May 1, 2022
A Korean American tween unlocks hidden magical powers to fulfill her destiny and save her family from a vengeful ancient spirit. Twelve-year-old Lia Park aspires to one day work at the International Magic Agency, fighting monsters and protecting the world. But Lia's unsure about her future because, unlike best friend Joon, she hasn't yet manifested any magical abilities. Before she can take the annual entrance exam for the IMA school, her skills are unexpectedly tested when she discovers her California home ransacked and her parents missing. A message to bring Gaya the missing jewel in exchange for her parents leaves her confused and bewildered: She has no idea who Gaya is or what jewel the kidnapper is talking about. Following clues left by her parents, Lia travels with Joon to Korea to find the jewel that will save her family. While motivated to solve the mystery, Lia also becomes frustrated that her parents' overprotectiveness kept her from knowing the truth about her powers and the threat Gaya poses. Tense scenes set up the high stakes involved in her quest. This contemporary tale incorporates Korean history, national landmarks, and mythology in an engaging way. Korean words and phrases are also woven throughout the text, reinforcing Lia's connection to her culture and its integral role in the story. An intriguing, fast-paced fantasy adventure. (Fantasy. 9-12)
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June 1, 2022
Gr 3-6-This action-packed fantasy with a Korean-American heroine will entertain if not hit emotionally deep. Lia Park, 12 and still without magic, knows she'll never pass the International Magic School entrance exams next week. But it turns out she'll be tested in ways she never imagined. In a desperate attempt at popularity at regular school, Lia inadvertently calls forth an evil sorceress who kidnaps her parents. The only way to get them back is to find a particular jewel and deliver it to the sorceress. It's up to Lia and her best friend Joon to follow the clues that lead them from California to Korea, through ancient cultural sites, and even into a dragon's lair. Every step of the way shows Lia just how far she will go to save her family. To non-Korean speaking readers, the many transliterated words look like believable magic spells, but Yoon lets everyone in on the joke by translating the actually mundane phrases: "Get bigger, please." or "Move, please." In fact, Yoon lets readers in on nearly everything. While younger readers may enjoy being hit over the head with plot points, older readers may miss the thrill of having to put two and two together themselves. Occasional stiff wording prevents the book from living up to its potential during emotional scenes. Quibbles aside, the plot keeps the pages turning, and what seems predictable proves to have some satisfying twists. VERDICT A solid purchase for fans of the "Dragon Realm" series. Lia Park is an exciting new protagonist in the fantasy adventure scene.-Hillary Perelyubskiy
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July 29, 2022
Grades 4-7 Resigning herself to the fact that she'll probably never get magic powers, 12-year-old Lia Park has just about given up on her dream of attending the International Magic Agency's school with best friend Joon. Her new objective is to cruise through "normal" middle school as popular Dior's bestie, which hinges on Lia going to Dior's birthday party. When Lia's overprotective parents refuse to let her go, she sneaks out anyway, triggering a series of life-changing events. She returns home to find her house ransacked, her parents kidnapped, and a cryptic message from her mom telling her to find "the red coin" and go to her grandmother's house in Korea. Before Lia can puzzle through what's happened, she and Joon are magically transported to Korea, where they follow clues that lead them to the Dragon King's underwater kingdom and, hopefully, her parents. Gadgetry, high-level secrets, and magic intermingle in Yoon's exciting fantasy-adventure, which anchors its action in the powerful bonds that exist between family members and true friends. Fun and fast-paced, this debut novel will please the Rick Riordan Presents crowd.
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