The Gate, the Girl and the Dragon is a nice fairy tale of a sort. The young lion and the little girl are a good set of protagonists, funny, sweet but also prone to fear and mistakes. I liked the circular way of the tale; how side stories became important in the main plot. I would have liked a bit more explanation of the world of the stone spirits before jumping right into the plot, but things became more clear as the story went on. The illustrations are welcome, and well done.

I have fond memories of reading Grace Lins, Chinese menu ARC before it came out. I remember that in particular, it was very special to me, because it had a story about scallion pancakes, which my grandma has made for quite some time. I ended up using that recipe, and that story for my schools summer reading project. When I found out the Grace Lin was going to be at children's Institute this year, I knew she would have to be one of my first stops. This book was a delight, and beautifully put together! My group of Middle Grade readers are ALL over this one!

After having read Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin with my child, I knew I would automatically sign up for the next Chinese fantasy novel by Grace Lin. I was thrilled that she published a new novel and the premise revolving around stone lions captured my attention. This novel read slightly different than her other Chinese fantasy series in the sense that the chapters shifted between different settings whereas the other ones had a more linear plot. I appreciated her addressing the topics of grief, along with unity, and friendships (among the lion, the girl, and the dragon) working together for the greater good. The illustrations were very helpful in depicting the characters. This is a great read for middle grade readers who enjoy adventure, folklore/fantasy, with deeper meanings to take away from the book!

I am thankful to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy to review this book.

The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon is the sort of book I might’ve picked up when I was younger and utterly loved. Grace Lin crafts a story with the feel of—and elements of—a myth, but with all the fixings of a modern world. It makes it feel as though you can truly step into this story from your doorstep, and as though folktales are as relevant and mysterious as they ever were.

If you haven’t yet read one of Grace Lin’s books, you’re in for a treat here. Every one of her stories is full of vibrant illustrations, atmospheric prose, and a multilayered storyline that blends myths while feeling half like a myth itself. The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon is certainly different from Lin’s earlier books—for example, it’s the first of her fantasy novels set in modern times—but if you like this one, you’ll definitely want to read her other books, starting with When the Mountain Meets the Moon. One of my favorite aspects of Grace Lin’s books is the beautiful artwork, and this book is no exception. I love Lin’s vivid artwork that truly brings the characters to life, and if you haven’t yet had a chance to check it out, this is definitely a good book to start with!

The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon is full of stories within this story, blending past, present, and every different narrative into something truly beautiful. Highly recommended!

Another beautiful story from Grace Lin, with endearing characters, adapted folktales, and imaginative worlds. The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon reminds readers to slow down and look at those around you with your heart, not just your eyes.
I love stories within stories, so this book certainly delivered! Reading this book is like peeling back the layers of an onion, as we learn more about each character and their motivations. Lulu is lost, trying to get her father to see and hear her since the loss of her mother. Jin is lost in the human world after making a tragic mistake. Should they listen to a worm who says he is a dragon? Or is the dragon in the sea the one telling the truth? With themes of sacrifice, forgiveness, family, grief, duty, and love, this is a story that calls readers in to imagine, to dream, and to see the world in a new way.

This book is like watching a Pixar movie, in the way that it's marketed to kids but as an adult you might catch yourself crying (at least that's what happened with me).

The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon is about Jin, the cub lion statue who is cut off from the spirit realm who teams up with a young girl and a worm. It's not hard to figure out that the young girl is a stone spirit, as she is the only person besides the worm (who is actually a dragon), that can see Jin as who he really is in the human world. However, the clock is ticking as Jin needs to find the Sacred Sphere in this human realm so that he can return to his parents back in the Spirit Realm. Little does Jin know, as the Sacred Sphere is no longer in the Spirit Realm, his family and friends are coming to a new and unknown season. All Jin does know, is he is on a deadline to find the sphere and be reunited with them, or be stuck forever amongst the humans.

Grace Lin, what have you done? I was completely emotionally wrecked by this story. Jin's relationship with his parents, finding his way and earning their acceptance. Jin's parents doing their utmost to be reunited with Jin and learning to be the parents Jin wants and needs, the young girl and her family's story (HEARTBREAKING), and the sage wisdom that comes from the former dragon about patience and hard work. Oh, let's not even touch upon talking about learning to deal with having to face possible endings and learning to deal with those situations? This book definitely talks about some heavy things for a children's book! Or maybe I'm just reading too deep into it.

Overall, this was a beautifully written story, taking a twist on some Chinese mythology, mixed with an adventurous tale. I highly recommend reading for all ages (ages that it's recommended and up as there are some themes/topics that might be difficult to explain and grasp).

Thank you Netgalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

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I just finished The Gate, The Girl, and the Dragon by Grace Lin, and I have to tell you—it’s such a sweet and magical story. It’s technically a middle grade book, but honestly, I think anyone who loves folklore or a heartwarming adventure would enjoy it.

The main character is Jin, who’s actually a Stone Lion—like one of those guardian statues you see at gates in Chinese temples. His job is to watch over the Old City Gate and protect this powerful object called the Sacred Sphere. But Jin’s not really into all that. What he does care about is becoming a soccer (or zuqiu) star. He’s totally obsessed with it.

So naturally, he messes up big time—he accidentally kicks the Sacred Sphere into the human world and gets locked out of the spirit realm. From there, he has to team up with a human girl (who can hear mysterious voices) and this hilarious little worm who claims he’s a dragon. It sounds a little quirky, and it is—but in the best way.

What I loved most is that it’s not just an adventure for the sake of excitement. There’s a really lovely message in it about duty and doing the right thing, even when it’s not what you want to do. Jin grows a lot over the course of the book, and the friendships he builds with the girl and the “dragon” worm are surprisingly emotional.

Plus, the art in this book is stunning. It’s full-color and woven throughout the chapters, which makes it even more immersive. You can tell Grace Lin poured a lot of care into the cultural details and visual elements.

It reminded me a bit of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, but this one feels even more accessible for younger readers or anyone looking for a quick but meaningful story. It also touches on Chinese beliefs and traditions in a way that’s really engaging and respectful.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the book and my honest review. I highly recommend this one!

Grace Lin has done it again — this vivid, fast-paced tale is packed with heart, wonder, and a beautifully imagined world you’ll want to return to again and again. ✨

Our protagonist, Jin, is stubborn, determined, and deeply relatable. A magical being stuck on the wrong side of the gate, trying to navigate our modern human world. The story unfolds through a parallel plot format, switching between perspectives as the narrative deepens. For older or advanced middle grade readers, this structure is a rich, rewarding experience — though it may be challenging for younger readers or those newer to dual/parallel storytelling.

The writing is immersive and lyrical (no surprise if you’re already a fan of Lin’s work), and the characters are full of depth and personality. The pacing is quick, the world-building lush.

📚 Perfect for readers who love layered stories, magical realism, and protagonists who don’t give up — even when the odds are stacked high.

(3.5 stars, rounded up)

This book is absolutely gorgeous! The story is told in overlapping layers -- the world of mythical creatures, the legends behind them, and modern city life. The characters move between the three as the story unfolds. Jin, the stone lion cub, is forced into a role he does not want, to save both his world and the mortal world. For grades 4 & up.

Grace Lin is the author of one of my most favorite middle grade fantasy books, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. My adult daughter (who loves it too) and I still talk about it because we loved so much. I was very excited to read another book from Lin.

I loved how this story is told. Lin weaves a beautiful book with mythical magical creatures and characters from present day. Inside this book, tells many little stories of characters and their backstories. I loved the Chinese folklore and the adventures of the characters. I don’t want to summarize much because of spoilers but I loved how this story is told and the sweet Jin, Lulu, and the sculptor. How the book comes together is so touching and sweet.

I received an eARC for tour purposes and a NetGalley approval for the audio from the publisher. All views are my own.

This is another beautiful and compelling "stories within stories" book from author Grace Lin.

This author is fantastic at weaving together narratives to make a breathtaking adventure come together, all based off traditional Chinese folklore. I love the drawings at each chapter, as they add even more to the story. I was rooting for the little lion cub right away!

This is my first book written by Grace Lin and it was incredible. I have to admit I have some others written by hear but as yet have been nervous but not anymore.


The Gate, The Girl and The Dragon was more than a story about Jin and Lulu and the other characters it was about grief and how it can take over and it is about finding about others and learning about them. Jin certainly had an adventure but he grew and I loved that but my favourite thing of all were the stories scattered about the book based on Chinese Folklore.


I feel so honoured that I got to read this wonderful book before publication and for all the reasons above it receives 5 stars.

Imaginative merging of modern-day adventure and Chinese folktales for a warm and wonderful children’s story.

In The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon, author Grace Lin uses a fascinating combination of Chinese folktales to create a fresh and exciting children’s adventure story featuring a young stone lion cub named Jin, Lulu, a little lost girl, and an ancient dragon trapped in the body of a worm. Jin must overcome his fear of getting in trouble and his guilt of being in the wrong to save his stone spirit family and the Gonshi community when he causes the Sacred Sphere his father safeguards to roll out of their world and into that of the humans.

The main character, Jin, is much like his human counterparts of the same age: interested in his own pursuits, pleasures, and interests, many times inconveniencing his parents and others due to being thoughtless or irresponsible. He’s disinterested and dismissive of his father’s stories of the past, responsibilities, or parental instructions until he finds himself accidentally shut out of his world and stuck in the human one, where he finds he longs to return to his family once again. When he discovers the damage the loss of the Sacred Sphere puts in motion, he must gather his courage and sacrifice his own desires to make things right again. His gradual growth and understanding of his choices are a poignant tale, one that even young children will recognize and consider.

Jin is assisted in his journey by Lulu, a young girl trying to reunite with her mother, who is also undergoing her own revelations. Worm, the dragon trapped in this tiny, unassuming form, is probably the most fanciful of all the creatures in the book and has some of the best lines as he reveals his story and joins with the young ones to reset the balance in the world before it is too late.

With its magical setting, mythical creatures, and suspenseful plot, I recommend THE GATE, THE GIRL, AND THE DRAGON to upper-elementary and middle-grade readers and for reading aloud to include younger listeners.

The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon by Grace Lin is simply delightful. Lin’s lyrical prose and exceptional skill at storytelling will captivate readers of any age. The wonderful characters who face challenging situations throughout their adventure are sure to engage students and teachers alike.
I highly recommend The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon to lovers of middle grades adventure fiction that includes mythology and readers who have enjoyed other books by Grace Lin. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Grace Lin is an automatic read for me and, once again, she weaves another fantastic story. I love her ability to weave so many story threads into a satisfying conclusion, while including such great lore components. This was a great read and I highly recommend it.

Ahah! This one was so wonderful. The worm, who is actually a dragon, won my heart. This is an amazing novel always moving forward with surprisingly lots of action. The end surprised me. It's emotional and beautiful. I love Asian lore, sacrifices, and doing something for the sake of others. It's also a good story of letting go. A brilliant cast of characters.

Very cute story, love the characters, and Chinese lore and mythology. The main character Jin is easy to fall in love with and the target audience will find this book engaging and easy to understand as author Lin does an incredible job explaining everything from an approach that is easy to digest.

Grace Lin never disappoints. I've been collecting her books since my girls, both born in China, were babies. Now, at ages 22 and 19, I find myself still reading...and collecting Grace's work.

First up, I would like to say that I give *very* few books 5 stars. Several things have to be present in a book for that to happen:

1. The characters are well rounded, have distinct personalities, each has their own "voice", and they are relatable enough that I genuinely care about them.
2. The story is engaging. Not only do I want to keep reading, I *need* to keep reading.
3. The story makes me smile...or laugh...or gasp...or cry...or all of the above.
4. Above all, the story must offer hope.

"The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon" hits all of those items...effortlessly. Lin's writing is equally as impressive as her artwork. Her storytelling is so rich, so colorful...it's as if she has woven the single most beautiful tapestry from her prose.

I fully admit to dissolving into a puddle of tears...more than once...while thoroughly enjoying this book.

I will be purchasing a copy not only for myself, but also for each of my girls. My oldest is currently in college, working towards her degree in middle grade education. She's going to need some excellent multi-cultural books for her classroom library. This one certainly fits the bill.

Ms. Lin is an absolute treasure. As long as she keeps writing? I'm going to keep reading.

Thank you to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Grace Lin, and NetGalley for the pleasure of reading and reviewing this ARC.

I absolutely loved this book! The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon is a beautiful, heartwarming adventure that blends folklore, magic, and a dash of humor. Jin, the lion cub, is such a relatable character—he’s full of dreams and a bit reckless, which makes him so lovable. His journey into the human world with a girl who can hear voices and a worm who thinks he's a dragon is just the right mix of whimsy and excitement.

The illustrations are gorgeous, and they really bring the story to life in such a magical way. It’s a great read for both kids and adults, and it leaves you with a warm, hopeful feeling. I can’t recommend it enough!

Grace Lin is the author of “Where The Mountain Meets The Moon”, one of my all-time favorite middle grade books. And a perfect read-aloud, a wonderful activity I recommend even if the child can read themselves.
In her newest book, Lin begins by reciting the Chinese folklore story of Nuwa, the Goddess of Creation. The story concludes with spirit infused stones falling to earth; stones that men then carve into statues. It is these statues that this story follows.
Jin, a stone lion cub at the gate of the Old City, watches over humans and protects the Sacred Sphere – a duty he feels is boring. But one day his zuqui kick (think soccer) accidentally hits the Sacred Sphere which rolls through the gate into the human world.
The story of what follows, along with Grace Lin’s lovely color illustrations, makes this an ingaging read about one’s duty and family.