In "Dragon Pearl" adolescent Min sets out on an epic quest to figure out why her beloved older brother stands accused of deserting the elite Space Force of the Thousand Worlds. Min is also a mythological Korean being whose natural form is a fox. Even before the story begins she is chafing under the restrictions placed on her by her family--they are not allowed to show any power because even in a world full of magical creatures foxes are seen as dangerous--and her life as a citizen of a poor and remote planet.

This book is a fast paced mix of sci-fi action and fantasy. I especially enjoyed the use of Korean mythology as the fantasy element, since it's something that I haven't seen before in middle grade novels. Min is resourceful and tricky, as you would expect of someone who is basically a fox, and she's surrounded by a really fun new universe. My issues with this book mostly stem from the fact that I just don't think I'm the intended audience. Reading this as an adult, I was a little annoyed by how quickly Min makes her initial decision to run away, and how half-baked the idea seems. However, I can definitely see how this would likely look very different to a twelve year old reader.

"Dragon Pearl" is a good addition to the middle grade sci-fi and fantasy genre, and despite my issues with the pacing and character motivations, I wouldn't mind seeing other books set in the Thousand Worlds.

Min’s family of supernatural, shapeshifting foxes lives on Jinju, an outer rim planet that just wasn’t able to be fully terraformed. Min and her family stay in human form the majority of the time, and use their taboo abilities sparingly. Her brother escaped the dusty confines of their home by joining the Thousand Worlds Space Forces, but tragedy strikes the family when a rep from the Force reports that Jin has deserted. He’s accused of going AWOL to seek out the dragon pearl, an orb with the fantastic power to turn any barren planet habitable. Min takes off to look for brother and save the family’s reputation. Dragon Pearl is an enjoyable middle-grade deep space adventure that draws its uniqueness from fantasy and magical elements inspired by Korean culture.

Yoon Ha Lee pulls from Korean language, food, symbolic numbers and colors, and the nature of gi.  Dragon Pearl definitely has some of the usual cool science fiction elements: dirty space ports, star ship battles, and cadet training (and maybe a quick nod to another hero who had to get off his planet). But draw of this one is in the Min's connection to her family's roots on Jinjui, and her undying faith in her brother. She must get her feet dirty several times in order to find the answers to all her questions, and there is some real depth that is developed in her character. 

Dragon Pearl is a good choice for any kid wanting to get that first taste of science fiction. It features positive decision making, balanced friendships, and a protagonist who is a solid role model. Recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley, Disney Book Group, and Yoon Ha Lee for the advanced copy for review.

Dragon Pearl is a delightful middle-grade space opera rooted in Korean mythology. Min, a fox spirit, embarks on a haphazard quest to clear her brother's name and lay claim to the Dragon Pearl, an artifact which would allow her planet, Jinju, and others to be properly terraformed.

Min's ability to shapeshift and Charm her way through situations allows the story to move at a good, rollicking pace, and the addition of dragon, goblin, and other spirits add additional interest. Mythology in space? It's so, so fun.

I was pleasantly surprised by the ease and nonchalance with which the author introduces nonbinary characters. It is as simple as this: gender neutral characters wear pins indicating such. This made me very happy.

Dragon Pearl leaves room for the possibility of further installments, which I truly hope exist in the future. The author has created a nuanced, entertaining universe which I'd love to explore further.

Min is has the powers of a shapeshifting fox. Longing to see the world she wants to join her brother when she turns sixteen in the Space Force. When he goes missing and is suspected of desertion she takes to the wider world to find him and along the way she finds herself a path along a strength that she never knew she had.

Dragon Pearl is the latest entry in Rick Riordan Presents, action-packed, mythology-based adventures based on diverse characters who take on impossible quests with the help of an array of loyal friends and the interference of temperamental gods. Dragon Pearl moves away from this format by combining a heavy overlay of science fiction with elements of magic from Korean mythology.

Thirteen-year-old Min runs away from a barren, dust-ridden planet that barely sustains her family in search of her older brother, Jun who has is accused of deserting the Space Forces. Their family hides their fox-magic by always appearing human and never using their special abilities such as influencing others through Charm or transforming into inanimate objects. Min soon realizes that to find her brother she must use all of these powers to find the mysterious Dragon Pearl, a magical object that can create and destroy entire planets through terraforming.

I am a fan of science fiction of and Rick Riordan's coming of age, mythology-based adventures, but the Dragon Pearl was lacking. The writing was solid and the words flowed evenly making reading effortless; yet, the story lacked any humor and character loyalties shifted endlessly. The Korean mythology was fascinating but took a backseat to the details about the regulations of the military Space Forces and the technology of operating the space crafts.

According to the author on GoodReads, this is a stand-alone book.

I recommend this book to middle grade fans of science fiction, but adjust your expectations if you are looking for the signature Rick Riordan humor and mythological backbone to the plot.

A fun adventure with a new and unique perspective. Original and a fun way to begin to learn more about mythology from cultures other than Greek/Roman

Just loved this book. It had a great combination of fantasy mixed with science fiction. The story took place in outer space but still had a touch of fantasy with the main character being a shape shifter. This book would appeal to fantasy and science fiction fans.

I have heard a lot about Yoon Ha Lee's adult books and was thrilled when I heard about this middle grade science fiction story.

Min is a fox who can shapeshift to resemble other people or event objects like a table. When she finds out that her brother has gone missing while serving with the Space Forces, possibly having deserted to go find the Dragon Pearl which can terraform planets, she knows something is wrong. She immediately sets out on a journey to find her brother. Min is also interested in the Dragon Pearl because it might change her planet for the better, giving everyone a better life on Jinju. Along her journey she makes friends in unexpected places as she and learns a lot about life. There is some mystery thrown in as she is trying to piece together clues about what happened to her brother. Min is brave with a good heart on her journey into the unknown. I hope we get more of this universe!

Dragon Pearl will appeal to kids who love stories with magic, adventure, or space travel. Fast paced and full of surprises, this story will be a big hit with the middle grade readers!

It's nice to have more to offer students who love Rick Riordan. I'm looking forward to reading the modernized mythology of many cultures from this imprint. I love Korean anything and love the inclusion of non-binary gendered main characters in this story. There is also no romance storyline, which is incredibly difficult to find in books for teens, even middle grade. The plot and writing is definitely middle grade, not YA, but students who got hooked on Riordan at a younger age will still enjoy this.

This is a really delightful middle-grade space opera infused with Korean mythology and I hope to see more books for younger readers from Yoon Ha Lee in the future! Min is a firecracker of a protagonist who rolls with every punch she gets, and while the combination of mind control and shapeshifting powers might be a little much for YA or adult fantasy, I think it really works for this age range -- it lets the story keep moving despite Min's (age-appropriate!) lack of long-term planning. As I'm sure many more reviews will note, it was wonderful to see pronoun pins and nonbinary characters so seamlessly integrated into the story, and while it might have been interesting to know more about Min's feelings about gender (all foxes choose what gender they want their human form to be, with female being the "traditional" choice and how Min initially presents; she then spends a significant chunk of the book shape-shifted into a male body), it's also kind of cool to have a story for young readers where gender variance is something so accepted that it's boring and not really worth commenting on. Really, just a wonderful book -- exactly what I want in a middle-grade read.

Dragon Pearl will draw in fans of fantasy and manga alike! This ghost story will have all the manga devotees trying to illustrate the characters!

Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee is another book coming from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint. This book is a space opera featuring Min, a 13-year-old fox spirit in a world of many fantastic beings. When Min's brother deserts the Space Forces, it is up to Min to try to find out what really happened and clear his name. Her wild journey takes her across many worlds, spaceships, and definitely has an abundance of adventure.

Dragon Pear was an enjoyable book, but it did not seem to fit as well in the Rick Riordan world as the other books. Aru Shah and Storm Runner both seemed to have the same feel as a traditional Rick Riordan book, and that feeling was missing in a lot of this book. Still, it was an enjoyable read that was definitely exciting in its own right. It was more of a "slow burn" excitement as opposed to the typical bonfire you get in most Rick Riordan titles. The book also seemed a little light on culture compared to other Rick Riordan and Rick Riordan Presents books.

If you're looking for an exciting adventure that is a little different, this book could be for you. It was enjoyable, although a little different than what I expected.

On an impoverished and remote planet, Min and her brother Jun dreamed of one day traveling together among their civilization’s “Thousand Worlds.”

Jun joined the Space Forces and Min’s plan was to enlist alongside him as soon as she was old enough — but now Jun has seemingly deserted his post to pursue a mystical object. Min decides to run away to space, to find out what really happened to him.

This story kept me reading, so interested was I to learn what would become of Min’s mission. What had really happened to her brother? Would she ever find him?

Insufficient world building left me confused and, eventually, utterly disinterested. I know the author has written an adult series built on a similar theme, perhaps this work would have made sense if I had read those? The fact that the author self reports they are the only person in the Rick Riordan Presents series to NOT be granted a series (this is a stand alone) makes me wonder if the publishers were similarly underwhelmed or if the author just phoned it in.