Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind is the first in a new middle grade modern fantasy series inspired by Japanese mythology. The book is not part of the Rick Riordan Presents imprint but very much feels like a book from that line - a middle grade fantasy that feels like Percy Jackson except featuring a different type of mythology at its core (in this case, Japanese). And well it's an obviously reliable formula and I've liked a lot of the RR Presents books, so I was definitely intrigued by this book's cover and description when it showed up on NetGalley. And well I've definitely enjoyed a bunch of YA and other books based upon Japanese Mythology, so while it's not my culture, I was very hopeful.

And Momo Arashima largely delivers a very fun middle grade story that deals with some real serious issues even as it has its protagonist Momo going through a very entertaining adventure through its take on Japanese mythology. The story follows a bunch of standard tropes for a book like this - a protagonist with a half mythological heritage she knows nothing about, an adventure that keeps running her into various creatures and beings from that mythology that represent new allies, foes or other challenges, etc. - but these tropes are done well and there's enough kind of originalish here to stand out. Most notably, the story deals with Momo not just being an outcast from her middle grade compatriots, but also her being forced on an adventure with a boy who is seemingly one of those callous jocks even as he was once her friend, an Asian boy adopted by White parents who has seemingly joined the group ostracizing Momo even as he doesn't seem to realize that's what he's doing. And so we have ideas here about rage, about conformity and white privilege, and more alongside the usual middle school protagonist tropes, and it works pretty well...even as it leaves a lot open for future sequels (a second book will be released soon this year).



Plot Summary:
Momo Arashima's 12th Birthday is starting poorly. She's already the outcast among outcasts at her middle school, with a fellow classmate ranking her dead last in popularity in a list that was spread throughout the school...which has only led even the other outcasts to shun her for the sake of their own popularity. But her mom seems utterly ill when she wakes up and to have forgotten her birthday entirely...and when she remember it's only to give her a strange piece of skin for "protection." Meanwhile, she's seeing things: like a fox in human clothing that no one else sees...and that gets her mocked mercilessly when she mentions it near the popular crowd. Thankfully that awfulness seems to be getting better when she's gifted by a myterious sender a bunch of gift cards to use at the mall.

Unfortunately, even that goes wrong as Momo finds herself attacked by a Shikome - a Death Hag - that no one else can see...other than Danny, the boy who used to be her friend before becoming one of the popular jocks in school. Soon Momo finds herself rescued, along with Danny, by the fox she saw - named Niko - who tells her the truth: Momo's mother is a kami of the Island of Mysteries who is dying as the Island is invaded by oni through a portal to the underworld, Yomi. And the only one who can save Momo's mother is...Momo herself, as she is the only one who can both set forth on the island to defeat the Oni who also won't be bound to stay there forever.

But Momo isn't some brave hero - she's a girl who's secretly afraid of all too much and keeps her own anger hidden deep inside, lest she do something bad if she let it out. And her companions aren't much help either - Danny doesn't seem to understand how he and his friends have hurt her in Middle School and Niko the fox just seems to know things but not to have any magical power to do much about them. Will Momo really be able to survive an adventure among the beings from Japanese myth that she's always been told about all her life - among oni, kami, gods and more - and save her mother? Or is she doomed to failure, and the rest of the human world doomed with her?

Momo Arashima plays in out in many ways like a pretty classic tale of myth-driven adventure YA/Middle-Grade fantasy - our heroine is a normal kid in Momo who discovers a hidden part-mythological heritage (her mom is a Kami, or a Japanese spirit) and is forced on an adventure which takes her through various aspects of a culture's (Japanese here) mythology. And so the book takes us from adventures involving death hags to ones involving tengu to quests for famous legendary swords to dealings with an angry underground god, to battles with Oni, etc. etc. As the author makes clear in the author's note at the end of the book, there are many stories involving these myths and many different versions, so this story's version of all these myths and beings is in some ways a combination of various versions and in other ways her own spins on them. And they're some really fun wild spins at times, which gives this book a lot of life and originality, especially for example with her take on the god Susanō and how she explains all the myths in the glossary.

But that fun is tempered well by some serious issues, especially middle-grade/YA issues but not exclusively, faced by the book's characters. Momo is, unlike a lot of myth adventure characters, not someone who craves adventure and certainly not someone who thinks of herself as brave - all she wants is to be normal and to be not an outcast, ranked dead last in popularity in her middle school class and made fun of by every popular girl. So the adventure she's forced on is especially rough as she keeps being forced to be the hero, even when she's on the verge of a panic attack at nearly every second. Making it worse are two separate issues: first, she's accompanied by Danny, the asian boy adopted by White parents, who used to be her friend as a young kid (and who was told the same myths by her mother) but who has since grown into a jock who hangs with the popular crowd who helped ostracize Momo at school. Momo thus has to deal with working with someone who should've been her friend but instead turned into something worse - and to make it even harder, he doesn't even seem to realize that he's done that or that, after the adventure is over, that he might go back on doing that and hurting her emotionally. Secondly, Momo finds power within herself in a rage at all the suffering she's gone through, and she is incredibly afraid of that rage and what she might do if she gives in and who else she might wind up hurting.

The book has no easy answers for Momo's struggles, at least not in this installment (this is the first of a trilogy), but it uses them to tell a strong story with some serious themes that will resonate for many of its young reader-base. It even uses them to discuss the issue of conformity and how people of color often try to code switch and pretend to be white to try to avoid being ostracized...something that turns out to be the case for Danny. The book isn't perfect - some plot twists are pretty predictable for example and will be well telegraphed even for a younger audience - but its themes are excellently done, its characters relatable to both its audience and adults, and it never tries to take an easy way out just to resolve things nicely.

It all ends up being a pretty enjoyable middle grade book package, one I'd definitely recommend for a younger audience. The book resolves its plot arc well, so readers could stop here, but also has a sequel hook that will lead into its 2024 successor, and I may be back for that. Worth a pickup for younger readers or for adults looking for media for their teens.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children’s for this earc. As usual, these are my personal thoughts and opinions. I am not being payed to leave a good review.

This would’ve been a four star read for me if not for one thing that was thrown in there that makes it a 3.75 star. This is a minor spoiler so look for the “*” if you want to know where it starts and ends.

*My biggest issue with this book was at the end, Danny (and the other characters) blamed his white parents for how he turned out. I would’ve understood why they added it more if his parents were doing it on purpose because they were racist and wanted him to act white. I think that would’ve been perfectly understandable, but this felt random and like a last minute add. I’m sorry but Danny is responsible for his own actions with how he treated Momo and other people. Did how his parents raise him effect how he turned out? Absolutely. But the book even says that they really love him and were trying their best to raise him to be happy and successful. They weren’t purposely raising him to be “white.” They did what they thought was right. Parents are humans too and make a ton of mistakes so I felt that this part was random and uncalled for.*

On the other hand, I loved everything else. The characters were portrayed so well. Everyone had a unique personality. The setting was so fun and interesting. I loved all of the Japanese mythology and culture that we got to see. Suguiro does a fantastic jobs developing themes and I felt like they related to everyone. I especially related to the friendship problems Danny and Momo were going through because I experienced something very similar. The character development was on point, and the portrayal of middle schoolers was scary accurate. I honestly can’t wait to see what the author has in store because this was so magical, fun, and heartwarming.

This was a fun, fraught adventure of myth, self-discovery, and friendship. I enjoyed the ever evolving relationship between Momo and Danny as much as the exploration of Japanese myth.

All and all this book was an okay for me, but I can see people (adults and YAs) will love it. This book was well written, but I couldn’t make any connection with the characters. Once again not for me, but will be love by many.

Momo Arashima grew up on Japanese folklore stories from her mom. On her 12th birthday, after her mother falls ill she has to use the stories her mom taught her to save her mom and the world.

Things I liked:
I liked the lore and the mythology that was brought into this book. I'm always looking for non-western storytelling.
I love any sort of gotta go on a quest plot and this book had all the elements.

Things I wanted to see:
I wanted to see more from her friendship with Danny. Him being hot and cold was a little disconcerting. I liked the concept of them being friends again after a falling out but it felt like they were strangers at some points.
The pacing felt a little bit off at some points.

Would I buy it:
I would buy it for my classroom library. I'm trying to diversify the options that my students see and I think that this would appeal to my students who like PJO or any time of fairy tale retelling

Momo Arashima is a great addition to the middle grade fantasy/mythology genre! A wonderful adventure story filled with messages of being true to who you are and the importance of family. I loved Momo's strength, even when she didn't realize she had it, and I think this book will be a fabulous addition to any library. I cannot wait to continue Momo's story!

Momo discovers her mom has been keeping a big secret for her whole life. Now the whole world is in grave danger of being overrun by shadow creatures unless Momo can save her mom by resealing the portal.

I enjoyed the world created by this story and the plot was well thought out and dramatic, but I had a really hard time with Momo’s reaction to things. Just the constant state of anxiety was exhausting. It did serve a purpose to the over all arc of the story but for me it was too much.

I adored Momo in this stunning series opener! I loved watching Momo's adventure unfold as we are thrust into the world of gods and spirits. This book has it all--adventure, humor, and the emotions! My heart hurt every time Momo recalled the story of her parents, and I could completely relate to her experience of losing a loved one and having more questions than answers. 10/10 recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me access to the free advanced digital copy of this book.

This was a delightful fantasy story that my middle grader really enjoyed. She rated it 5 stars and absolutely loved the adventure. She enjoyed the characters, particularly Momo, and the journey Momo embarks on. I really appreciated the real-life elements that were included and how it gives children plenty to think about. Momo experiences some hard things in her life, and just like real-life, she has to work through them, tough as it may be. There are plenty of good lessons within these pages, and it’s definitely one I’d recommend for anyone who likes a good adventure with a spunky and fun heroine at the center.

Fans of Percy Jackson willing to adventure into stories that maybe they are less familiar with might want to put down Greek mythology and try out Japanese stories instead.

The writing style and way of weaving in characters from traditional stories are very reminiscent of Rick Riordan's books. They have some fun modernizations in what they wear and the activities they do, and some characters come up unexpectedly while the main characters are traveling like they do in Riordan's books. There's a similar sense of humor and scattering of various elements of folklore. Not all are immediately explained, similar to Rick Riordan's books, but the book still flows even if the reader is unfamiliar with these elements. A glossary at the back provides definitions to help readers unfamiliar with Japanese culture and stories.

Momo is a typical girl at this age. She's struggling to make her way through socially, and she has a lot of fears and hesitations about who she is as she grows up. She has to fight her insecurities and self-debt to do what she needs to do to save her mom and, by extension, the world. One of her traveling companions is a little less traditional. Daniel isn't a friend. He's a cool guy at school who teases her at school and stopped talking to her when they had once been a friend. The dynamics between these two characters as they navigate their history together and their different approaches to getting through school feel realistic and relatable. Daniel and Momo are both far from perfect, and their difficulties trusting each other and getting along add interest throughout the story. The separate insecurities of their third traveling companion go to create interesting character dynamics and more tension.

This book is a fun, entertaining adventure with interesting interpretations of Japanese stories. Young readers--and even older readers who grew up with Percy Jackson and would like to return the excitement of discovering those kinds of stories for the first time--are likely to enjoy this. I am excited to read more books in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the copy sent me for review.

Many children share imaginary stories with their family. (My own father and his family made up tales about an invisible trickster named Harvey who visited their home.) But if you share those stories at school and act as if you believe them, the other kids begin to think you are strange and you soon find yourself at the bottom of the pecking order. That is where Momo finds herself as the book begins. Even her best friend from childhood has not only abandoned her for the cool kids, he even joins in with their teasing.

The problem is...those stories Momo's mother told her were real, because her mother is a Shinto goddess who has chosen to marry a mortal and have a family. Momo has talked herself out of believing in figures from folklore like kappas or oni or talking foxes, but on her twelfth birthday everything from both sides of her life collide. Suddenly magical creatures are after her and her mother is wasting away. Should she trust a talking fox and go on a quest?

This story kicks off a series filled with Japanese mythology and folklore. Momo is a sympathetic character dealing with a mother who can't seem to cope since her marine biologist husband was lost at sea. Momo is left to deal with the details of daily life, the bullying at school (among other things - a viral video of a particularly embarrassing incident), and the betrayal of her best friend. After all that a few demons and monsters may not seem too challenging.

The book ends with a few problems solved, but more issues and dangers left to confront, so there will be plenty more action in the next book. Perfect for fans of Rick Riordan Presents and similar tales that blend friendship, adventure, and the mythology of cultures around the world.

Spirited and action packed middle grade story centered around Japanese mythology. Momo is a bit of an outcast; she was rated number 71 (out of 71) in her middle school's popularity rating. She has to deal with bullies, and her mother seems to live in her own world, where Japanese gods and goddesses and demons (oni) are real. All she really wants is a normal life. Unfortunately that's not to be... For Momo's mother's stories turn out to be eerily true. When a talking fox named Niko shows up and Momo discovers that her mother is a goddess (!), she is whisked off on a whirlwind adventure to hopefully save not just her mother's life, but the entire world as well.

I had such fun following along with this adventure, learning about Japanese folklore, and watching Momo, Danny, and Niko grow throughout the story. Lovely character development. Poor Momo struggles with being the "weird girl", which I think we can all relate to, but in the end her differences help her to save the world. Danny has worked to hide his differences in order to fit in, but is popularity really the key to happiness? Obviously not. The different figures from Japanese folklore and the various settings the characters visit were wonderfully described (and I loved the glossary at the end, which provided extra info and pronunciation). The action really shines through in ending chapters. At its heart this story is about friendship and finding your strength. I can't wait to see what the future holds for Momo and her friends.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A little uneven, but ultimately a satisfying fantasy adventure based in Shinto lore (think Percy Jackson and the multitude of books that have riffed on that concept). I was particularly impressed by the author's decision to not neatly resolve the conflict between Momo and Danny (as well as the decision to address Danny's conflict with his own heritage in a unique manner). I'd look forward to more from this (hopefully?) series or this author generally

Momo is a relatable 12-year-old that finds herself suddenly battling for her mother's life and for her own with a crew of ragtag characters including a friend turned enemy turned back into friend! Who would believe that a regular kid like Momo has the power to battle against demons?
Misa Sugiura does a great job of weaving Japanese folklore throughout the story as Momo comes to the realization that her mom is actually a Shinto goddess, making her a demi-goddess. Who could have believe that? Certainly not Momo herself!
Fantasy and adventure-loving middle grade readers will surely enjoy the first book in this series!

What a fun read! Another smash hit from the Riordan Presents collection, this adventure will
be huge with middle grade readers. This would be a perfect addition to a classroom library or elementary/middle school library.

There are so many of these middle grade fantasies that are about a normal kid (or not so normal) finding that a culture's myths and legends are real and they must go on some quest and face various obstacles to save the day, like Percy Jackson. And I enjoy almost all of them. Momo is an outcast girl with a single mother who often has trouble taking care of herself, forcing Momo to be the parent. But it turns out her mother is actually a goddess and in great trouble. Momo has to go on a quest to save her and teams up with a fox being and an exfriend from school. I enjoyed this one, but it's not one of my favorites. I think a middle schooler would enjoy it though and maybe learn something about popularity, bullying, and being kind.

Momo Arashima is a seventh grader just trying to get through school while being the most unpopular kid in her grade. Her world is changed forever when Niko, a magical fox, comes to her on her twelth birthday, and she finally learns her parentage. Her mother is the goddess Takiri-bime-no-mikami, daughter of Susano, Ruler of the Seas, and she is dying. Momo, Niko, and her ex-friend Danny must go on a quest to save her mother when the island her life is bound to is breached by oni. Along the way, she meets many kami and oni that she recognizes from her old stories, and Momo must come to terms with who she is, and what she is capable of, in order to save the world.

Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind by Misa Sigiura is amazing. It is the Japanese mythology equivalent to the Percy Jackson series. It has a lovable trio, a young, determined, and brave protagonist, and the action that comes with an adventure challenging the gods. Even though I am older than the normal demographic, as an Asian American I identified with this book so much. Getting to learn so much about Japanese mythology was so exciting, and each god was depicted so well, I was inspired to learn more each of them after finishing this book. Momo, Danny, and Niko had such great chemistry as a trio, and I am so excited for future installments. I absolutely will buy the whole series for my future kids!

This book def gave my read riordan vibes!! I love this quest like story!! I also really liked the trio of characters forced to work together!! This book def had some pacing issues but overal it was a quick read!! I really loved the mythology elements as well!!

I am normally not a middle grade reader, ( I don't think I've read a middle grade level book since I was in middle grade) but when I noticed this was a story with Japanese elements and mythologies from someone who has had around the same lived experiences I have, I just had to try this book out). This was a book that went straight to my heart. I didn't realize how much I missed the stories I grew up with until I read this book. The action, the sorrow, and frankly the silliness/annoyances the characters experienced were so tangible. The characters were familiar and nostalgic (and silly), and just a joy to read about. As a Japanese-American, I do not often see own voices about someone like me, but I am looking forward to finding more. And to do that I am continuing Momo's journey. I cannot wait!