What a fun adventure story for MG readers. I loved Iron Widow as well and was excited to read more from this author. They have a unique and wonderful way of talking about and to young readers, and also weaving historical events in a way that provides context and humor... When the two Emperor's argue about mercury poisoning I laughed out loud. The representation in the book is relatable for anyone who has ever felt out of place, but also discusses minority groups within Chinese culture which are largely ignored in Western discourse.

I would highly recommend this and will be getting a print copy for my nephew.

What an absolutely action-packed and heart-stopping adventure of a book! Starting off strong with chapter titles reminiscent of Percy Jackson one-liners, I was instantly hooked in by the dry humor and honesty of Zachary Ying. This novel manages to pack in so much: Chinese history and mythology, vulnerable depictions of diasporic identity struggles, and conversations about myriad cultural experiences and challenges. I loved Simon and Melissa (and their respective historical emperors), and was obsessed with the concept of tyrannical, power-hungry emperors possessing twelve year olds and all the hijinks and drama that ensues as a result. Of course, after another devastating cliff-hanger to rival the ending of Iron Widow, I am once again desperately waiting for the next book in Zhao's series.

I loved Iron Widow and was pretty excited for this one. It definitely gives Percy Jackson vibes and I thought it was a standalone but based off the ending - it isn’t. I kind of wish it was a standalone because I’m getting over series but that’s my own problem.

The book itself is a lot of fun and Zachary is a sweet character who I constantly wanted to give a hug through the pages. There’s a lot of action as well as getting to hear Zach’s struggle as the only Chinese kid in school. There’s also a lot of mythology and history throughout the book that was just kind of dropped. I feel like some of it would be hard for a middle grade kid to follow.


3.5, decided to round up to 4 because I think I just wasn’t in the mood for a middle grade when I was reading it and that’s more on me rather than the book plus I will continue the series! Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of the book.

Zachary Ying is a 12 year old Chinese American living in Maine. He knows very little about about his Chinese heritage until one day his AR gaming headset gets possessed by the First Emperor of China and he discovers he was born to host the spirit of this emperor to carry out a vital mission: sealing the leaking portal to the Chinese underworld before the upcoming Ghost Month blows it wide open. Full of action, humor, and history…I loved every moment!

3/5

Last year, I loved Xiran Jay Zhao’s first book Iron Widow, and since I enjoy reading middle grade as well, I was excited to read Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor. I mostly enjoyed it, though it wasn’t as good as I expected, but I think you should definitely try it if you love fantasy for young readers, and stories with a quick pacing and a bunch of pop culture references.

I never thought I’d one day think a book was too fast-paced, but this one definitely was. There was a lot happening, many elements to understand and keep in mind. I was not given enough time in each scene to fully grasp what was going on, and felt like Xiran Jay Zhao tried to throw so much in this story, but was forced to keep it at surface level in order to fit it into 350 pages. The writing was often a bit clunky and confusing, and I felt like the book was trying to tell too many things at once which made it hard to dive into the world and the action. I would’ve loved this a lot more if I hadn’t been confused for the most part. It was hard for me to really picture what was going on, because so few words were spent on creating different scenes. On the other hand, I thought there were some repetitive parts, especially relating to the character development and Zack’s thoughts.

I really enjoyed learning things about Chinese history, and the book made me very curious about historical figures and events, but I feel like if you’re not a history buff like me, you might not enjoy that so much. The history bits, especially in the first half of the book, were very info-dumpy. There were many characters making appearances and at some point, it got confusing and difficult to identify what the most important elements were. I felt like so many things were added that didn’t bring anything substantial to the story or help the plot. For me there really was an issue of not knowing which elements were fundamental and which ones were anecdotal. I spent a lot of energy trying to remember facts about the personal lives of some characters who don’t appear again in the book, because I thought it might be important, but it ultimately wasn’t. It really could’ve been more focused on a few characters in order to also dig deeper into their stories.

But, well, I still enjoyed Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor. The humor in this story mostly stems from how new technology meets ancient historical figures, and the scenes and situations that result from that, which worked pretty well for me. It’s one of those books that read like a movie, with action scenes and a lot of visual elements. It was funny, definitely unlike anything I’d read before, and very Xiran Jay Zhao. There are things I love about their writing, others that I don’t love that much, but one thing that’s sure is that they have a voice that is recognizable, a writing style and identity, and I love that!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for this eARC!

So fun! This fast paced genre-bending adventure is JUST the thing for my middle schoolers. I can't wait to share it with students. Ancient history teachers MUST have this in their classroom libraries, too, since it honors Chinese history while being accessible and fun. Zach's super specific identity makes him realistic, honest and relatable and his growth and relationship to friends, family, and truth shift and mature. A great read!

i have never read anyting like Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor, besides the fact that it was action packed, it created a perfect balance between contemporary sci-fi and historical information that rooted the story and made it feel more vivid. I had fun, and I was on edge with the plot. Xiran Jay Zhao is my new auto-buy author, and I can't wait to see what they bring for the sequel that is very much hinted and expected. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

In my experience, when a book blurb says the story is "x meets y," 9 times out of 10, it's not. I'm happy to say this is absolutely a cross between Yu-Gi-Oh! and Percy Jackson with Chinese history and mythology.

Zack's visual gaming device has been possessed by the spirit of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, and must work with him to seal a demon portal before the ghost month, or demons and spirits will overcome the Earth. Oh, and they have the spirit of Zack's mom. Along the way, he meets other historical and mythological figures, learning that with enough time, the line begins to blur.

I loved this story. There is so much representation needed within the Chinese community and it is presented here. Zack and his mother are Hui Chinese, and Melissa is Miao Chinese. There is open and frank conversations about China's past and present, which can be pretty heavy, but Zhao has presented it in a digestible manner, slowly pulling back the layers to get a better understanding of China. The first emperor is constantly presented as a complicated and untrustworthy figure. It was fun trying to figure out what his endgame really was. Did he really turn over a new leaf and just wants to protect China? Or is literally everyone else right in that he has ulterior motives?

Absolute banger of a novel. I can't wait to read more!

Zachary is a 12-year-old Chinese-American struggling to feel comfortable growing up in Maine. He and his friends are a team in the online game Mythrealm. Chaos ensues after Simon, a new student from China, is accompanied by ghost possession, multiple physical attacks, and Zachary’s mother falling into a coma. To save his mother, Zachary must bring his ghost-possessed gaming goggles and travel to China with Simon. They meet up with Melissa to complete a series of challenges and reseal the portal between the human world and the underworld. Along the way, Zachary learns about Chinese legends and his ancestry as he struggles to determine right from wrong and learn what it truly means to become stronger.

The author does an excellent job introducing Chinese history and folklore to readers by clever use of gaming conventions. As new characters are incorporated in the story, Zachary sees gaming tags which provide key information about them and their role in history. Even the witty chapter titles draw readers in further and propel the story forward.

While the book is intended for Middle Grade readers, anyone with even a mild interest in gaming will appreciate the book’s format and how well it presents the story. The tale could have easily slipped into an adult book that isolated its target audience, but the author skillfully keeps the story intense while keeping it at an age-appropriate level. Even more importantly, the story stayed enjoyable at an age-appropriate level.

Xiran Jay Zhao’s first book, Iron Widow, was the best book I read in 2021. I happily recommend Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor to Middle Readers, no matter what age.

Thanks to NetGalley and Margaret K. McElderry Books for providing an advance copy of this book.

Amazing world-building, blending the real with the created.
I read and LOVED Iron Widow. In this unrelated book by the same author, we get the same talent for world-building and story creation in using what is real, while also enhancing and subverting it to the authors will. We can all easily accept the idea of an incredibly sophisticated VR headset because a. we have a certain level of this available to us now and b. movies and stories have forever been prophesizing technology long before it existed. But, what the author does so well is take those things we do know and bends them to their (the author’s) will. It is so fun to read and dive right into the adventure with the characters.

Grabs you from the start and never lets up!
The book starts out with Zachary despairing over the lunch his mom packed him for school. By the end of the first chapter, we have established a new side character, a pseudo-villain, a mysterious voice in Zach’s head, and an epic video game battle that is taking place with outside of the game! Things just continue from there. This incredible action story has valuable lessons throughout and makes you question what you really know to be true and what the possibilities could be.

I highly recommend this book for fans of adventures, gaming, and catching your own pocket monsters!
Stars 4.5
Would I Recommend? Yes

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely loved this book. It starts off strong from the very first page, making the reader immediately feel for Zach. He is a very complex, genuine main character with a lot of facets of his life, like dealing with his Chinese-American identity in a mainly white New England town.
I LOVED the inspiration for this book, Yu-Gi-Oh plus a Chinese Percy Jackson. That's a lot to take on, but this book really delivered everything it promised. It was action-packed and a fast-paced read, and I really loved the creativity that Xiran Jay Zhao used when creating the virtual game in this book, blending card collecting games like Yu-Gi-Oh with the virtual world of Pokemon GO. Absolutely loved the Chinese history weaved into the story because the characters are possessed by ancient Chinese emperors.
All in all, an immensely entertaining read that I cannot wait for the sequel for!

Zhao returns with another break-neck Chinese history-inspired sci-fi novel and it’s an absolute delight. Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor is marketed as Percy Jackson meets Yu Gi Oh and for once the comps are exactly what this book offers. Zachary, you average middle school boy, suddenly learns that the VR video game he plays isn’t just fiction and is thrust into a world of bickering historical and mythological Chinese figures, all while trying to save his mother’s soul. Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China, plays a weirdly prominent role with bizarre personalities in online media, from the Qin Huangdi RP twitter account to FateGO’s mothman and Zhao is here to add yet another delightful addition to that canon. Easily my favorite part of this book was the bickering between Qin and the various other figures Zach meets through his journey, each petty argument laced with historical references and stories that a younger me would have just loved. As usual, Zhao is unapologetic in calling out racism, both the racism Zach faces in the US for being Chinese, and the racism he faces when he travels to China, for not being the right kind of Chinese. At the same time, they deftly interrogate Zach’s Muslim identity and how a Western perception of China is often skewed. Overall, I rate this book a 4.5/5.

After reading Iron Widow last year, Xiran Jay Zhao quickly became one of my new favorite authors. When I found out they were writing a middle-grade book, and even though I am not as well versed in that genre, I was eager to dive in.

The irreverent tone and humor of Iron Widow finds a ready home in Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor, about a young boy in New York, the son of Chinese immigrants, who finds himself being possessed by Qin Shi Huang, a Chinese emperor of the past. In order to save his mother, he must join up with avatars of other past emperors and attempt to save the world.

Inspired by a mixture of Chinese history, science fiction and anime, this book is nonstop. A lot of this book is told through basically information dumps about Chinese history and for the most part I didn't mind because it was so interesting and so well told. One particularly memorable chapter is called "How the creation of China was exactly like Amerian Idol."

I loved Zachary. He is going through a lot in this book, with his mother and his identity, and a lot of the discussions the book prompts involve finding a place for yourself when you don't fit in anywhere and a recognition that comes with age that some things are not black and white. Sometimes the world isn't separated into just heroes and villains.

A lot of the world-building sort of reminds me of American Gods in that cultural consciousness can manifest gods into different forms and that myths can become real because people believe in them. All done through the vernacular of video games.

It is extremely clever and well done and I also appreciated the Wu Zetian easter eggs we got.

I'll basically read whatever Xiran Jay Zhao writes and it seems like Zachary Ying might be a series? What a cruel place to leave us!

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful cover, an amazing story of self discovery, a main characters you can’t help but want to be BFF’s with, and a story that will bring your imagination to life.
Our main character Zachary will connect with many readers, like myself who’s family history is from somewhere we hardly know, and Zack is on a beautiful journey of finding more about himself than maybe he would’ve ever expected.
I’m so honored to read Zack’s story, and am so excited for what’s to come for Zack (because that ending had me shook!)

Mindblowing and definitely I remember hearing this has a lot of inspiration from Yu-Gi-Oh and it's definitely a book that channels that show really well while also being standing on its own as a compelling story too! Definitely give this one a read!

thank you soo much to Netgalley and Colored Pages Blog Tours for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

this was just amaaaziiing!!! and my favorite part is how much I learned about Chineses history and mythology more than I've ever read at school. Zach was so cool as a MC I wanted to hug him all the time, specially during those moments he didn't feel like he belonged anywhere 😭 his journey was so cool and special, I really felt I was in China despite not knowing anything about it, I even had to go research about the Great Wall and check out a map because I wanted to know more!!! it's so fast paced and filled with action I read it really quickly, but what was the reason for that endiiiing???? like seriouslyyy!!! i had thought it was a standalone and now I have a sequel I will be anxiously waiting for next year and I can't wait to read how everything develops 😱

Zachary Ying doesn’t want to stand out, a difficult task when he’s usually the only Asian kid in his school. He wants to finish summer classes and play Mythrealm, an augmented reality game that blends elements of Pokémon GO and trading card games like Yu-Gi-Oh! with classic mythology. Zack never learned a lot about Chinese myths and history from his mother, who had complicated feelings regarding their homeland. It comes as quite a shock when a Chinese transfer student, Simon Li, introduces himself and explains that Zack’s likely a direct descendent of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China. Before he knows what’s happening, the spirit of his ancestor has possessed him, or rather, his portal-lens, the AR headset he wears to play Mythrealm.

Qin Shi Huang is on a mission, and he needs Zack’s body to do it. The long-dead emperor has to seal a portal to the Chinese underworld to prevent all manner of demons and spirits from flooding out into the human world, and the clock is ticking. Zack needs to get to Qin Shi Huang’s tomb in China, and he needs to strengthen the bond between himself and the emperor’s spirit, or his mother’s soul may be devoured. Zack has to learn as much as he can about the Dragon Emperor and his exploits so that he can channel the magic necessary to close the gap between the realms.

Qin Shi Huang isn’t the only dead emperor setting out to save China. Simon is possessed by the spirit of his own ancestor, Tang Taizong, and he’s partnered with Wu Zetian, China’s only female emperor, hosted by her own descendent, Melissa Wu. Together, the three kids and their spirit partners navigate an escalating series of heists and battles with mythological figures and monsters. If they fail, China—and the rest of the world—are doomed.

Xiran Jay Zhao has crafted a most excellent middle grade adventure here. They’ve taken some of the best bits of Yu-Gi-Oh! (which I’ve loved since seeing the first episodes land in English back in 2001) and wrapped it in an intense love of Chinese history and myth, with an end result that will satisfy readers of all ages and make the folks at Disney jealous that they didn’t pick this one up for a Rick Riordan Presents title. Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor is fun, fast-paced, and clever. It’s out tomorrow, May 10th.

My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an eARC in exchange for a fair review.

It is hard to believe that this book is middle grade- the world building, the social and political commentary, the authenticity, the history, the humor, the writing quality, the richness, really makes me embarrassed that as a child I never gravitated towards books like this.  Everything I love about contemporary fiction seems to be done so well in the handful of fantasy books I've read of late, add in layers of adventure, imagination, and nuance, and I don't know why I took so long to embrace this genre.  Not to say every MG fantasy is written this well, but why settle for only friendship, family, and identity issues when you can have all of it and dragons?  This 352 page book about a Chinese American Hui Muslim kid is action packed, culture rich, unapologetically Muslim, and a gripping good time.  While I think lower MG could handle and enjoy the book, there is nothing explicit, it does in passing mention eunuchs, concubines, and adult entertainment, along with the main character stating that he is not attracted to girls a few times and that he acts like a girl, but presents as a boy, thus making me think middle school aged might be a better fit.  If younger kids read it, they may or may not even pause or notice the aforementioned possible flags, I only highlight them, so that my readers are aware and can be prepared to explain and discuss if needed.  As an adult reading it, I can see clearly that Zach is gay, but I don't know that most kids will catch it.  The author skillfully hints at it, but doesn't make it the focus of the story, ultimately making me feel like if you want to see it you will, if you don't, you probably won't. Oh and the chapter titles, they are awesome!

SYNOPSIS:

Zachary Ying is twelve and while he isn't comfortable in his Maine school, he manages.  He dumps the delicious Chinese food his mom makes every day so that no one teases him for the smell it carries.  He tries to impress the other members of the Mythrealm club, a vr video game, without rocking the boat, and he loves his single mom who works hard since his father was killed in China advocating for the rights of Uyghurs.  He knows little about Chinese history, the language, or myths, but that all starts to change when his VR gaming headset becomes the host for the spirit of the First Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. 

His mom becomes the target of demons and when her soul is taken, Zachary is off to China to secure the barrier that divides the worlds and keeps the spirits at bay.  To do that though he is going to need to learn Chinese history, the power of artifacts, and the role of myths in keeping stories alive.  With two friends, also possessed by past emperors, joining him, the adventure is non stop.

WHY I LIKE IT:

I love that Ramadan is mentioned on the very first page, that Zach's mom wears hijab, that he only eats halal, and that details about life in China for Muslims is shared.  It isn't the main part of the story, but it adds such a powerful layer, that I found myself looking up Hui Muslims and trying to rectify how little I know about Islam in China.  

The social commentary about which individuals from history are remembered and why some are celebrated and others vilified was so impressive to see in a MG fantasy book.  It doesn't ask you to agree with the narrative, nor does it preach anything, it just presents it in all its beautiful shades of gray glory albeit often shrouded in humor.  I truly feel that most MG authors talk down to their readers, if these themes can be so strongly presented and consumed, what superficial fluff did I waste my time reading as a preteen?  Thankfully I'm an adult that loves juvenile fiction, so there is still hope for me yet.

FLAGS:

Magic, mythical gods, fighting, violence, lying, deceit, killing, crushes, same sex attraction, concubines are mentioned as are eunuchs, but nothing more is said about them.  Affairs and mistresses in context to myths and past emperors are mentioned.  

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

I don't know if I could teach this.  Once you sense that he is gay it is hard to unsee, and in an Islamic school, that would be problematic.  I will have my own kids read the book, I don't think there would be any concerns for me there.  A few weeks ago concubines were mentioned in a khutbah, so I've already had to explain that to one of my kids.

I'd read Iron Widow, which means I was amped for this title and it did not disappoint! I loved all of the characters for many different reasons and many of them in ways I wasn't expecting considering their personalities. In fact, I loved them so much that I was crying by the end of this book (and ready to read it again and maybe buy a few copies for me to throw at people, telling them to READ IT). I loved the details and plot, but I have to admit that there was a bit of oomph missing for me, especially at the start. Still a solid read though!

Drawing from their love of Yu-Gi-Oh!, Xiran Jay Zhao seamlessly drops the reader into twelve-year-old Zack’s world, one fueled by uncertainty as the teen navigates microaggressions in his undertaking to fit in and make friends as a Muslim Chinese American, made possible by Mythrealm, a hybrid mobile-headset augmented reality game that pairs the type advantage, status, and historical significance of Yu-Gi-Oh, with the catching and collecting aspect of Pokémon Go, where creatures are literally the stuff of legends.

While Zack is a member of the school’s Mythrealm team and has a dedicated group of “friends,” he is often othered, ostracized, and made the butt of many hurtful jokes at the expense of his heritage. He is hyper aware of his physical presentation and goes to great lengths to “fit in” by throwing away his mother’s home cooked lunches, pitching his voice lower, and hiding his identity – one that, in many ways, was ripped away from him to help him assimilate. Aside from his father’s role as a dissident against the Chinese Government for speaking out about the treatment of minorities, specifically Uighur Muslims, and his mother’s incredible cooking, Zack knows little of his heritage or history, putting him at an unfamiliar crossroads when it comes to identity. With no knowledge of his Chinese roots, and no real place as an immigrant in America, the young teen flounders when he is approached by a new student, Simon Li.

Following their brief, history-filled meeting between classes, Zack is pressured to introduce his Mythrealm team to the new transfer so that one boy can “borrow” an extremely rare Chinese Water Dragon. During the intense physical altercation that follows, reality shifts into a modern contemporary fantasy, legends soaring to life alongside intense elemental bending (think Avatar the Last Airbender, but with video game health bars, qi meters, and summons), wherein Zack finds himself temporarily possessed by the spirit of Qin Shi Huang, First Emperor of China, and distant ancestor.

Afraid of the power – and lack of control – that Qin Shi Huang represents, Zack banishes the connection before it can form, forcing the spirit of the legendary emperor to bind to his portal lens, an augmented reality headset, instead. What unfolds thereafter is a thrilling adventure full of complicated emotions and rich historical significance when Zack finds himself propelled into a country he doesn’t know, on a quest he does not fully understand, after his mother is attacked by a demonic host duo who steal her spirit, leaving her in a comatose state. To save his mother, Zack must save China – which, unbeknownst to those outside of the influence of their ancestor-hosts – is in mortal peril thanks to the weakening of a plug that holds the spirits of the underworld at bay. To do that, he must strengthen his connection to the First Emperor and use that magic to reinforce the overwhelmed portal before the spirits gain the power to transcend the depths of the underworld during the Ghost Month.

Enter Qin Shi Huang, Tang Taizong, and Wu Zetian – and their hosts, Zachary Ying, Simon Li, and Melissa Wu respectively – as they navigate China in search of historical artifacts to bolster their ranks by strengthening the spirit bond between the First Emperor and Zack. The more the teen learns about his ancestry, the stronger the bond, resulting in a whirlwind of witty, yet informative history lessons told in conspiring tales during downtime between fast-paced heists that take the trio from the Shanghai Museum to the depths of the Pacific Ocean in search of the mythical island of Penglai.

In facing down the possibility of death and destruction – of his mother, of himself, and of China – Zack learns to set boundaries and make independent decisions, learning to love himself first and foremost. By delving into Zack’s complicated history, Zhao deftly examines what it means to belong, exploring that which makes us something, with Qin Shi Huang providing important and insightful commentary throughout. There’s strength in knowing where you come from and how you belong, and Zhao provides that in spades through a gripping emotional journey that highlights the prejudice and opposition that Chinese minorities face, both within the country and beyond.

While Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor is by no means an accurate portrayal of the strict political climate that is China, it does offer a wondrous history lesson on the people, places, and institutions that helped to shape the country (and the world), many of which, as we see directly in Zack, are not taught in the West. By pairing Chinese history and myth with popular culture – seen in the idea of AR gaming headsets, MMOs, and countless references from American Idol to Avatar the Last Airbender, Leeroy Jenkins to the Justice League, Xiran Jay Zhao continues their legacy, offering the perfect balance of shōnen anime vibes with real world lessons, told through the eyes of a fierce cast of relatable and vibrant characters.

Full of humor and heart, Zhao ends in a devastating cliffhanger that will have readers young and old clamoring for more of Zack’s adventures, because who doesn’t want more heated family drama that makes you question everything you thought you knew?