CW: Wounds (Mild); Self-Harm (Stabbing); Caring for/Experiencing Dementia/Alzheimer’s

This book provides a dual narrative, one from Monica Tsai, who builds connections via computers and social media, and her grandmother, Yun, who builds connections from a family power to recapture any writing from a pencil. In between there is a lesbian love story, grappling with digital storytelling and data ethics (Monica) and Yun struggling to write down her past in a letter to her cousin, Meng, before Alzheimer’s robs her of the ability. I found the two narratives well balanced and equally interesting, which is often hard to achieve with dual narratives. I would recommend this book for fans of Asian history, family histories, and magical realism.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the advanced reader copy.

When Monica Tsai comes home from college to see her grandparents, she realizes that things are not okay. Her grandmother is at the beginning of Alzheimer's and Monica is willing to do anything--including take a semester off from college and work part-time for her professor who's creating a tech startup around connecting people through online journaling--to help. So when her grandmother makes a request that Monica help find her long lost cousin, Monica readily uses her access to the tech database to find the cousin, and in the process she learns about the many buried secrets in her family, stretching all the way back to their roots in Shanghai.

I find that I'm still trying to piece together exactly how I feel about it. I have a feeling this is a book that will stick with me for a while. The premise is just plain strange (no spoilers): the way these women Reforge pencils is unexpected and made me wonder about the utility of pencils and why the author chose them as the vehicle for collecting memories. Monica is, at times, incredibly frustrating in her passiveness, but seeing her emotional journey unfold was worth the read. If you're interested in a lightly speculative novel that has a lot of heart and digs into the importance of memory and family, this is a great option.

The Phoenix Pencil Company came out on June 3, 2025.

I was excited to find The Phoenix Pencil Company in NetGalley as a Read Now. The story goes between two timelines and viewpoints - Monica’s in modern times and her grandmother Yun’s set mainly in China’s past, starting close to the time of WW2. Yun’s family owned a pencil-making company in Shanghai, and these pencils were very special and added elements of magic to the story.

Overall, I enjoyed the first half of the book, especially the historical chapters told from Yun’s viewpoint. Learning more about China’s history through Yun’s eyes was fascinating, and I liked the magical realism. However, around the last third of the book, I found the magic of the pencils to be more strange than interesting. I saw another reviewer describe some parts of the book as giving an icky feeling and agree that was a part that I was not interested in. Additionally, I finished the book with several unanswered questions about the pencils and Monica’s family. I would give this one 3.5 stars but wouldn’t rule out trying this author again.

An absolutely gorgeous cover and book. Loved the parallel details and slowly uncoiling mysteries, backed by a well-constructed emotional well of heart and soul.

Allison King is a new author and this is her debut novel. The descript and the cover are what captured my attention and caused me to pick up this book. I am glad I did.

Description:
Monica Tsai spends most days on her computer, journaling the details of her ordinary life and coding for a program that seeks to connect strangers online. A self-proclaimed recluse, she's always struggled to make friends and, as a college freshman, finds herself escaping into a digital world, counting the days until she can return home to her beloved grandparents. They are now in their nineties, and Monica worries about them constantly—especially her grandmother, Yun, who survived two wars in China before coming to the States, and whose memory has begun to fade.

Though Yun rarely speaks of her past, Monica is determined to find the long-lost cousin she was separated from years ago. One day, the very program Monica is helping to build connects her to a young woman, whose gift of a single pencil holds a surprising clue. Monica’s discovery of a hidden family history is exquisitely braided with Yun’s own memories as she writes of her years in Shanghai, working at the Phoenix Pencil Company. As WWII rages outside their door, Yun and her cousin, Meng, learn of a special power the women in their family the ability to Reforge a pencil’s words. But when the government uncovers their secret, they are forced into a life of espionage, betraying other people’s stories to survive.

Combining the cross-generational family saga and epistolary form of A Tale for the Time Being with the uplifting, emotional magic of The Midnight Library, Allison King’s stunning debut novel who owns and inherits our stories? The answers and secrets that surface on the page may have the unerasable power to reconnect a family and restore a legacy.

My Thoughts:
This is a tragic tale about a family who owned a pencil company. The women had a unique ability with pencils and memory that was tragically exploited - though I think their use during the war at first was probably a good thing, it was just that later it just wasn't. What befell the girls was hardship and pain. A series of events separated them and they had not found their way back to each other. When Monica searches for Yun's cousin, what she finds is unexpected. The book is a story of family, of pain, tragic events, hope and romance. It covers a great deal of themes and provides the reader with a great deal of history and Chinese culture. This is a wonderful debut novel. Congratulations to Allison King!

Thanks to William Morrow through Netgalley for an advance copy.

The Phoenix Pencil Company is a fantastic debut novel. I was completely drawn in by the dual storyline, which was both layered and emotionally rich. The narrative masterfully weaves together heartache, love, and reunion, delivering everything I hoped for in a compelling and heartfelt story.

The complexity of the plot doesn’t overwhelm—it enhances. Each thread unfolds with intention, building toward a beautifully satisfying conclusion. What stood out most to me were the characters. Allison King crafted emotionally resonant, deeply human characters that feel real and relatable. Their struggles and growth made the story feel authentic, and I found myself truly invested in their journeys.

This novel left a lasting impression. It’s a story about second chances, the weight of the past, and the hope of healing. A beautifully written debut that sets the bar high for what’s to come.

This is a tough one for me to review as reading this was a really mixed experience for me. I liked the premise and the settings, but as the book went on it started to drag for me. I became somewhat tired of the two younger characters. I wanted more to be offered from Meng's perspective which was only brought forward near the end and was too brief. I thought the total lack of explanation for Monica's mother's behavior was really odd, and didn't really understand her father at all either. I also thought too much time was spent on repeatedly describing the physical nature of the Reforging process which felt like an unnecessary and unpleasant detail to repeat over and over. There were aspects of this book I really enjoyed but overall my experience was frustrating.

This was a beautifully woven together story outside my usual genre. It follows a family with the power to reforge pencils bringing memories back to life. There are two timelines - present day US and WWII Shanghai.

This was a unique book about family, love, and culture that I would recommend to fans of literary or historical fiction.

A curious book with unique magic to make us think about how we try our best to survive the hardest of times.

This is such a fascinating debut read! It’s the power of stories and family and how those bonds can be life changing. Really unique concept. Perfect for anyone who likes magical realism yet it’s a good introduction to magical realism at the same time. This was great and I can’t wait to see what this new author gives us next.

There was so much good about this book but it ultimately fell short for me.

I really appreciated the discussion on social media and personal narrative/history. Yun’s story was SO immersive and captivating. I enjoyed learning about Shanghai during WWII and the magical realism of the pencils was an enticing aspect.

Unfortunately Monica’s story fell a little short and I thought her story with Louise ended poorly.

This is wonderful historical fiction layered with a bit of magical realism and a dual time line. Monica is 18, a whiz with computers, and thrilled when she finds her grandmother Meng's long lost cousin Yun (always referred to as "you") in Shanghai. In the present Monica's grandmother has been diagnosed with Alzheimers and she's writing her story for Monica. Their family owned a pencil company and the women owned the gift of being able to plunge a used pencil into their wrists and have the words written by the pencil appear on the page. Odd gift to be sure but one which became key during the occupation of Shanghai during WWII and later in the struggle between the Communists and Nationalists when the women were used to help exchange information. And then later by the Taiwan government to keep tabs on Taiwan citizens. Unusually for a dual time line, this is one where both plot lines are compelling as Monica becomes more than just a vessel for Meng but a young woman learning about herself. It's beautifully written and the characters engaging. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Great read I highly recommend.

This book was unique. It was part family generational saga and part magical realism. The story in the past and present came intertwined seamlessly. The character development was excellent as well. All of the characters were compelling. This was an unforgettable read and I highly recommend it to all lovers of inter generational sagas.

This heartwarming story with multiple POVs details the rich lives of a grandmother and her granddaughter. Through love, heartbreak, and war, we relive tough times and happy times through diary entries, while reflecting on the past, present, and future.

This ASTOUNDED me. I’m not really a magical realism reader but this might have changed that. The dual perspectives worked so well & I loved all the themes in the book from the threat of war and surveillance through to data ownership and queer discovery. I thought the characters were really well written and in particular loved Monica’s relationship with her grandparents. Just phenomenal. One of the best things I’ve read all year.

I enjoyed this dual timeline debut that has a unique take on a Chinese American family history during the Japanese occupation, a moving Sapphic romance and a fun magical realism situation in which pencils can be manipulated to send messages across time. Really unique and good on audio. Would definitely recommend it and made for a good Pride month pick from the Reese Book Club. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

I was a bit nervous going into this because I can be very picky about historical fiction books, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this. It’s a very unique premise for a book and grabbed me right away. I also liked the structure quite a bit - the different POVs were well balanced and the journal entries never read too passive, which can be hard to accomplish.

Additionally, I enjoyed the exploration of different types of relationships, from familial to romantic, which really drove this story. However, while I enjoyed the romance itself depicted, I didn’t like the sex aspect in the context of the story, particularly the reforging. While not getting into spoilers, I thought it was a bizarre choice because a) the mechanics of how it worked were confusing, and b) ultimately it didn’t really add anything to the story.

Other than that, though, I quite liked this book. It was interesting and compelling, and I learned a lot about Chinese history and culture. Definitely check it out!

Thank you to William Morrow and Netgalley for this ARC. The Phoenix Pencil Company is out today!

This debut novel did not disappoint. I love how she blended a story with modern day and the past into the grandparent’s and granddaughter’s POVs. We are taken on path of self-discovery while unraveling family secrets during times of war internally and externally in both their perspective. At the same time, they are seeking forgiveness and trying to heal a long lost connection. The blend of generational stories and magical realism held me captivated to turn each page to find out the family secrets, betrayals, and surviving war. If you are looking for a heavy read with magical realism, sapphic romance, and attachment healing. Check it out!

‼️trigger warnings: grief, war, SA, self-injury

Thank you so much William Morrow for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely loved the book!

The Phoenix Pencil Company by Allison King is a beautifully layered blend of historical literary fiction and magical realism, a genre combination I not only enjoy but genuinely love. This story delivers on the promise of uniqueness, weaving in themes of sisterhood, family legacy, and memory with a magical twist.

Monica, the protagonist, is raised by her grandparents, who harbor painful, untold memories from their youth. Part of the novel is set during World War II, when Japan occupied China. During this time, her grandmother Wong Yun and Meng (Yun's cousin) were just teenagers. Now in their 90s, Monica’s grandparents hold the keys to a legacy she must uncover before it’s too late.

What I found most compelling was the book’s core concept: the capturing and recreation of memories and stories. It’s a powerful and poignant narrative device that gives the novel its heart. That said, while the historical backdrop is important, this is more of a generational family saga than a deep dive into wartime events.

The pacing did feel slow at times, and I found my attention waning occasionally. A slightly brisker narrative would have enhanced the reading experience for me. Still, if you’re drawn to magical realism intertwined with historical and literary themes, this book is worth picking up.

Thank you to William Morrow Group for providing a copy of this book.

CW: Certain elements in this story while essential to the plot may be extremely triggering. Please read with care.

There was something there in this, but I ended up DNF. Too long and I just did not care enough. I loved the concept but it falls short. So so bored by the end I just couldn't keep going.