Part of the Rick Riordan Presents' series, <i>Pahua and the Soul Stealer</i> follows the adventures of 11-year-old Pahua Moua, a Hmong American. Pahua's father is gone and her mother is busy with both her factory job and her work as a discount Hmong shaman. As a result, Pahua's life is largely focused on her younger brother, Matt, and her friendships with the spirits and ghosts only she can see and communicate with. Pahua is considered a bit of a weirdo at school (in part because of that whole seeing-creatures-no-one-else-can-see thing), so when she's invited to join a group of cool girls in hanging out on a derelict bridge she goes along where she discovers the bridge isn't just derelict -- it is also haunted by the spirit of a child. This discovery kicks off a series of adventures that include demons, gods, flying horses, shamans, prophecies, and the biggest frog you've ever seen. Along the way Pahua fights to save her little brother's stolen soul, learns about her own hidden heritage, and discovers she is more than the quiet Hmong girl at the back of the class. This is the first book in the Rick Riordan Presents line where I was completely unfamiliar with the relevant legends, religions, and culture. Lee does an excellent job incorporating explanations in ways that don't stifle the narrative flow. It seems likely that this might be the start of a series -- I certainly hope so, because I'm already a big Pahua fan!

This one failed to build suspense or me. But I appreciate its unique story and that it's going to introduce so many readers to the Hmong culture.

Another satisfying book from Riordan presents. I truly enjoyed Pahua and her adventures. I am looking forward to the sequel and learning more about the Hmong culture.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! it was amazing. I love the author now! The characters were not american which I liked.

Another fantastic entry in the Rick Riordan Presents series. Thank you, author Lori Lee for helping young readers to be seen and heard, and to see and hear more possibilities in books like this. This book belongs in classroom and school libraries. It’s intriguing, engaging, and opens up yet another door in mythology.

Very entertaining, the author does an excellent job or introducing the reader to Hmong culture, and it leaves you wanting to know more/learn more about it. When we are first introduced to Pahua, she feels like any other middle grade girl trying to fit in. As the story continues, and it escalates to the mission at hand, we learn of what types of abilities Pahua has, and how it can make her fit in- but in a different way.
Any Rick Riordan presents book has the same feeling of culture/mythology, and a quest that enraptures the reader into following along. While they all come across as cut from the same cloth, each one teaches the reader about new cultures and identities, with a better understanding of the make of our world.

Very enjoyable read! I had never heard of the Hmong culture before and it was a great introduction to read about it in this text. Pahua is a sixth grader struggling with feelings of belonging in her school and accidentally sets off a chain of events that lead to her brother being kidnapped and a long imprisoned god in danger of escaping. There are twists and turns in the story, but the best part for me is that Pahua always finds an unusual way to solve problems and often surprises even herself. She's a very resourceful and insightful protagonist and I enjoyed watching her grow throughout the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Rick Riordan Presents for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinion was not affected by the free copy.

I know when I see Uncle Rick's seal of approval, I'm going to be in for some great adventure while learning about beliefs and a culture to which I'm unfamiliar. This book was so amazing and enjoyable, and I loved learning more about the Hmong language, the shaman rituals, and so forth. Even though I'm outside the target age and I'm not a part of that community, I still found the main character relateable in many ways. I thought her journey, both physically and emotionally, was written and paced well. I admit I was crying at the end-- but don't worry, they were good tears!

I like that for the most part this book didn't depend on referencing current pop culture. This was especially nice once they started interacting with spirits and going through the other realms, because those references would have taken me out of the experience. In Percy Jackson the modern pop-culture references is part of the humor, but I think here it would've ruined the timeless feel that came from the Spirit Realm and the beings who lived there. There isn't a lot of humor in this, but again I don't see that as a bad thing. The book's tone is perfect the way it is, and adding extra humor would've just ruined it.

I don't have too much to complain about. The one thing that bugged me was when Zhong was explaining her backstory to Pahua, and then Pahua summarizes what Zhong just expressed, I know this is meant for a younger audience than myself, but that still read as "in case you missed it, this is how Zhong was feeling and thinking". There are also some things that are left unanswered, but I'm guessing that's going to be touched on in future books.

This book deals with feeling unwanted, abandoned, not good enough, unaccepted, and lonely. There are some wonderful scenes dealing with those subjects. I don't want to go into details and ruin anyone's reading experience, but I will say there's one in the end that is making me tear up (in a good way) just thinking about it. Like I said, I personally found it very relateable and I'm sure others will as well.

To put it simply, I loved this book. I thought it was a great start to a series and I can't wait to see where Pahua goes from here.

I cannot wait to introduce this funny, magical and completely unputdownable book to my tween students. They are going to fall in love with the eleven year old main character-- Hmong girl, Pahua--and the cast of unforgettable characters in this unique fantasy story inspired by Southeast Asian mythology.

With themes like courage, family, oral traditions, and mythology, this book can be tied into ELA curriculum and is sure to be a popular selection in the classroom and school libraries.

Perfect for Grades 4-7

THEY WERE PELTED WITH KNOWLEDGE! Omg I can’t even. Best line. :-) There were many amusing, whimsical, unique and intense moments that focused on family, belonging, and a sense of self. Strongly recommend for all young readers.

Lori Lee’s family immigrated from Southeast Asia to the US when she was a baby. While I don’t have first hand experience or knowledge of the culture, her story seems to give a realistic, interesting, and overall a fabulous portrayal. Thank you for sharing this story.