Lori M. Lee has knocked it out of the park with her middle grade debut!! If you like mythology, magic, humour, nature/animal spirits, and introverts figuring out how to make friends then I would highly recommend it. I personally loved this book for all of those reasons, but I want to mention how much I loved learning about Hmong shamanism. I feel that Pahua’s story is a deeply important and necessary addition to the literary world as a whole.

Besides that, this book is full up to the brim with charming prose and I was rooting for the characters all the way. There’s really nothing else for me to say! If you like middle grade fantasy in any capacity, you should definitely be checking this out (it’s out as of today!). Thank you so much to the publisher for this review copy and thanks to the author for writing such an important, educational, and also fun book.

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<p>Review copy provided by the publisher.</p>
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<p>Pahua Moua isn't the only Hmong kid in her small Wisconsin town--there's also her little brother Matt. She's also grown up with the ability to see spirits, which even her shaman aunt can't do--her best friend is a cat spirit, and she has daily interactions with other spirits around her home and surroundings. Other than that, though, she feels pretty isolated. When she has a chance to go with a friendly classmate--and a couple of less friendly ones--to look at a spooky old bridge in the woods, she takes it.</p>
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<p>Pahua's ability to see spirits is a mixed blessing, though, because the bridge is not as empty as her classmates think--and the spirit staying there is pretty tired of being alone. Pahua doesn't mean to upset the spirit, but before she knows it her brother is in the hospital, and she's joined by a shaman warrior her own age--at least <em>sort of</em> a shaman warrior her own age--on a quest to save him before he gets turned into a demon.</p>
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<p>The sub-genre of middle-grade fantasy that features contemporary American kids having magical adventures with legends from their own heritage has been really popular in recent years, and for good reason--because a lot of the writers who are exploring this sub-genre have been doing a great job. Lee's Pahua is engaging and fun and a very welcome addition to the group. Long may it last--and also let's see what other stories Lee has to tell, in and out of this category.</p>
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Oh, my gods! This is one of the funniest books I've read this year! The characters are *chefs kiss* And I found Pahua to be a very relatable character. Like the love she has for her brother is very awe-inspiring and that is something that can never be taken away. Sure one of you guys might screw up or you get mad at each other but at the end of the day, you are still siblings. But there is only so much your sibling can fill. Sure Pahua loves her brother and he's her friend but one still desires to have a friendship elsewhere and not just with one's sibling. So I thought that was relatable. Not gonna lie though sometimes this book gave me the heebie-jeebies. Like the girl at the bridge *shivers.* For a second I actually thought I was reading Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia! Anyway, I love the humor, the scare, the friendship, and the joy this book has so if you haven't already go read this book!

Thank you Disney Publishing for an eARC!!!

This book was phenomenal and I'm incredibly excited for the next steps in Pahua's journey! My favorite character was Miv and he was hysterical! It was filled with lots of funny banter and mythology lessons! I truly enjoyed this book!

Thanks to NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for this free digital copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is out today!

Hey Reader Friends! Back today with another review for a book in the Rick Riordan Presents line...I can't get enough! Up today is Pahua and the Soul Stealer by Lori M. Lee. This is the first in the series and I truly cannot wait for more. This is a good one for sure.

What I liked:

-Pahua! This should be a given, right? However, I'm in the middle of another series right now and I am not a fan of the main character, so trust me, this needs to be emphasized. I found Pahua empathetic and compassionate. Her ability to understand where others are coming from and forgive is lovely, but she also stands up for herself when she needs to. Additionally, I wanted to hug her because she really, really needs one.

-Lee's writing and pacing: nothing felt rushed, which I loved. The setting, characters, and action was so wonderfully articulated that it truly felt like watching a movie (or a series lol) in my head. I took a bit longer to read this one than I usually do with these books, but it was definitely better that way. I think the story stuck with me a little more because of it. I know basically nothing about the Hmong culture so I devoured the stories and myths. One thing I absolutely LOVE about these books is the glossary/pronunciation guides included at the end. I like to have an idea of what different words in different languages sound like so it was super helpful.

What I didn't like:

-Nothing! There were just enough questions left unanswered by the end that I can't wait for the next book. Isn't it nice when that happens? Also...why is always dads who are missing/leave/otherwise occupied in these books?

I definitely recommend if you are a fan of middle grade fiction/fantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Book Group for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

One of the many reasons I love and highly recommend books under the Rick Riordan Presents Imprint is how amazing and unique each author is. Lori M. Lee is no exception and has woven a fantastical tale of Hmong culture and mythology into Pahua and the Soul Stealer, of which I had known very little of and am now completely enthralled with.

Pahua is an easily relatable character, with a rather unique gift in that not only can she see spirits, she can also talk to them. Each of the characters we meet in the story is well thought out with lovable traits and flaws that we can all relate to. Pahua’s journey of self-discovery and learning to believe in herself will resonate with all those that read this book. While the characters are unique, it must be mentioned that the world-building in this story is sensational and only add to enhance the telling of Hmong mythology and its mythological elements.

Miv (“Cat” in the Hmong language) must be mentioned, I for one, think that if your best friend is going to be that of a talking spirit cat, it should be Miv.

I highly recommend Pahua and the Soul Stealer and cannot wait to see where Pahua’s next adventure takes her.

The Review

Such a spectacular and awe-inspiring new middle-grade and YA novel that brings the fantasy genre to all new heights. While I am a big fan of mythology, I must admit that I was not very well versed in the mythology of the Hmong people. After this book, I am ready to take a deep dive into this rich culture and mythos that I never knew waited for me. The author did a fabulous job of finding the right balance of rich culture and mythology with the more personal character development of protagonist Pahua, who must balance her own unique gifts, her destiny, and her struggle as an outcast amongst her schoolmates with her mission to save her brother’s soul.

The themes that the author employed in the narrative really did grab the reader’s attention. The classic story of a young kid gifted with a perilous and heroic destiny, who must take control of her life and face untold dangers to save the life of a loved one is a story as old as time itself, and yet the unique mythos gave the theme new life, as did the theme of a young person considered an outcast not only finding their footing in the world but becoming the hero no one knew they needed. The connection to family and ancestors also struck a unique chord with me, as we all like to think that our loved ones and ancestors are watching over us, and this novel really incorporated that well.

The Verdict

A heartfelt, magical, and entertaining middle-grade and YA Fantasy read, author Lori M. Lee’s “Pahua and the Soul Stealer” is a must-read novel of 2021, and a contender for the best middle-grade read of the year. This fantasy novel does a fantastic job of introducing readers to a mythology that may not be as familiar to some as say Greek or Egyptian mythology but holds so much fascinating history and culture that could rival either of those cultures as well.

Pahua isn't like most kids in her town (or most kids for that matter). She's one of the few Hmong people in town and she can see spirits. When a trip to the local haunted bridge goes wrong and her brother is spirited away to the spirit realm, Pahua embarks on a journey with a shaman warrior to get him back.

Pahua is witty, quick on her feet, and we really get to see her grow as the story progress. As a Hmong woman, I am ecstatic (to say the least!) to see a Hmong heroine! I love Pahua's character and complexity; I loved seeing the Hmong culture and language threaded throughout the book. It was so much fun to read about the folklores and Gods I heard about growing up. Thank you, Lori!

Unfortunately, the story did fall flat for me. The world building felt lacking and the plot felt a bit all over the place. While it was easy to follow, there were a lot of things that happened that I wasn't sure we needed, resulting in me losing interest. The story also relied heavily on telling vs showing (Zhong telling/educating Pahua (and the reader) on everything). Even as a Hmong person, I thought there was a lot of info dumping that could get confusing, especially for non-Hmong readers.

That said, I still loved how Lee was able to educate the reader about bits and pieces of the Hmong culture. Although I didn't connect with the story itself, I still really enjoyed reading about Pahua's journey! It was very exciting and refreshing!

I'm so excited for students to get their hands on this book. Like the other Rick Riordan Presents books, this is also jam packed with action and fascinating storytelling. Each book in the imprint is written with inspiration from traditional stories and this one is based on the Hmong stories that Lori M. Lee grew up hearing.

There are Hmong stories scattered throughout the book and the warrior shaman Pahua meets helps explain a lot of things about Hmong practices and beliefs in between their many adventures. There are also Hmong symbols at the beginning of chapters. Readers unfamiliar with Hmong storytelling and culture may not notice everything, but Hmong readers are sure to recognize the many Hmong symbols, foods, words, and much more.

The spirit cat and the many other spirits that Pahua encounters are each unique and intriguing. Young readers may find the story to be slightly creepy, but it is not terrifying horror. It seems to be just enough scariness to send shivers up the spine on occasion without overwhelming the typical middle grade reader.

I flew through the story at a fast pace in a hurry to see what would come next. Traveling through the spirit realm with Pahua was quite a ride and I was very happy to be on the journey.

Recommendation: Pahua and her companions are sure to entertain and delight middle grade readers as they attempt to finish their quest. This will be a winner with readers who love fantasy and lots of action. There is also plenty of humor too. I'm really looking forward to sharing it with my students and hope that many readers get a chance to meet Pahua.

I absolutely love the Rick Riodan Presents series and this is another shining example of why. The characters are well written and experience some great character growth on their journey. I am really looking forward to learning more about both girls' family dynamics as the series continues as well as seeing more of how they support each other on their journey. I also thought the plot was great and enjoyed the twists that they encountered on their journey. This is a great story and wonderful way to learn about Hmong culture and mythology that young readers might not otherwise know about.

My fourth Rick Riordan presents this year, and it is just as fast moving, and action packed, and filled with mythology as the prior three. In this book, it’s an 11 yr old girl and Hmong myths. It also has a glossary in the back which not only provides some pronunciation of lots of the Hmong words, but which might also help the reader keep track of the myriad of good and evil spirits and gods.
Pahua’s mom works a lot so she’s often responsible for her little brother. No one knows it, but Pahua has been able to see spirits since she was small. When she approaches a woods and accidentally is responsible for an angry spirit snatching away her brother’s soul, she knows she must try to do whatever is necessary to bring it back – even if it means entering a realm she knows little about. But fortunately she meets Zhong, a warrior shaman in training, who steps in to help her. Throwing in humor to lighten the plot, this is a good one and is set up to have a sequel, I am sure.
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but while I have very much enjoyed the Rick Riordan Presents books, I do hope Mr. Riordan finds another story soon that has a boy as the main character or as one of two main characters. As a bookseller, I found girls will read books with boys as main characters, but it’s harder to convince boys to do the same.

Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents Lori M. Lee's middle grade debut about a lonely Hmong girl who discovers she's a powerful shaman warrior in this fantasy inspired by Southeast Asian mythology.

This is a fantastic story. I know nothing about Hmong culture before reading this book. This book made me want to learn more about the culture. This was a fast-paced book that pulls you in and doesn’t want to let you go. I have to say that this is one of my favorite Rick Riordan present books. I can’t wait to put this in my classroom library.

Pahua and her family are refugees from Laos. Her father left them a few years earlier. She can see spirits and has a cat spirit that is her best friend. She made a mistake with a bridge ghost that caused her brother (who is also her best friend) to get sick. Her quest is to save her brother. The quest is full of danger, magic, friendship, and learning who she is and her own strength.

I can’t wait until the installment and to share it with my students. This review is based on an ARC received from the publisher through NetGalley.

I learned about the Hmong people when I took a summer class on immigration law during law school, when our professor assigned a book titled *The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down* by Anne Fadiman. I am not a big nonfiction reader, so I went into the book feeling very meh about reading it, but it turned out to be so good that I ended up loving it. So when I saw that the main character of Lori M. Lee’s middle grade debut, Pahua, was Hmong, I was even more interested in reading it than I already had been. I absolutely loved learning more about the mythology and culture of the Hmong, and I am really hoping that this is the beginning of a series and we get to go on more exploits with Pahua and delve even deeper into these traditional stories. Rick Riordan wrote the introduction to the book, and he suggests reading the author’s note and glossary at the end of the book before starting the story, and I definitely agree. I spent quite a bit of time with the glossary before starting, trying to sound out the Hmong words and phrases, and then continued to flip back to it when needed throughout the story. I enjoy learning even bits and pieces of other languages, and I love that so much of the Hmong language was included in the story. I think it makes for such a rich reading experience!

Pahua is a great main character, and I immediately fell for her. Her personality really shines through and she is so dynamic, and I love her dry sense of humor! One thing she said at the very beginning made me laugh out loud: “Some would say I’m too old for imaginary games. But some people also like olives, so folks can be just plain wrong” (p. 8). A bit later she has another zinger as she’s trying to psych herself up: “I was a master hunter going after her greatest prey. I would be an elf assassin with perfect, deadly aim (an elf like from Lord of the Rings, NOT Elf on the Shelf, which was creep city--so glad that wasn’t a Hmong thing)” (p. 178). At the same time, Pahua’s ability to see - and talk to - spirits that no one else can see has kids at school thinking she’s weird; on top of that, she’s the only Asian kid in her class. As she says, “...being the only Asian kid in my grade already makes me an outcast. Even though I’m surrounded by a world filled with spirits, sometimes I can feel pretty lonely” (p. 9). I think there are going to be a lot of kids who identify with what Pahua feels and who will see themselves in her (even if they can’t see spirits!). I love that the Rick Riordan Presents imprint focuses on exactly these types of stories, so that MG readers either can be introduced to other cultures and mythologies or can (finally) see themselves on the page as the hero of a story.

I feel like I’m rambling because I enjoyed the story so much, so I’ll stop there. Suffice it to say, this is definitely a great read and one I want to shout to the skies about and get into the hands of readers, especially young ones. I encourage everyone to pick up this story of courage and bravery in the face of overwhelming odds, of dedication to family and culture, and of great adventure.

Rating: 5 stars!

**Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for purposes of this blog tour. This review is voluntary on my part and reflects my honest rating and review of the book.

I rally wanted to like this, but then again I'm not the demographic this book was written for. I am about 40 years or so older. I could see the appeal of this book for kids in their pre-teens or early teens really enjoying this or being able to relate to Pahua as an outsider in school.. Since I was not enjoying this I will not force myself to read this and therefore, will not rate this on Goodreads. Since NetGallley requires a rating; I'll give it 3 stars since I can see the appeal for middle graders

Eleven-year-old Hmong girl, Pahua Moua, is a social outcast who accidentally releases an enraged bridge spirit who snatches her little brother's soul. In her quest to rescue his soul she embarks on a dangerous journey with the help of Zhong, a warrior shaman-in-training, a girl Pahua's age whose goal is to prove her worth to her mentor and family. Ghost kitten and Pahua's long time companion, Miv, accompanies the girls on the quest.

This tale is rich in action, adventure, and coming-of-age vibes. One of my favorite phrases is Zhong's observation that Pahua has a hidden talent of being able to "see the truth of someone."

Adults and children alike will relate to the themes of loneliness and the conflict between fitting in and the need to stay true to oneself.

I will probably buy the hard copy to share with students and the audiobook so that I can hear the correct Hmong language.

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide, Rick Riordan Presents for loaning me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love opportunities to learn about cultures and traditions that are outside of my own experience. These books are all fantastic and I highly recommend them.

I received an advance copy of this book via NetGalley.

Rick Riordan's line has done it again--this is another masterful middle grade book that explores a fascinating culture and is a rollicking adventure all the while. Lori M. Lee wrote about Pahua, a young, lonely girl Hmong girl with only a cat spirit and a younger brother as her friends. As I grew up in Central California, I had many Hmong schoolmates, and while I marveled at the elaborate clothing the other girls wore for special occasions, I knew absolutely nothing about their culture. With reason, I'm sure--junior high is all about blending in to some unreal American ideal. Now, I feel like I know a little more, and I wish I'd known more when I was much younger.

Pahua is utterly relatable. She doesn't fit in with her schoolmates. She sees spirits everywhere, including the cat she counts as her best friend. Her knowledge of Hmong mythology is scattershot; her mom doesn't talk about it much (and is always at work at the factory, anyway) and her dad abandoned the family a few years before. She is close to her little brother, though. When Pahua talks to a creepy spirit at a bridge, the thing attacks her--and when her brother falls sick, Pahua realizes he was attacked, too. Pahua takes off on an adventure to save her brother, learning a lot about Hmong spirits and gods--and herself.

To me, this book had a wonderful Studio Ghibli vibe. I could really see this as a vibrant anime in the tone of Spirited Away. It's cozy, a little dark at times, but overall hopeful and empowering.

Thank you to NetGally, Disney Publishing, and Rick Riordan Presents for allowing me an advanced copy.

It is hard to not compare books from this imprint to Percy Jackson but this book while in the same vein was its own thing. I enjoyed the characters and how the world was developed, both were interesting to read about. The story was set up so that I didn't predict the ending, which can sometimes be a hard thing to accomplish for an adult reading a middle grade.

For the audience that this was written for, I believe that this will be for the older middle grade, 7th-9th grade. The themes were important to read about and I am interested in how they will be developed in future books.

My only complaint, and why it is a 4 not a 5 star, was the two stories didn't seem to connect in the first part of the book. I did not understand why the ax was a goal to begin with and that plotline was quickly wrapped up.

Thank you to Rick Riordan Presents and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
In this #OwnVoices fantasy/mythology, Pahua Moua is an 11-year-old Hmong girl who can see spirits. Her best friend is a cat spirit named Miv. Pahua’s father left when she was younger and her mother is very busy so she watches her younger brother, Matt, a lot. One day she joins a group of girls and goes into the woods to a haunted bridge. Because she can see spirits, Pahua accidentally frees the angry bridge spirit who then takes her brother’s soul to the Spirit Realm. On top of that, there are demons trying to kidnap her. Pahua joins up with moody and reluctant Zhong, a warrior shaman in training, and, along with Miv, travel to the various spirit worlds to find Matt’s soul before it’s too late.
I really enjoyed this latest entry in the RRP collection. It was very interesting learning about their culture and rituals. Some of the gods’ names and other Hmong words are not pronounced the way they are written so definitely bookmark the glossary. I’m sure there will be a sequel at some point and I will be looking forward to it. I would recommend this book for grades 4 and up.
#PahuaAndTheSoulStealer #RickRiordanPresents #NetGalley

I adored this book. The author's writing style is easy and you fall in love with the characters fast. Pahua is an amazing protagonist and I can't wait to see what the rest of her adventures look like.

The story is steeped in Hmong history and mythology. Pahua is an older sister and her little brother Matt is her best friend, second only to the cat spirit that only she can see, Miv.

Pahua is an outcast though not by her own making. She's the only Hmong girl in her school and the other kids let her know that she doesn't fit it. She's judged for her food and everything else that makes her stick out.

So how does she deal with it? She pretends. To be a dragon slayer or to be hunting a dangerous monster or any other number of things that help her feel brave enough to face that trials she faces.

Then Matt gets sick and we meet Zhong. Two Hmong girls who must work together to save Pahua's little brother.

I don't want to give anything away. This book was great. I saw so much of my younger self is Pahua and I can honestly say I've never seen a Hmong girl lead in any of the traditionally published books I've read. Which is a problem that needs to be rectified.

The only big name work of fiction I've seen Hmong people is what Gran Torino and that movie is full of serious issues.

This book will give all kinds of Hmong children the ability to see that they can be the hero the same as everyone else.

It was a brilliant read. There's a glossary in the back full of pronunciations and information about some of the things that the characters encounter throughout the story. I love glossaries in fantasy books, so that's always going to be a win.

This book was incredible and a fast read because I couldn't put it down.

Five (5) stars.

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.