reading about Pahua and her cat, Miv's, journey to save her brother's spirit from an angry bridge spirit. I think the development of Pahua and Zhong's needed friendship, even if it is out of necessity, is well done and shows the vulnerability about letting someone else get to know you at their age. I was intrigued my the idea of the them being shamans in training and learning the responsibility that comes along with being one. This adventure includes, love of family, discovering identity, and determination. I believe any middle school student will enjoy learning about he Hmong culture and mythology through Pahua's experiences.

This was a fantastic middle grade read. I am familiar with Hmong mythology but it’s always fun to dive in and learn. The god and mythical creatures were interesting. This book would be perfect for any younger kid between the ages of 8-13 I think, even though other age groups would enjoy it as well. I can’t wait to read the follow up!

What an exciting and imaginative middle grade fantasy! Wonderful writing, great characters, and an action filled plot make for an engaging reading experience.
Thank you to Netgalley and Disney Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

Sadly I wasn't able to finish this book before it was published, but I look forward to realeasing a full review once I've finished the book completely!

So excited about another great Rick Riordan Presents series and loved this story about girls who see ghosts and the heroes they become.

This book was so entertaining and educational! I loved learning about Hmong culture as it is not something I am familiar with. I loved the sibling relationship between Pahua and her brother. The world building and magic are so fun, and I absolutely adored this!

*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book

Let me start of this review by saying that the formatting for the ARC that I received of this book was absolutely awful and made this book so difficult to read but none the less I persevered and absolutely adored this book and it's characters.

Pahua is such a wonderful character, she is determined and fierce but flawed and humble all at the same time. She knows that she does not know everything, and the way that she learns about her own culture throughout the book and subsequently the reader learns along with her is amazing. I will admit that going into this book, I knew absolutely nothing about the Hmong people and their culture and I would like to thank the author for writing this book that has given me a chance to read and learn about them in the most delightful and fascinating way. I sincerely hope that this becomes a series because I want to read more about Pahua, her family, shamans, and her culture.

Disclaimer: I received this finished book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Pahua and the Soul Stealer

Author: Lori M. Lee

Book Series: Standalone for now

Diversity: Hmong mc and side characters

Rating: 5/5

Recommended For...: Middle Grade readers, fantasy, mythology, retelling

Genre: MG Fantasy

Publication Date: September 7, 2021

Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents

Pages: 320

Recommended Age: 10+ (Slight racism, Murder mentioned, Parent leaving, Death, Slight gore)

Explanation of CWs:

Synopsis: Pahua Moua has a bit of a reputation for being a weirdo. A lonely eleven-year-old Hmong girl with the unique ability to see spirits, she spends her summer days babysitting her little brother and playing with her best friend, a cat spirit no one else can see.

One day Pahua accidentally untethers an angry spirit from the haunted bridge in her neighborhood--whoops. When her brother suddenly falls sick and can't be awoken, Pahua fears that the bridge spirit has stolen his soul. She returns to the scene of the crime with her aunt's old shaman tools, hoping to confront the spirit and demand her brother's return. Instead, she summons a demon.

Thankfully, a warrior shaman with a bit of an attitude problem shows up at the last minute and saves her butt. With the help of this guide, Pahua will have to find her way through the spirit worlds and rescue her brother's soul before it's too late. Little does she know she'll have her own discoveries to make along the way. . . .

With its unforgettable characters, unique nature-based magic system, breathtaking twists and reveals, and climactic boss battle, this story based on Hmong oral tradition offers everything a fantasy lover could want.

Review: I really loved this book! It was amazingly sweet and cute read. I loved the characters and character development. The world building was well done as well and the plot had me hooked from the first page.

However, I did feel like the the pacing was a bit fast. There was a lot of stuff that wasn't explained in story but I did appreciate that the context was in the back of the book.

Verdict: Highly recommend!

Pahua and the Soul Stealer introduces the world to Pahua, a young Hmong girl set apart by her ability to see ghosts. At eleven years old she's already considered weird and an outsider. She spends most of her time baby-sitting her little brother while her mother works to provide for them. At leas Pahua has her best friend to keep her company - so what if its and invisible cat spirit. When Pahua tries to fit in with the popular girls, and sneaks off to explore a haunted bridge, she releases an evil spirit who takes over the body of her little brother. She tries her best to free her brother, instead she releases a demon. Thankfully a warrior shaman shows up in the nick of time to save her, then guide her through the spirit world to retrieve her brother's soul before it is gone for good. This is the newest in Rick Riordan's series of folklore from different countries. I knew absolutely nothing about the Hmong culture when I started Pahua and the Soul Stealer, now I feel like I got a glimpse into the world thanks to Lori Lee's rich descriptions and expert story-telling. I look forward to reading more from Lori Lee and am thankful to Net Galley for the chance to read an ARC.

3.5/low 4 stars : There were times when, for me, the pace dragged, but that just meant I didn't devour the book whole. I'll still finish the series.

As can be expected from these delightful RR books, praise must be given for the exposure to Hmong culture and mythology. It touches on 'anyone who isn't White doesn't belong in the US', as well as the struggles of being a child who has to raise their younger sibling(s) due to the parental situation - although, without speaking spoilers, it *may* be a situation that could have been avoided? We shall see in future installments.

Thanks to NetGalley & Disney Publishing Worldwide for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly, I couldn't get into it. The mythology was cool and all but once they traveled into the magical world it got really confusing and I couldn't keep up.

I do really enjoy the themes of accepting who you are and moving on from jealousy. I think the writing style just wasn't for me in the end. I loved the three main characters, I just really couldn't get into the story much. :(

Thank you so much, NetGalley, Disney Publishing Worldwide and Rick Riordan presents, for the chance to read and review this book in exchange of an honest review!

Pahua Moua is considered to be a weirdo. A lonely Hmong girl, she can see spirits, she spends her days babysitting her baby brother and with her best friend, a cat spirit. When she accidentally frees an angry spirit from the haunted bridge in her neighborhood, her brother falls sick, unable to wake up. While trying to confront the spirit of the bridge and save her brother's soul, Pahua summons a demon, but she's saved by a warrior shaman. With this shaman, Pahua is determined to visit the spirit world and save her brother's soul, but there she will discovers so many incredible other things...

I loved Lori M. Lee's other books and when I heard she would write a middle grade I had to read it! I was so happy when the publisher accepted my request and this book is unbelievably amazing. Pahua is a brilliant, stubborn and brave main character, facing discoveries, about herself, the world around her, in this wonderful middle grade fantast, based on Southeast Asian mythology.
It was so amazing losing myself in this read! The story is full of twists, secrets and discoveries, battle, magic and the magic system is incredible and so well written. The characters are unforgettable, the plot brilliantly written and it captured my attention right away.
It was everything a fantasy lover could ask from a book.

Pahua Moua doesn't exactly fit in with her classmates. Her closest friends are her younger brother and a cat spirit that no one else can see. When she gets the chance to make new friends, she accidentally unleashes a powerful spirit who steals her brother's soul. Attempting to channel her shaman aunt's abilities, she tries to summon the spirit and convince it to give her brother's soul back. Unfortunately, her efforts not only fail but actually make the situation worse. Now, Pahua and her new reluctant ally only have a handful of days to save her brother, all while evading demons and dragons determined to capture her.

3 Reasons to Read PAHUA AND THE SOUL STEALER:

-The theme of accepting and embracing who you are: Pahua knows she doesn't fit in at school, and after she meets Zhong, a kickbutt shaman warrior in training, Pahua notices only the ways she doesn't measure up. As her journey continues and reveals startling secrets about her identity, Pahua learns that heroes aren't always eager-to-fight warriors. Sometimes, heroes are those who see the truth in others and are loyal to those they love.

-Miv: Miv is Pahua's best friend and cat spirit. Like many cats, Miv is sassy and excellent at delivering one-liners. He pushes Pahua out of her comfort zone at times but still clearly loves her and wants to protect her.

-The spirit world- Lee does a fantastic job creating a layered, sometimes creepy, sometimes awe-inspiring spirit world where Pahua and Zhong go in their quest. The scenes in the spirit world are full of high emotion and high action, from the reveal of Pahua's identity in the middle of a sleeping curse to intense existential questions with tree spirits.

Filled with heart, friendship, and bravery, PAHUA AND THE SOUL STEALER proves that heroes don't always follow the same blue print.

Pahua and the Soul Stealer is the latest middle-grade novel from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint at Disney-Hyperion. Written by Lori M. Lee with audiobook narration from Samantha Tan, the story follows an 11-year-old Hmong girl who is bullied at school for being different, is basically only friends with her younger brother, oh, and she can see and talk to spirits. Unfortunately, that ability gets her into trouble when a bridge spirit steals her brother’s soul, and she has only three days to recover it before he’s lost forever.

Every Rick Riordan Presents book features tweens going on fantastic adventures among the myths and legends from their author’s culture, often to save their families or the whole world. Pahua and the Soul Stealer is no different and shares perhaps the least popularly depicted culture of any of the imprints’ books yet. And the book leans into this really well from all angles. It doesn’t tiptoe around any Hmong words or attempt to anglicize them, but the book is written in such a way that over its course, questions from who are the Hmong people and what should you know about them are effortlessly infused. At the same time, if you’re reading this book as a Hmong kid, it’s overflowing with cultural references to find affinity in. And that’s what’s always so great about Rick Riordan Presents. They’re for everyone to see themselves in somebody from a different culture than themselves, and they’re for the kids who will see themselves represented in a way they rarely get to otherwise.

Pahua is not like most of the characters of fantasy middle-grade novels, though. She’s rather shy when we first meet her with literally no friends and not much a familial or community support system either. When she stumbles into the world of spirits and shamans, it’s not because she’s a plucky kid ready for adventures. It’s because she is a lonely kid who can see spirits and finds one who looks even more lonely than she is. At first, I found this quality a bit frustrating, not because it isn’t utterly realistic, but because it left the story feeling unbalanced. The story felt like it was just following a trite set of plot points with little character development or investment. But about a third of the way in, that all changed.

There are only really two other main characters in the book: Miv, a sarcastic cat spirit who has been Pahua’s best and only friend since she was four, and Zhong, a shaman warrior in training who saves Pahua from a dangerous spirit before guiding her on a journey to get her brother’s soul back. Miv is mysterious but usually the comedic relief. Zhong is a bit of a brat at first and certainly an annoying know-it-all. It’s a very odd trio, and it felt like their dynamic was getting stale quickly. Until Pahua decides that actually, fighting need not always be the solution, and their encounters with demons and unfriendly spirits become about outwitting or appeasing them rather than slashing and hacking them. This change in the typical formula was excellent because it allowed the characters to stay true to themselves while creating a different way out of difficult scenarios than figuring out the next most impressive fighting technique.

Plus, as Pahua gains more confidence in this stance, she gains more confidence in her relationship with Zhong. When the two are finally able to be honest with each other, their characters, together and separately, go from rather innocuous to absolutely beloved. I ended up more interested in their personal growth and relationship than I did most of the mythical elements of the story, which is not always the norm in these books. It’s all thanks to the fact that the book stars a lonely and shy kid. She has a different perspective on the world and a different perspective on friendship and loyalty than other protagonists. Which in turn, gives a great role model for all the shy kids out there who, like Pahua, might wish they had more friends too.

The audiobook edition of Pahua and the Soul Stealer is read with great emotion. There were few moments in particular where the narrator really dug deep with her delivery of sharp emotional moments to the point where the delivery alone rendered me in tears. Narration is not always done with such emotion behind the voice, but this book really nailed that. It has a few moments where I can’t tell whether the pronunciation of Hmong works is standing out because the accents are discordant with those of English, so they naturally sound out of place between English words, or if it was because the words were rerecorded after the fact and spliced back in. Perhaps though, I only find it noticeable because I am But Why Tho’s audio editor and listen for these things. It’s not true of every Hmong word, only a few here and there, and it could possibly be intentional.

Pahua and the Soul Stealer starts off a bit slowly but delivers a great set of characters in a quickly enthralling world. There are a lot of books in the Rick Riordan Presents line now, many of which follow similar outlines. Still, the shy and initially lonely main character sets this book far apart and hopefully will feel like home for a whole new audience.

I've been waiting for the book since I first read the announcement. Although I was unsure about what to expect, I enjoyed what I found. Miv the spirit cat is very much a show stealer with his wit and sarcasm. Pahua is the girl who could be more than she seems if she only believed in herself. Zhong, the shaman warrior, is always ready for a fight and desperately wants to prove herself. The adventure they embark on together to the spirit world to rescue Pahua's brother Matt is exciting, filled with some very close calls.

The book is rich in imagination. It's an entertaining infusion of Hmong mythology and folk tales with Lee's skillful world-building; she not only incorporates the mythology but she expands the world and makes it her own. There are shamans, shaman warriors, spirits, and gods. The spirit realm is especially complex with its many entities--tree spirits, wind spirits, gate guardians, and more--to the various modes of transportation. One of my favorites is when the spirit horse appears. When Zhong seeks out her horse spirit, she has to go to a rental to call for it...heh. There's a lot to learn about this world, and at times, it can be a bit overwhelming, especially with something new bit of information popping up every few pages.

The emphasis on who or what a hero looks like was an especially compelling part of the book. A hero doesn't always look or sound like what a hero is imagined to be. Pahua, as the central protagonist, lacks confidence and know-how but is willing to do what is necessary to return her brother's soul to his body. Pahua demonstrates that anyone can be a hero. You just need to look within yourself. Additionally, winning doesn't always mean swords and fists. Sometimes there are better ways to get what you want.

I needed this book as a kid when I was searching for demons to fight and dragons to ride. Like Pahua, I grew up not knowing much, and, to be honest, I still don't know very much. It creates the possibility of building and enhancing cultural connections for Hmong children who might find themselves wondering about their heritage and their identity. The book also introduces non-Hmong individuals to new and exciting adventures that incorporate folktales and myths they may not have previously been exposed to. It's a fun middle-grade read that is very much plot-driven. Those looking for action and adventure will certainly enjoy Pahua and the Soul Stealer. (3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars)

Thank you to Disney Books and Rick Riordan Presents for sending me an ARC via netgalley for an honest review.
4/5 stars
I really enjoyed reading this one! I loved learning about the Hmong culture and folktales, and I thought the author did a wonderful job of bringing the fantastical elements of the story to life.
We follow 11-year-old Pahua whose best friend is a kitten spirit (Miv) and mostly hangs out with her younger brother. Pahua feels likes she’s not good enough, and she also feels like she doesn’t fit in anywhere. She can also see spirits of all kinds. Because of this, she does a lot of pretending, and most of her pretending involves things like being a shaman warrior, or leading troops into battle. I really related to Pahua’s thoughts of not fitting in, and even though it was for different reasons, I think that the emotions are the same. I also think that a lot of younger readers will also connect and relate to Pahua’s pretending and feelings of not fitting in.
The story really kicks off when Pahua meets an angry bridge spirit and accidentally untethers her soul. Later that night Pahua discovers that her brother is sick and she fears that the bridge spirit has stolen his soul. This sets her off on a journey to rescue him. Pahua was motivated by her love for her brother, and her fear of losing him, and I liked that it continued to be the most important thing to her even as she was discovering things about herself.
Pahua’s journey takes her into the Spirit Realm where she meets all kinds of different spirits and runs into all sorts of problems. With the help of her best friend Miv and a shaman-warrior-in-training named Zhong, Pahua has to face her own spirit in order to rescue her brothers.
Pahua was a really amazing character. She was brave, strong, and she looked for alternatives to violence, but she also doubted, and she struggled with believing in herself. This made her feel relatable and realistic. I loved her relationship with Miv, and it had me laughing even in moments where the situation was stressful and tense. Zhong was a good character to balance Pahua, and I loved seeing their friendship develop.
I felt that the pacing was really good. The plot was super interesting, and I was engaged the whole time. It was a bit slow at times, but it didn’t drag on, and I thought there was a good balance between action and excitement and some of the slower but necessary moments.
Overall this was a really fun and exciting read. I loved learning about a new culture and their folktales, and I can’t wait to see what happens to Pahua next!

Although I did feel this book has some moments with a slower pace than other Rick Riordan presents, it totally lives up to the name with fantastical elements, strong mythology, and adventurous journeys. Hmong folklore and culture is one that we really haven't seen in mainstream fantasies, which makes this story all the more important. Lee does an excellent job of making this folklore accessible and understandable. I also loved her character development, watching Papua grow in her understanding of herself, her culture, and her family history throughout the story. I definitely recommend!