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Winston Chu #1
Winston Chu vs. the Whimsies
Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents best-selling author Stacey Lee's modern reimagining of a classic Chinese folktale—replete with magic, boba, and lots of trash talking.
Twelve-year-old Winston Chu is supposed to learn impulse control at the cooking academy his mom enrolled him in. But learning to think before he acts won’t happen overnight.
While skateboarding home with a pie in hand, Winston inadvertently stops a robbery at Mr. Pang’s Whimsies, an oddities shop in Chinatown. As a reward, Mr. Pang invites Winston to choose any item in the store. But the strange old man warns Winston to browse carefully, for the first thing Winston touches will be the thing he gets. Before Winston can decide, a magpie flies under a shelf, and he impulsively grabs an old broom to sweep it out.
Mr. Pang hands him the broom, along with a dustpan. “Two for one. Congratulations.”
Deflated, Winston returns home, determined to put the broom incident behind him. Or at least in the closet. But when some of his most beloved possessions go missing, all Winston can think about are the broom and dustpan. Did they somehow take his stuff? And what—or who—will they dispose of next?
It’s time to break into Mr. Pang’s Whimsies, where clearly there’s more going on than meets the far-seeing eyeball. It’s time to fight magic with magic. And this time, Winston better have a plan.
Twelve-year-old Winston Chu is supposed to learn impulse control at the cooking academy his mom enrolled him in. But learning to think before he acts won’t happen overnight.
While skateboarding home with a pie in hand, Winston inadvertently stops a robbery at Mr. Pang’s Whimsies, an oddities shop in Chinatown. As a reward, Mr. Pang invites Winston to choose any item in the store. But the strange old man warns Winston to browse carefully, for the first thing Winston touches will be the thing he gets. Before Winston can decide, a magpie flies under a shelf, and he impulsively grabs an old broom to sweep it out.
Mr. Pang hands him the broom, along with a dustpan. “Two for one. Congratulations.”
Deflated, Winston returns home, determined to put the broom incident behind him. Or at least in the closet. But when some of his most beloved possessions go missing, all Winston can think about are the broom and dustpan. Did they somehow take his stuff? And what—or who—will they dispose of next?
It’s time to break into Mr. Pang’s Whimsies, where clearly there’s more going on than meets the far-seeing eyeball. It’s time to fight magic with magic. And this time, Winston better have a plan.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 7, 2023
47 people are currently reading
2186 people want to read
About the author
Stacey Lee
11 books2,440 followersStacey Lee is the New York Times and Indie bestselling author of historical and contemporary young adult fiction, including THE DOWNSTAIRS GIRL, Reese's Book Club Late Summer 2021 YA pick, and her most recent, LUCK OF THE TITANIC which received five starred reviews. A native of southern California and fourth-generation Chinese American, she is a founder of the We Need Diverse Books movement and writes stories for all kids (even the ones who look like adults). Find her
@staceyleeauthor on Instagram and Twitter, and @staceylee.author on Facebook.
@staceyleeauthor on Instagram and Twitter, and @staceylee.author on Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
February 9, 2023
4 stars
This was different from other Chinese mythology books I've read in that it talked about Qi, Feng Shui, good luck and bad luck, and changelings. The title encapsulates the story perfectly, in my mind, as it felt like a whimsical tale of adventure and working with friends to save the world from the bad guy.
I enjoyed getting to know Winston and the things that mattered to him. At first, I wasn't sure about his friends, especially his wealthy friend, and the rest of his family were also unknown, but as the story progressed, I got drawn into his quest to save his baby sister. I liked that he started out thinking he was the only one who was really struggling, only to find out that he was not alone in his struggles, and I also liked how the different friends worked together at the end and that even though Winston had powerful chi as a legacy of his father's, he needed each of his friends to accomplish what he wanted.
The magic system of this story was a little different from what I've seen before, and I didn't quite get it until close to the end. However, by the time we got to the end, I think it was developed enough that it will work well for future books. This book was not listed as part of a series, but the ending is open-ended and leaves many things hanging about the villain(s) and makes me think there is much more to come.
Overall, I enjoyed this introduction to Winston Chu's world and I look forward to future books.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was different from other Chinese mythology books I've read in that it talked about Qi, Feng Shui, good luck and bad luck, and changelings. The title encapsulates the story perfectly, in my mind, as it felt like a whimsical tale of adventure and working with friends to save the world from the bad guy.
I enjoyed getting to know Winston and the things that mattered to him. At first, I wasn't sure about his friends, especially his wealthy friend, and the rest of his family were also unknown, but as the story progressed, I got drawn into his quest to save his baby sister. I liked that he started out thinking he was the only one who was really struggling, only to find out that he was not alone in his struggles, and I also liked how the different friends worked together at the end and that even though Winston had powerful chi as a legacy of his father's, he needed each of his friends to accomplish what he wanted.
The magic system of this story was a little different from what I've seen before, and I didn't quite get it until close to the end. However, by the time we got to the end, I think it was developed enough that it will work well for future books. This book was not listed as part of a series, but the ending is open-ended and leaves many things hanging about the villain(s) and makes me think there is much more to come.
Overall, I enjoyed this introduction to Winston Chu's world and I look forward to future books.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 13, 2023
Feels very 12 year old boy. Tad bit cringey.
December 13, 2023
Winston Chu ⭐️⭐️
The protagonist of current day young readers don’t know hardship. Y’all know what my boys Gregor and Percy went through? Where’s the grit? I need them dragged through the mud and their family killed game of thrones style, but you know still kid appropriate.
The protagonist of current day young readers don’t know hardship. Y’all know what my boys Gregor and Percy went through? Where’s the grit? I need them dragged through the mud and their family killed game of thrones style, but you know still kid appropriate.
December 27, 2022
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Winston and his friends are taking home a pie (on a skateboard) that they have baked in a cooking class when things go badly wrong. The pie is ruined, which Winston had wanted to take home to his mother and sisters Coco and Phillipa to commemorate his father. It landed on two beefy guys hanging outside a shop, Mr. Pang's Whimsies. Mr. Pang greats Winston and his friends and invites them into his shop. They are a little apprehensive, but go in. In thanks for foiling what he suspected would be a robbery, Mr. Pang offers Winston the first thing he touches. There is a lot of strange merchandise in the store, but when a bird flies in and is caught behind a table, Winston takes a broom from the shop to help it out. This means the broom is his, and while his friends complain, Winston graciously accepts bother the broom and a dustpan, and thanks Mr. Pang. Shortly after, things begin to go missing. They are small things at first, like a key chain or stuffed animal, but when Winston's goldfish goes missing, he has his friends help him get rid of the broom. It's not enough, though, and the broom reappears sevearl times, and eventually takes away his young sister Coco, leaving an odd doppelganger. He tries to tell his older sister Philippa, but she's worried about her job at Waffle Fury and doesn't believe him. His mother is also trying to find a job. The school year has started as well, so Winston is worried about many things at school while believing that something is terribly wrong with Coco. His friends, including Cassa, Bijal, and the wealthy Maverick, try to help him figure out what's going on. The broom and dustpan are tied to characters in the ancient Chinese story, "The Cowherd and the Cloud Weaver", and Coco's spirit has indeed been taken. With his friends' and sister's help, Winston must figure out who Mr. Pang is, how he's using his magical implements, and why he has taken Coco, in order to get her back.
Strengths: This reminded me a bit of Whitesides' 2011 Janitors, with the modern setting and the magic that seeps into daily life. That series has been very popular with some of my students. It also has some similarities with Oh's Spirit Hunters, also a strong circulator. The magical elements were amusing (like the Mustache of Mischief), and were woven into the story in a believable way. I would have been perfectly fine to read just about the Chu's family life, because Winston's flirtation with Dani was great fun, especially when he claimed he could play the ukelele. He even convinces a friend to help him learn to play The Rainbow Connection so he could keep up the lie!
Weaknesses: It would have been nice to know more details about the Cowherd and the Cloud Weaver, and how they were connected to Mr. Pang. While "Whimsies" figure largely in the title, it wasn't a term used much in the story, which was a little confusing. While it was all tied together nicely, there was a lot going on in this book, and a lot of characters to keep track of. Ms. Lee usually writes Young Adult novels like Luck of the Titanic and Outrun the Moon, so the length and complexity are in keeping with that age group while the humor and magical realism are definitely more middle grade.
What I really think: There are several culturally connected fantasy books where siblings are abducted by magical creatures and must be retrieved, like Lee's Pahua and the Soul Stealer , Kim's The Last Fallen Star, Córdova's 2020 The Way to Rio Luna and Riazi's 2017 The Gauntlet. Winston's adventures were well written, but I may pass on this one, as I already have a lot of similar titles, and at over 350 pages, this might be a hard sell in my library right now.
Winston and his friends are taking home a pie (on a skateboard) that they have baked in a cooking class when things go badly wrong. The pie is ruined, which Winston had wanted to take home to his mother and sisters Coco and Phillipa to commemorate his father. It landed on two beefy guys hanging outside a shop, Mr. Pang's Whimsies. Mr. Pang greats Winston and his friends and invites them into his shop. They are a little apprehensive, but go in. In thanks for foiling what he suspected would be a robbery, Mr. Pang offers Winston the first thing he touches. There is a lot of strange merchandise in the store, but when a bird flies in and is caught behind a table, Winston takes a broom from the shop to help it out. This means the broom is his, and while his friends complain, Winston graciously accepts bother the broom and a dustpan, and thanks Mr. Pang. Shortly after, things begin to go missing. They are small things at first, like a key chain or stuffed animal, but when Winston's goldfish goes missing, he has his friends help him get rid of the broom. It's not enough, though, and the broom reappears sevearl times, and eventually takes away his young sister Coco, leaving an odd doppelganger. He tries to tell his older sister Philippa, but she's worried about her job at Waffle Fury and doesn't believe him. His mother is also trying to find a job. The school year has started as well, so Winston is worried about many things at school while believing that something is terribly wrong with Coco. His friends, including Cassa, Bijal, and the wealthy Maverick, try to help him figure out what's going on. The broom and dustpan are tied to characters in the ancient Chinese story, "The Cowherd and the Cloud Weaver", and Coco's spirit has indeed been taken. With his friends' and sister's help, Winston must figure out who Mr. Pang is, how he's using his magical implements, and why he has taken Coco, in order to get her back.
Strengths: This reminded me a bit of Whitesides' 2011 Janitors, with the modern setting and the magic that seeps into daily life. That series has been very popular with some of my students. It also has some similarities with Oh's Spirit Hunters, also a strong circulator. The magical elements were amusing (like the Mustache of Mischief), and were woven into the story in a believable way. I would have been perfectly fine to read just about the Chu's family life, because Winston's flirtation with Dani was great fun, especially when he claimed he could play the ukelele. He even convinces a friend to help him learn to play The Rainbow Connection so he could keep up the lie!
Weaknesses: It would have been nice to know more details about the Cowherd and the Cloud Weaver, and how they were connected to Mr. Pang. While "Whimsies" figure largely in the title, it wasn't a term used much in the story, which was a little confusing. While it was all tied together nicely, there was a lot going on in this book, and a lot of characters to keep track of. Ms. Lee usually writes Young Adult novels like Luck of the Titanic and Outrun the Moon, so the length and complexity are in keeping with that age group while the humor and magical realism are definitely more middle grade.
What I really think: There are several culturally connected fantasy books where siblings are abducted by magical creatures and must be retrieved, like Lee's Pahua and the Soul Stealer , Kim's The Last Fallen Star, Córdova's 2020 The Way to Rio Luna and Riazi's 2017 The Gauntlet. Winston's adventures were well written, but I may pass on this one, as I already have a lot of similar titles, and at over 350 pages, this might be a hard sell in my library right now.
April 28, 2023
This is one of those books where everything goes wrong as the plot moves forward. I prefer more world building and mythology.
February 21, 2023
Life is full of unfairness.
For instance, Winston Chu lost his father to a friendly fire accident in Iraq. Now, it’s just Winston, his mom and his two sisters, muddling through life as best they can in their tiny San Francisco apartment. Winston’s mom is barely holding it together. His big sister Phillipa has turned grumpy and withdrawn. His little sister Coco – well, Coco is awesome, but she’s just a toddler. She doesn’t even remember their dad, which makes Winston incredibly sad.
Also unfair? One day, Winston happens to save a local shopkeeper from getting robbed. Then, as his reward, he gets to choose the first thing he touches in the shop. That doesn’t sound unfair. After all, Mr. Pang’s Whimsies is full of expensive and possibly magical things like ‘eggs of truth,’ ‘far-seeing eyeballs,’ and ‘kick me’ boots. But when Winston unintentionally touches something else instead, he goes home as the proud owner of a grungy old broom and a matching dustpan. Yippee.
It gets worse. The broom and the dustpan seem to hold some kind of curse. Important things start disappearing from Winston’s home. Then people start disappearing. And Mr. Pang’s Shop itself vanishes, along with its owner, who may or may not have been dead for fifty years . . .
Soon, Winston and his friends are plunged into an impossible adventure to figure out the truth about Mr. Pang and his Whimsies, and hopefully undo the bad luck that has made Winston’s life a flying pizza of disaster.
But the thing I find most unfair of all: Why is Stacey Lee such a good writer? She’s got sympathetic, believable characters that instantly feel like your new best friends. Page-turning action and intrigue. Quirky, witty writing that will make you laugh out loud. How does she do all that and make it look so easy? I mean, come on. Stop being such a talented storyteller, Lee. You’re making the rest of us look bad.
I’m kidding (mostly). But I will confess that as I read Winston Chu, I went from thinking: “I wonder if I’ll be able to offer any helpful advice to Stacey!” to “I’m going to start taking notes because Stacey is totally schooling me on great storytelling!”
I love Winston’s big heart, his courage and his loyalty to his friends and family. I love his impulsive awkward stumbling through middle school. I love Mr. Pang’s Whimsies and all the beautiful chaos they create in Winston’s life. Most of all, I love the way Lee weaves together Chinese folklore and modern San Francisco into a magical book so clever and fun it just demands to be read aloud with the whole family or the whole classroom.
Like I said: Totally unfair. Lee is so good that her book feels like Mr. Pang’s shop – chocked full of hidden treasures in every nook and cranny, rife for exploration, endlessly surprising and rewarding. I am so glad Stacey Lee is so unfairly talented, because it will make many happy readers! Just be careful what you bump into as you explore this shop of Whimsies. If you end up going home with a bad-natured broom and dustpan . . . Well, you’ll find out soon enough.
For instance, Winston Chu lost his father to a friendly fire accident in Iraq. Now, it’s just Winston, his mom and his two sisters, muddling through life as best they can in their tiny San Francisco apartment. Winston’s mom is barely holding it together. His big sister Phillipa has turned grumpy and withdrawn. His little sister Coco – well, Coco is awesome, but she’s just a toddler. She doesn’t even remember their dad, which makes Winston incredibly sad.
Also unfair? One day, Winston happens to save a local shopkeeper from getting robbed. Then, as his reward, he gets to choose the first thing he touches in the shop. That doesn’t sound unfair. After all, Mr. Pang’s Whimsies is full of expensive and possibly magical things like ‘eggs of truth,’ ‘far-seeing eyeballs,’ and ‘kick me’ boots. But when Winston unintentionally touches something else instead, he goes home as the proud owner of a grungy old broom and a matching dustpan. Yippee.
It gets worse. The broom and the dustpan seem to hold some kind of curse. Important things start disappearing from Winston’s home. Then people start disappearing. And Mr. Pang’s Shop itself vanishes, along with its owner, who may or may not have been dead for fifty years . . .
Soon, Winston and his friends are plunged into an impossible adventure to figure out the truth about Mr. Pang and his Whimsies, and hopefully undo the bad luck that has made Winston’s life a flying pizza of disaster.
But the thing I find most unfair of all: Why is Stacey Lee such a good writer? She’s got sympathetic, believable characters that instantly feel like your new best friends. Page-turning action and intrigue. Quirky, witty writing that will make you laugh out loud. How does she do all that and make it look so easy? I mean, come on. Stop being such a talented storyteller, Lee. You’re making the rest of us look bad.
I’m kidding (mostly). But I will confess that as I read Winston Chu, I went from thinking: “I wonder if I’ll be able to offer any helpful advice to Stacey!” to “I’m going to start taking notes because Stacey is totally schooling me on great storytelling!”
I love Winston’s big heart, his courage and his loyalty to his friends and family. I love his impulsive awkward stumbling through middle school. I love Mr. Pang’s Whimsies and all the beautiful chaos they create in Winston’s life. Most of all, I love the way Lee weaves together Chinese folklore and modern San Francisco into a magical book so clever and fun it just demands to be read aloud with the whole family or the whole classroom.
Like I said: Totally unfair. Lee is so good that her book feels like Mr. Pang’s shop – chocked full of hidden treasures in every nook and cranny, rife for exploration, endlessly surprising and rewarding. I am so glad Stacey Lee is so unfairly talented, because it will make many happy readers! Just be careful what you bump into as you explore this shop of Whimsies. If you end up going home with a bad-natured broom and dustpan . . . Well, you’ll find out soon enough.
December 27, 2023
DNF
I’m SORRY. I tried to read this book and I hated it the whole time. I never cared, I was bored, and I found myself wanting to do literally anything else but keep reading.
Winston Chu puttin me in a SLUMP.
I’m SORRY. I tried to read this book and I hated it the whole time. I never cared, I was bored, and I found myself wanting to do literally anything else but keep reading.
Winston Chu puttin me in a SLUMP.
February 1, 2023
This was a ton of fun to read! Winston and his friends and family are all such well-developed characters, and I think Mr. Pang's Whimsies are so fun and a certain type of young reader would have a blast dreaming up their own Whimsies. And the family dynamics and exploration of grief are lovely too. There is a lot packed into this book--I would say for me the middle dragged a littttle bit but readers who are even more interested in the mythology and magic will be living.
I will def read the sequel this seems to be setting up! Another hit from Rick Riordan Presents for sure.
I will def read the sequel this seems to be setting up! Another hit from Rick Riordan Presents for sure.
February 20, 2023
This lively tween tale dips deftly into Chinese mythology while remaining completely modern. Twelve-year-old Winston Chu has a loving mom, an older and younger sister, and a tight circle of friends who support him, but the loss of his father in a war-related accident still shadows his life. His mom is struggling to find a job, his older sister Phillipa is moody and withdrawn, and Winston doesn’t quite know how to move on.
Enter Mr. Pang’s Whimsies. In a setup reminiscent of Bruce Coville’s Magic Shop books, old Mr. Pang runs a strange, now-you-see-it, now-you-don’t store, packed with enchanted objects like Kick-Me Boots and Warm Fuzzy Ukuleles. In return for an accidental good deed involving a pie, Mr. Pang offers Winston the chance to pick any store item that catches his eye — then tricks him into taking a broom and dustpan. These enchanted items, as it turns out, are inhabited by Lady Cloud Weaver and the Cowherd she loves. They are trying to avoid the wrath of the lady’s mother, but end up disappearing first Winston’s soccer jersey, then his goldfish, and finally his little sister Coco.
Working with his soccer buddies, Winston tries to get to the root of these happenings and rescue his baby sister, whose spirit has been swapped with that of a changeling. But part of the story’s strength is that it doesn’t just focus on the mythological aspects. Along the way, Winston deals with recognizable middle-school problems, like cruel assistant principals, candy smuggling, and trying to impress his crush, Dani.
The book is full of clever, snarky asides, sharp dialogue, and vivid descriptions like, “If the two islands were brothers, Alcatraz would be the crook, while Treasure Island, and old naval station, would be the dutiful one who had joined the military.” Author Lee strikes a balance between poignance and silliness, which readers of Rick Riordan Presents are bound to lap up eagerly and ask for more. Recommended.
Enter Mr. Pang’s Whimsies. In a setup reminiscent of Bruce Coville’s Magic Shop books, old Mr. Pang runs a strange, now-you-see-it, now-you-don’t store, packed with enchanted objects like Kick-Me Boots and Warm Fuzzy Ukuleles. In return for an accidental good deed involving a pie, Mr. Pang offers Winston the chance to pick any store item that catches his eye — then tricks him into taking a broom and dustpan. These enchanted items, as it turns out, are inhabited by Lady Cloud Weaver and the Cowherd she loves. They are trying to avoid the wrath of the lady’s mother, but end up disappearing first Winston’s soccer jersey, then his goldfish, and finally his little sister Coco.
Working with his soccer buddies, Winston tries to get to the root of these happenings and rescue his baby sister, whose spirit has been swapped with that of a changeling. But part of the story’s strength is that it doesn’t just focus on the mythological aspects. Along the way, Winston deals with recognizable middle-school problems, like cruel assistant principals, candy smuggling, and trying to impress his crush, Dani.
The book is full of clever, snarky asides, sharp dialogue, and vivid descriptions like, “If the two islands were brothers, Alcatraz would be the crook, while Treasure Island, and old naval station, would be the dutiful one who had joined the military.” Author Lee strikes a balance between poignance and silliness, which readers of Rick Riordan Presents are bound to lap up eagerly and ask for more. Recommended.
March 3, 2023
A must read!
This book gave me so much nostalgic feelings .. I used to live in the Bay Area and all the details of the San Francisco made me miss the city. One of the many reasons I love reading her books is all the descriptive details she provides. So descriptive I could imagine every action, scent as if I’m seeing it visually on screen!
Winston gave me a fun and exciting aerial view of his neighborhood. It was nice to see a view of a fast paced ride from his skateboard riding through the streets of the city like we were on a rollercoaster ride!
I applaud Stacey for navigating all the feelings of Winston as a teen dealing with the grief of passing of his dad. It is so much to deal in the first place but she describes his vulnerability and looking for closure on point. Every family member was dealing with grief differently and it was nice to see that perspective.
It was heartbreaking and my heart was hurting though.
There were many funny moments. I love the interaction he had with his crush Dani. All his emotions and the scene of Winston trying to impress her was hilarious. I loved hearing about the instruments. I played the cello myself so hearing Dani’s musical history made my heart sing. And the fuzzy Ukelele!!!
I love his support system! His crew! The soccer mates are his sidekicks.
I recommend this to middle schooler especially who is living the teenage years! I also recommend it to adults since it’s fun going back in our time and feel the teenage emotions. Ha! I can’t wait until the next book and I’m sure it’s full of excitement. Author Stacey never disappoints!
This book gave me so much nostalgic feelings .. I used to live in the Bay Area and all the details of the San Francisco made me miss the city. One of the many reasons I love reading her books is all the descriptive details she provides. So descriptive I could imagine every action, scent as if I’m seeing it visually on screen!
Winston gave me a fun and exciting aerial view of his neighborhood. It was nice to see a view of a fast paced ride from his skateboard riding through the streets of the city like we were on a rollercoaster ride!
I applaud Stacey for navigating all the feelings of Winston as a teen dealing with the grief of passing of his dad. It is so much to deal in the first place but she describes his vulnerability and looking for closure on point. Every family member was dealing with grief differently and it was nice to see that perspective.
It was heartbreaking and my heart was hurting though.
There were many funny moments. I love the interaction he had with his crush Dani. All his emotions and the scene of Winston trying to impress her was hilarious. I loved hearing about the instruments. I played the cello myself so hearing Dani’s musical history made my heart sing. And the fuzzy Ukelele!!!
I love his support system! His crew! The soccer mates are his sidekicks.
I recommend this to middle schooler especially who is living the teenage years! I also recommend it to adults since it’s fun going back in our time and feel the teenage emotions. Ha! I can’t wait until the next book and I’m sure it’s full of excitement. Author Stacey never disappoints!
May 9, 2024
This one was a good and interesting read. I was a bit confused towards the end when things were happening so quickly, but the story wrapped up pretty well. There’s definitely still some questions to be answered in the sequel.
Winston was a good character. His love for his family was great, and I liked his determination to rescue his sister. His friends were also good, and I liked the bond between the characters.
The plot was intriguing, but the pacing felt a bit off to me.
Overall it was a good middle grade read.
I voluntarily read an eARC off NetGalley and all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to the publisher for providing me with the eARC.
Winston was a good character. His love for his family was great, and I liked his determination to rescue his sister. His friends were also good, and I liked the bond between the characters.
The plot was intriguing, but the pacing felt a bit off to me.
Overall it was a good middle grade read.
I voluntarily read an eARC off NetGalley and all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to the publisher for providing me with the eARC.
February 9, 2025
12-year-old Winston Chu lives with his mother and two sisters in San Francisco, California. They are trying to recover a normal sense of life after the loss of their father. Winston loves to play soccer and spend time with his friends. When he and his friends discover a small oddities shop owned by an eccentric old man named Mr. Pang, he ends up going home with an enchanted broom and dust pan. Soon mysterious events happen that throw reality into question for Winston, especially when his baby sister starts acting very bizarrely.
Winston is a nice kid with a lot on his plate. He doesn't always react perfectly or make the best decisions, although he is a caring kid who tries to help out his mom and take care of his sisters. Like most kids, he wants to hang out with his friends, play soccer, and is experiencing a crush on the new girl in his class. All this is upended by the weirdness that starts after he visits Mr. Pang's shop.
I had fun with this book. Winston's Chinese heritage is a beautiful and intrinsic aspect of the story, . I love how his American story incorporates cultural aspects, legends and spiritual practices passed down in his family. He comes to learn more about his father who passed away as he faces the increasingly bizarre impact of the Whimsies on himself and his family. His interactions with his older and young sister are heartwarming, and the portrayal of friendship and the reminders about how people are there in your life to help you, and you don't have to feel alone is great encouragement for both young and older readers. Another aspect I really enjoyed about this story is the San Francisco setting. I was able to visit San Francisco some years ago, and I loved being reminded of the beautiful city. It was fun to revisit as I listened to the book.
This reads more on the young side, but there's nothing wrong with that. It's very kid-friendly, as most middle grade books should be (even though I prefer the darker-edges ones). For younger tweens who enjoy books with folklore and myths, this will be a good recommendation. There are some silly jokes, but also some slightly more series moments, but nothing too intense here. Although there is definitely a content warning for death of a loved one. The legend of the cloud maiden and her cowherd husband was unknown to me when I read this book. They were fun characters in this book. I want to read more Chinese folklore, and I am looking forward to reading more in this series.
Overall rating: 3.25/5.00 stars
Winston is a nice kid with a lot on his plate. He doesn't always react perfectly or make the best decisions, although he is a caring kid who tries to help out his mom and take care of his sisters. Like most kids, he wants to hang out with his friends, play soccer, and is experiencing a crush on the new girl in his class. All this is upended by the weirdness that starts after he visits Mr. Pang's shop.
I had fun with this book. Winston's Chinese heritage is a beautiful and intrinsic aspect of the story, . I love how his American story incorporates cultural aspects, legends and spiritual practices passed down in his family. He comes to learn more about his father who passed away as he faces the increasingly bizarre impact of the Whimsies on himself and his family. His interactions with his older and young sister are heartwarming, and the portrayal of friendship and the reminders about how people are there in your life to help you, and you don't have to feel alone is great encouragement for both young and older readers. Another aspect I really enjoyed about this story is the San Francisco setting. I was able to visit San Francisco some years ago, and I loved being reminded of the beautiful city. It was fun to revisit as I listened to the book.
This reads more on the young side, but there's nothing wrong with that. It's very kid-friendly, as most middle grade books should be (even though I prefer the darker-edges ones). For younger tweens who enjoy books with folklore and myths, this will be a good recommendation. There are some silly jokes, but also some slightly more series moments, but nothing too intense here. Although there is definitely a content warning for death of a loved one. The legend of the cloud maiden and her cowherd husband was unknown to me when I read this book. They were fun characters in this book. I want to read more Chinese folklore, and I am looking forward to reading more in this series.
Overall rating: 3.25/5.00 stars
December 7, 2022
This was such a fun middle grade fantasy book! I loved Stacey Lee's YA book, The Downstairs Girl, so when I saw that this book was coming out, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. There was adventure, magic, middle school shenanigans, folklore, interesting family dynamics, a terrific group of friends, a crush, some really hilarious hijinks, and great potential for a sequel. It was just so much fun.
There was a lot (A LOT) going on in this book, so let me highlight a few things that I enjoyed.
- The good guys. Our hero was 12 year old Winston, a typical middle school boy, who was a very relatable main character. He was grounded by impatient, impulsive but logical. He seemed like the middle school boys that my daughter often comes home grumbling about. This book had a very wide cast of characters. Winston's main support groups were his family (his mom, his older sister Phillipa, and his toddler sister Coco) as well as his friends/soccer teammates.
- The whimsies aka enchanted items. This was so cool. Winston discovers Mr. Pang's magical shop of whimsies, and ends up taking home an enchanted broom and dustpan. But there were so many treasures in Mr. Pang's shop! So many peculiar things such as far seeing eyeballs, kicking boots, a dancing cactus that came to life when Ariana Grande's name was mentioned, a were-bear, truth telling eggs, unicorn pinatas, and so much more. It was so incredibly imaginable and vivid.
- The bad guys. The bad guys weren't that bad. Or were they? Who were the bad guys? It actually wasn't clear and I love it when things aren't always black and white. There were a lot of hidden complexities and motives woven in.
- The setting. Living in the Bay Area and working in San Francisco, I love any book that takes place in San Francisco! From Chinatown to Fisherman's Wharf, to Golden Gate Park, to the SF Peninsula, the setting was a delight.
- The folklore. I wasn't familiar with the Cloud Weaver and the Cowherd but I loved that this story incorporated that myth into the plot.
- The soccer references. You don't have to be a soccer fan to get the references but since I read this during the World Cup and while my own daughter was going through club soccer tryouts, it was fun to see soccer get so much limelight.
- Not-Coco. You'll understand when you read it. I don't want to give anything away. But Not-Coco was a highlight.
I know the 6th graders in my book club would adore this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read it ahead of time and review it!
There was a lot (A LOT) going on in this book, so let me highlight a few things that I enjoyed.
- The good guys. Our hero was 12 year old Winston, a typical middle school boy, who was a very relatable main character. He was grounded by impatient, impulsive but logical. He seemed like the middle school boys that my daughter often comes home grumbling about. This book had a very wide cast of characters. Winston's main support groups were his family (his mom, his older sister Phillipa, and his toddler sister Coco) as well as his friends/soccer teammates.
- The whimsies aka enchanted items. This was so cool. Winston discovers Mr. Pang's magical shop of whimsies, and ends up taking home an enchanted broom and dustpan. But there were so many treasures in Mr. Pang's shop! So many peculiar things such as far seeing eyeballs, kicking boots, a dancing cactus that came to life when Ariana Grande's name was mentioned, a were-bear, truth telling eggs, unicorn pinatas, and so much more. It was so incredibly imaginable and vivid.
- The bad guys. The bad guys weren't that bad. Or were they? Who were the bad guys? It actually wasn't clear and I love it when things aren't always black and white. There were a lot of hidden complexities and motives woven in.
- The setting. Living in the Bay Area and working in San Francisco, I love any book that takes place in San Francisco! From Chinatown to Fisherman's Wharf, to Golden Gate Park, to the SF Peninsula, the setting was a delight.
- The folklore. I wasn't familiar with the Cloud Weaver and the Cowherd but I loved that this story incorporated that myth into the plot.
- The soccer references. You don't have to be a soccer fan to get the references but since I read this during the World Cup and while my own daughter was going through club soccer tryouts, it was fun to see soccer get so much limelight.
- Not-Coco. You'll understand when you read it. I don't want to give anything away. But Not-Coco was a highlight.
I know the 6th graders in my book club would adore this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read it ahead of time and review it!
February 1, 2023
Arc provided by Netgalley
I waffled back and forth between 2 and 3 stars on this one. Since it's a pre-lease, I gave the author the benefit of the doubt, hoping for a better final product. The cover is great, which is a big plus, but once inside, it quickly turns into a slog. The problem is that the author throws too much at the wall, and unfortunately, a lot of it doesn't stick. If an author is going to make a plot this circuitous, at some point things need to start tightening up. Unfortunately, instead of working to undo the knot, she just throws in more string.
First of all, I want to address the setting. I love that the story takes place in San Francisco, especially China Town, but to be honest, I did not get a good sense of place. As someone who has been to SF several times as a tourist, I was disappointed with the weak setting description. SF is an amazing town and I didn't feel it.
Second, characters. I have a very good sense of Winston. His father died from a freak accident while serving in the military. His older sister is pursing closure on this while looking for a job. His mother is doing well as a single mom and also looking for a job. His toddler age sister becomes a key player in a very strange way (more on that). The disappointment is the other characters. Mav is Winston's rich friend. Don't know much about him other than that. Cassa's dad has a new girlfriend which is stressful for her. That's about all we know about her. Bijal. We know virtually nothing. I really don't understand how these friendships came to be or what holds them together. I also don't get a strong sense of Chinese culture. Disappointing.
The story opens with Winston and his friends precariously trying to get a cake back to his house to celebrate his deceased dad's birthday. On the way, they run into two thugs in China Town who appear to be robbing a store. They thwart the plot and ruin the cake, but Mr. Pang, the owner, is so grateful that he tells Winston to pick out anything from the store. Whatever he touches first will be what he gets. By mistake, he touches a broom. Reluctantly, he takes the broom and dustpan home and that's where the plot begins to go off the rails.
First, things begin to go missing. His athletic jersey. His goldfish. He attributes this to the broom and dustpan, which he's convinced are possessed, so he attempts to get rid of them by throwing them into the bay. Unfortunately, they come back. Then, after reading an excerpt from a book about Chinese mythology, his baby sister begins behaving strangely. Winston and his friends return multiple times to the shop to have a chat with Mr. Pang, but things are incredibly complicated and strange. Sometimes the shop is there, sometimes it isn't. Sometimes Mr. Pang is a human, sometimes he's a magpie. Talking to people doesn't help. Explanations are conflicted. What they DO know is that Winston's baby sister is possessed by a changeling and if they don't figure out how to switch her back soon, it will be too late.
All I can say is that if Chinese mythology is this complicated, then I'll stick with Roman and Greek, or even Hindu. Aru Shah and the End of Time far exceeds this book in my opinion. I will most definitely be passing on this book, but I hope someone gives Chinese mythology another shot.
I waffled back and forth between 2 and 3 stars on this one. Since it's a pre-lease, I gave the author the benefit of the doubt, hoping for a better final product. The cover is great, which is a big plus, but once inside, it quickly turns into a slog. The problem is that the author throws too much at the wall, and unfortunately, a lot of it doesn't stick. If an author is going to make a plot this circuitous, at some point things need to start tightening up. Unfortunately, instead of working to undo the knot, she just throws in more string.
First of all, I want to address the setting. I love that the story takes place in San Francisco, especially China Town, but to be honest, I did not get a good sense of place. As someone who has been to SF several times as a tourist, I was disappointed with the weak setting description. SF is an amazing town and I didn't feel it.
Second, characters. I have a very good sense of Winston. His father died from a freak accident while serving in the military. His older sister is pursing closure on this while looking for a job. His mother is doing well as a single mom and also looking for a job. His toddler age sister becomes a key player in a very strange way (more on that). The disappointment is the other characters. Mav is Winston's rich friend. Don't know much about him other than that. Cassa's dad has a new girlfriend which is stressful for her. That's about all we know about her. Bijal. We know virtually nothing. I really don't understand how these friendships came to be or what holds them together. I also don't get a strong sense of Chinese culture. Disappointing.
The story opens with Winston and his friends precariously trying to get a cake back to his house to celebrate his deceased dad's birthday. On the way, they run into two thugs in China Town who appear to be robbing a store. They thwart the plot and ruin the cake, but Mr. Pang, the owner, is so grateful that he tells Winston to pick out anything from the store. Whatever he touches first will be what he gets. By mistake, he touches a broom. Reluctantly, he takes the broom and dustpan home and that's where the plot begins to go off the rails.
First, things begin to go missing. His athletic jersey. His goldfish. He attributes this to the broom and dustpan, which he's convinced are possessed, so he attempts to get rid of them by throwing them into the bay. Unfortunately, they come back. Then, after reading an excerpt from a book about Chinese mythology, his baby sister begins behaving strangely. Winston and his friends return multiple times to the shop to have a chat with Mr. Pang, but things are incredibly complicated and strange. Sometimes the shop is there, sometimes it isn't. Sometimes Mr. Pang is a human, sometimes he's a magpie. Talking to people doesn't help. Explanations are conflicted. What they DO know is that Winston's baby sister is possessed by a changeling and if they don't figure out how to switch her back soon, it will be too late.
All I can say is that if Chinese mythology is this complicated, then I'll stick with Roman and Greek, or even Hindu. Aru Shah and the End of Time far exceeds this book in my opinion. I will most definitely be passing on this book, but I hope someone gives Chinese mythology another shot.
January 6, 2024
This was a delightfully fast-paced Chinese-based mythology middle grade novel. I found it charming and humorous.
Winston is still reeling from the lost of his father. His dad-aversery is coming up and Winston is excited to show off his cake skills at home to his mom and sisters. As bad luck would have it, he skated into two mean-looking guys who were less than thrilled to be caked. In a twist, Winston caked two potential robbers and the staked out shop owner rewards Winston: he can have one thing from his shop of oddities. But it needs to be the first thing he touches. As fate would have it, Winston touches a broom first. His reward: a broom and an accompanying dust pan. Needless to say, Winston is less than thrilled.
Plot Twist: the broom and dustpan are immortal beings in disguise trying to find a way to be together: the cloud weaver and the cow herder. Will Winston be able to help these who mythical love birds find a way to be together? Will he have to sacrifice all he loves to save his sister?
I really loved the mythology and the storytelling in this novel. My favorite character is the goldfish. I loved the humor woven into the plot and the quest in this novel.
*The narrator for the audiobook was awesome!*
I need a cocktail umbrella from the whimsie shop.
Winston is still reeling from the lost of his father. His dad-aversery is coming up and Winston is excited to show off his cake skills at home to his mom and sisters. As bad luck would have it, he skated into two mean-looking guys who were less than thrilled to be caked. In a twist, Winston caked two potential robbers and the staked out shop owner rewards Winston: he can have one thing from his shop of oddities. But it needs to be the first thing he touches. As fate would have it, Winston touches a broom first. His reward: a broom and an accompanying dust pan. Needless to say, Winston is less than thrilled.
Plot Twist: the broom and dustpan are immortal beings in disguise trying to find a way to be together: the cloud weaver and the cow herder. Will Winston be able to help these who mythical love birds find a way to be together? Will he have to sacrifice all he loves to save his sister?
I really loved the mythology and the storytelling in this novel. My favorite character is the goldfish. I loved the humor woven into the plot and the quest in this novel.
*The narrator for the audiobook was awesome!*
I need a cocktail umbrella from the whimsie shop.
November 10, 2022
The middle kind of dragged and the worldbuilding made sense some of the time, with all the Whimsies being unorganized and the motivations of different characters being unclear at different points. Winston Chu was well-developed, and I really like the changeling idea in concept and I think it was executed well. Sibling dynamics were great. I do think in trying to make all of the characters have complexity they just were spread too thin and couldn't make me care about most individual characters, they all had backstories but lacked personalities. The hero/villain dynamics were blurred which can be really good in theory but I don't think was executed very well because it was left hanging rather than coming to a climax. Alice in Wonderland-style eccentricities which were a lot of fun, never knew what would come out of the Whimsies next! Magic system of emotional significance and qi was compelling.
October 9, 2023
The Good:
1. There was an imperfect Chinese family.
2. The family went through some character development.
3. Winston had a diverse group of friends who had his back.
4. The setting was San Francisco, my hometown.
5. There was incorporation of Chinese mythology which enabled me to learn about a new tale.
6. The introduction of new characters that were eventually folded in and that meshed well with the original group.
The Okay:
1. Plot - the relation of the myth to the story's present life was quirky and not so much to my cup of adult tea; maybe if I was a middle schooler, I would appreciate the circumstances more?
2. The back and forth journey of trials and tribulations to figuring out what was going on and how to fix things. Felt like a ping pong game and towards the end a bit stretched out.
I guess I'm rating this book a high 2, at least a 2.5; however, I don't think I'll continue with the series.
1. There was an imperfect Chinese family.
2. The family went through some character development.
3. Winston had a diverse group of friends who had his back.
4. The setting was San Francisco, my hometown.
5. There was incorporation of Chinese mythology which enabled me to learn about a new tale.
6. The introduction of new characters that were eventually folded in and that meshed well with the original group.
The Okay:
1. Plot - the relation of the myth to the story's present life was quirky and not so much to my cup of adult tea; maybe if I was a middle schooler, I would appreciate the circumstances more?
2. The back and forth journey of trials and tribulations to figuring out what was going on and how to fix things. Felt like a ping pong game and towards the end a bit stretched out.
I guess I'm rating this book a high 2, at least a 2.5; however, I don't think I'll continue with the series.
March 19, 2023
I knew this would be fun, but I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did. This was middle grade fantasy at its finest. I'm used to RRP books being about gods and monsters, so this taking a different turn was a refreshing change of pace. The slightly creepy undertones added another layer to to the story. I could tell the author had fun coming up with all the different kinds of whimsies that were so out there that they worked perfectly with the setting. Excited to see what happens next!
December 1, 2023
Cute, but not my favorite. My daughter enjoyed it though!
June 9, 2024
A fun, little story of friendship, loyalty, family, and whimsy. I’ll definitely recommend to my students!
dnf
May 8, 2023I love a kids' book that features a ragtag group of kids doing adventure things, especially when there's magic in the real world, but did nothing for me. I didn't connect to the rich but down to earth jock, the feisty girl, the other boy, and the main character who likes skateboarding and baking. Like we didn't really get into it other than to get the story moving...
I didn't enjoy the setup or the characters, so I gave it about 30% on the audio book until I gave up. It's not horrible or offensive or anything, but left me feeling very meh. And that's surprising because we've got magical objects, a creepy kid, a messy older sister, etc. etc. of elements that would get me hooked. Just not for me.
I didn't enjoy the setup or the characters, so I gave it about 30% on the audio book until I gave up. It's not horrible or offensive or anything, but left me feeling very meh. And that's surprising because we've got magical objects, a creepy kid, a messy older sister, etc. etc. of elements that would get me hooked. Just not for me.
April 26, 2023
Plain and simple: Stacey Lee writes, Jennifer reads and loves. And: the world needs more fun, silly, humorous, based-on-an-Asian myth stories in it!
The magical whimsies had me giggling and, frankly, watching my backside to make sure those Kick-Me Boots were not sneaking up on me. And I was opening my utility cabinet with caution for fear that the broom and dustpan would give a wiggle and materialize into ! Winston’s friends were a comical and unique group: the perfect companions to assist Winston in his endeavor to
The magical whimsies had me giggling and, frankly, watching my backside to make sure those Kick-Me Boots were not sneaking up on me. And I was opening my utility cabinet with caution for fear that the broom and dustpan would give a wiggle and materialize into ! Winston’s friends were a comical and unique group: the perfect companions to assist Winston in his endeavor to
February 3, 2023
What a fun and fantastical story! I adored Winston, the main character, and getting to see him navigate grief and belonging felt so raw and earnest. The supporting characters were well established, the villain was obvious to me but was still fun to see Winston, his friends, and sister figure it out for themselves too. I was a little disappointed for there to be very little of Winston attending the cooking academy, I assumed more of the story would take place there. The beginning was a slower than I liked but the pacing picks up and gets much more enticing about halfway through- although I am an adult reading a book targeting elementary schoolers so take that with a grain of salt.
I'm excited to suggest this title to kids who love fantasy and want to dig into a new series! Thanks to NetGalley and Rick Riordian Presents for an early read in exchange for an honest review.
I'm excited to suggest this title to kids who love fantasy and want to dig into a new series! Thanks to NetGalley and Rick Riordian Presents for an early read in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2023
*ARC generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley*
2.5
This was my least favorite of all the Rick Riordan Presents books so far. Winston ends up in a magical shop and as a favor for stopping a pair of thieves is given a broom and dust pan. Things got very weird and very confusing from there. I didn't understand the basis for the story as most of them are based off some aspect of mythology or folklore but couldn't figure this one out until almost the end. He gets his friends involved from the get go which was nice, except they all read as very childish. I think the kids were 8th graders? I'm not even sure. The spend the rest of the book trying to get back their lost things, which for reason included Winston's 3 year old sister Coco? Odd choices galore in this book. It kind of felt like a more confusing and less entertaining version of Xiaolin Showdown with all the weird magical "whimsies" that had powers.
The only positive I can pull from this book is that Winston and his sister deal with the grief left from their dad who was killed in action as a translator for the army.
2.5
This was my least favorite of all the Rick Riordan Presents books so far. Winston ends up in a magical shop and as a favor for stopping a pair of thieves is given a broom and dust pan. Things got very weird and very confusing from there. I didn't understand the basis for the story as most of them are based off some aspect of mythology or folklore but couldn't figure this one out until almost the end. He gets his friends involved from the get go which was nice, except they all read as very childish. I think the kids were 8th graders? I'm not even sure. The spend the rest of the book trying to get back their lost things, which for reason included Winston's 3 year old sister Coco? Odd choices galore in this book. It kind of felt like a more confusing and less entertaining version of Xiaolin Showdown with all the weird magical "whimsies" that had powers.
The only positive I can pull from this book is that Winston and his sister deal with the grief left from their dad who was killed in action as a translator for the army.
November 12, 2022
Thank you to Disney Publishing Worldwide and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Winston Chu vs. the Whimsies to review!
In Winston Chu vs. the Whimsies, Winston and his friends stumble upon a peculiar store that seemingly appeared out of nowhere one day. The store is filled with magical objects ranging from a ukulele that can calm people when played to a canoe that can float in the air. In the store Winston accidentally touches the most boring, normal objects: an old broom and dustpan. Mr. Pang(the owner of the store) forces him to take the broom and dustpan as a parting gift and Winston doesn't think much of it until peculiar things start happening like his most beloved items going missing and his little sister seemingly turning into a completely different person...? Winston and his friends take on the challenge to confront Mr. Pang and find out who is really at fault for Winston's missing items.
I thought this middle grade novel was extremely cute and refreshing. I loved reading about Winston and his friends and all of the different situations that they found themselves in together. I loved Winston's older sister Philippa and all of the other characters that help Winston out along the way. I thought a few of the magical items were literal genius like the Peeps standing guard and the eggs of truth; I don't know how Stacey Lee does it. I LOVED the cultural references to the Rainbow Connection and Ariana Grande. I'm not usually a person that particularly likes cultural references but I thought both of those were used SO WELL. My only qualm with this book was that I felt like the beginning dragged a bit too much and then the climax and the conclusion flew by. I felt like nothing was concluded and I feel like there were definitely a few pieces that could have easily been better concluded with an extra paragraph or two. Otherwise I thought this story was really fun and I would definitely read more like it in the future!
In Winston Chu vs. the Whimsies, Winston and his friends stumble upon a peculiar store that seemingly appeared out of nowhere one day. The store is filled with magical objects ranging from a ukulele that can calm people when played to a canoe that can float in the air. In the store Winston accidentally touches the most boring, normal objects: an old broom and dustpan. Mr. Pang(the owner of the store) forces him to take the broom and dustpan as a parting gift and Winston doesn't think much of it until peculiar things start happening like his most beloved items going missing and his little sister seemingly turning into a completely different person...? Winston and his friends take on the challenge to confront Mr. Pang and find out who is really at fault for Winston's missing items.
I thought this middle grade novel was extremely cute and refreshing. I loved reading about Winston and his friends and all of the different situations that they found themselves in together. I loved Winston's older sister Philippa and all of the other characters that help Winston out along the way. I thought a few of the magical items were literal genius like the Peeps standing guard and the eggs of truth; I don't know how Stacey Lee does it. I LOVED the cultural references to the Rainbow Connection and Ariana Grande. I'm not usually a person that particularly likes cultural references but I thought both of those were used SO WELL. My only qualm with this book was that I felt like the beginning dragged a bit too much and then the climax and the conclusion flew by. I felt like nothing was concluded and I feel like there were definitely a few pieces that could have easily been better concluded with an extra paragraph or two. Otherwise I thought this story was really fun and I would definitely read more like it in the future!
December 14, 2023
Reading age
8 - 12 years
Gr 5-8: In the second book of Winston Chu’s adventures the magpie Mr. Gu is trying to take over the city by running for San Francisco’s mayor. Once Winston, Mav, Cassa, Bijal, Monroe and Philippa realize that Mr. Gu is exchanging birdbrains into human bodies they know it’s time to try and save the world again. With the help of an old adversary Mr Pang, Mr Gu’s brother, and Pang’s Whimsies they arm themselves to face off against Mr. Gu and an unexpected accomplice. With a first person narrative the novel establishes a self reflective tone of moving on as grief has been processed and change has begun, which in return inspires hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel. As each side quest is complete to achieve the overall goal of defeating Mr. Gu, Winston discovers what type of person and friend he wants to be while overcoming his own pride and anger. In addition there are references of cultural traditions from Chinese and Senegalese backgrounds that are mainly seen in the use of foods and myths. VERDICT: A fun story for children that focuses on friendship, grief, and overcoming your fears that will appeal to anyone who liked the first book in the series.
8 - 12 years
Gr 5-8: In the second book of Winston Chu’s adventures the magpie Mr. Gu is trying to take over the city by running for San Francisco’s mayor. Once Winston, Mav, Cassa, Bijal, Monroe and Philippa realize that Mr. Gu is exchanging birdbrains into human bodies they know it’s time to try and save the world again. With the help of an old adversary Mr Pang, Mr Gu’s brother, and Pang’s Whimsies they arm themselves to face off against Mr. Gu and an unexpected accomplice. With a first person narrative the novel establishes a self reflective tone of moving on as grief has been processed and change has begun, which in return inspires hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel. As each side quest is complete to achieve the overall goal of defeating Mr. Gu, Winston discovers what type of person and friend he wants to be while overcoming his own pride and anger. In addition there are references of cultural traditions from Chinese and Senegalese backgrounds that are mainly seen in the use of foods and myths. VERDICT: A fun story for children that focuses on friendship, grief, and overcoming your fears that will appeal to anyone who liked the first book in the series.
July 9, 2022
Such a good read!! I read this book super early but loved it! It was such a delightful read. I loved how this book weaved chinease mythology and also other elements to craft this read. It gave me major teen wolf vibes at moments. I also loved the focus on a main character and how all the characters are dealing with grief. This book also focsued on dealing with greif and also friendship was a highlight. I really loved this characters and exploring this world, i hope we get more books in this world!! It was fun and if you have been reading the other books in this series, def check this out!
March 29, 2023
I wanted to like it but there was just too much going on. 3 for representation. 2 for the overall story :(
May 22, 2024
Second series in the Rick Riordan Presents project, published on February 7, 2023, Winston Chu vs. the Whimsies is the first book of the Winston Chu series. It’s probably one of the last series in the entire collection right now - J.C. Cervantes already published The Lords of Night four months ago, and by then, Roshani Chokshi already completed the Pandava Quintet (I’m not going to stop calling it Aru Shah though - every title is Aru Shah and the _____.)
But I’m writing this book review because-
You know what? You take a guess.
Well, it’s not anything mushy or because I’m chinese, but simply because it’s the last book I read and it was right there at the library, so I’m writing this one instead of, say, Shadow Bruja (since I already finished The Storm Runner) or Pandava Quintet (first book in the collection, yeah!).
But anyways, Winston Chu vs. the Whimsies chronicles the tale of - you guessed it - Winston Chu, a middle school boy who enjoys soccer, his little sister, Coco, and a game called Zombie Infestation, and lives in Chinatown, San Francisco, California, in case you live in one of the other thirty-nine ones. (I’m talking about you, San Francisco, Mexico * 16, San Francisco, Philippines * 7, San Francisco, South America * 8, and San Francisco, Central America * 8!)
So in Winston Chu vs. the Whimsies, Winston uses whimsies, or magical items imbued with cherishment transferred from prized possessions, to defeat Mr. Pang, the main antagonist. Ironically, Mr. Pang is the one that makes all these whimsies in the first place.
But anyways, Mr. Pang wants to steal Winston’s family’s cherished items’ emotions to enchant them for nefarious purposes, which you can figure out on your own. But soon, everything escalates when Mr. Pang’s helpers accidentally kidnap Coc’s spirit, and Winston, along with his friends Maverick, Cassa, Monroe, and Bijal, must figure out how to defeat an ever changing and dangerous opponent with only the slightest clues about what they can do and figuring out things as they go along and hope no one messes up.
Oh yeah, since Coco’s soul got accidentally kidnapped, a nefarious doll named Chang-ah-Ling (read: changeling) exchanged bodies with her and is now inhabiting Coco.
But that’s not important! What is important is that Winston must find more help - and soon. Winston must use his wits to his advantage and find Mr. Pang’s disappearing shop, enter, and use the stuff within to fight the opponent. Joining him is Dani, a girl at school (on whom Winston is crushing hard on) and Phillippa, his bigger sister (who Winston is definitely not crushing hard on, but Monroe definitely is.)
The second aspect of any good book is a bigger picture - something that is improbably crucial to the theme, the motif, the plot. The support systems behind the novel, the hidden story features, and for Winston Chu and the Whimsies, that would be Chinese mythology.
Calling it Chinese mythology, as listed on Wikipedia, is kind of wrong. The core of Chinese mythology is intertwined in Chinese history and centered with the Han, China’ largest, most powerful, and dominant ethnic group. Other ethnic groups, namely in Tibet, Manchuria, Inner Mongolia, and Southern Asia, are very much misrepresented in terms of the context of Chinese mythology. Furthermore, Chinese mythology is very much folktale, and tales can differ from home to home.
But anyways, Stacey Lee’s adaptation of Chinse myth is one of soft magic - we don’t know the limitations surrounding the Whimsies and what they could be capable of. It is centered around the qi of every household, a sort of invisible magic that is being fueled by love and cherishment.
But I’ve said enough! All in all, Winston Chu vs the Whimsies is a delightfully entertaining novel that deserves four stars. If you haven’t, I highly recommend it to you.
I highly recommend most books that I review, but then.
Not important.
But I’m writing this book review because-
You know what? You take a guess.
Well, it’s not anything mushy or because I’m chinese, but simply because it’s the last book I read and it was right there at the library, so I’m writing this one instead of, say, Shadow Bruja (since I already finished The Storm Runner) or Pandava Quintet (first book in the collection, yeah!).
But anyways, Winston Chu vs. the Whimsies chronicles the tale of - you guessed it - Winston Chu, a middle school boy who enjoys soccer, his little sister, Coco, and a game called Zombie Infestation, and lives in Chinatown, San Francisco, California, in case you live in one of the other thirty-nine ones. (I’m talking about you, San Francisco, Mexico * 16, San Francisco, Philippines * 7, San Francisco, South America * 8, and San Francisco, Central America * 8!)
So in Winston Chu vs. the Whimsies, Winston uses whimsies, or magical items imbued with cherishment transferred from prized possessions, to defeat Mr. Pang, the main antagonist. Ironically, Mr. Pang is the one that makes all these whimsies in the first place.
But anyways, Mr. Pang wants to steal Winston’s family’s cherished items’ emotions to enchant them for nefarious purposes, which you can figure out on your own. But soon, everything escalates when Mr. Pang’s helpers accidentally kidnap Coc’s spirit, and Winston, along with his friends Maverick, Cassa, Monroe, and Bijal, must figure out how to defeat an ever changing and dangerous opponent with only the slightest clues about what they can do and figuring out things as they go along and hope no one messes up.
Oh yeah, since Coco’s soul got accidentally kidnapped, a nefarious doll named Chang-ah-Ling (read: changeling) exchanged bodies with her and is now inhabiting Coco.
But that’s not important! What is important is that Winston must find more help - and soon. Winston must use his wits to his advantage and find Mr. Pang’s disappearing shop, enter, and use the stuff within to fight the opponent. Joining him is Dani, a girl at school (on whom Winston is crushing hard on) and Phillippa, his bigger sister (who Winston is definitely not crushing hard on, but Monroe definitely is.)
The second aspect of any good book is a bigger picture - something that is improbably crucial to the theme, the motif, the plot. The support systems behind the novel, the hidden story features, and for Winston Chu and the Whimsies, that would be Chinese mythology.
Calling it Chinese mythology, as listed on Wikipedia, is kind of wrong. The core of Chinese mythology is intertwined in Chinese history and centered with the Han, China’ largest, most powerful, and dominant ethnic group. Other ethnic groups, namely in Tibet, Manchuria, Inner Mongolia, and Southern Asia, are very much misrepresented in terms of the context of Chinese mythology. Furthermore, Chinese mythology is very much folktale, and tales can differ from home to home.
But anyways, Stacey Lee’s adaptation of Chinse myth is one of soft magic - we don’t know the limitations surrounding the Whimsies and what they could be capable of. It is centered around the qi of every household, a sort of invisible magic that is being fueled by love and cherishment.
But I’ve said enough! All in all, Winston Chu vs the Whimsies is a delightfully entertaining novel that deserves four stars. If you haven’t, I highly recommend it to you.
I highly recommend most books that I review, but then.
Not important.
May 16, 2023
Most of this book is a hysterically funny and mysterious adventure story with a quirky, realistic team of child characters roaming around San Francisco, a few of them on skateboards.
Parents of readers might see parallels between this and Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher, and the rest of Bruce Coville's Magic Shop series - and in comparison, this novel is more richly nuanced, has added depth of cultural connections, more realistically-realized secondary characters, and is - obviously - currently in print and includes pop-culture references that modern readers will recognize. (...what I'm trying to say to librarians and parents; if you only have room on your bookshelves for EITHER Coville's Magic Shop OR this book, choose this book.)
One thing that I really appreciated was that the author kept track of the various things people are using, keeping, or exchanging. So many times when a character is attached to a skateboard, bicycle, phone, backpack, etc., there are gaps in the story where the item is momentarily forgotten - the bike isn't locked, the backpack is stored in a locker & not retrieved, etc. Stacey Lee keeps track of All The Things - which is good & appropriate because the entire book revolves around the collecting, exploiting, exchanging, and imbuing concrete things with extra energy & power.
Another thing I appreciated is that all of these things have some greater or lesser spiritual heft or psychological significance to different characters, and this is made manifest and conscious in the course of solving the mystery.
For this reason, even though the story is a fantasy-based mystery with a few legendary or god-like characters involved, the gist of the story is about the middle-school-aged main character and how they grapple with the meaning of the important people in their life.
All of that sounds so heavy, and good material for producing relevant school book reports or literature responses - and yet the feeling of the whole book is humorful and hip. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it, especially to middle-grade and middle-school fantasy readers.
However, I have to bring up one minor criticism about which I have a strong negative opinion: Mr. Riordan, the editors of Rick Riordan Presents, and the rest of the people at Disney/Hyperion who make editorial decisions need to know that it is OFFENSIVE to have the first 2 pages of the book's text to be a "preview" written by Mr. Riordan, without a warning that it *isn't* the start of the book. This felt insulting to me as a reader, but even more insulting to the author. It made me wonder what other editorial choices were made, and by whom - I can't imagine that the author thought this would be flattering or helpful, so I assume it was an editor or Mr. Riordan himself who suggested it.
On the back cover = fine! On the front flap = fine! In an advertisement in a magazine = fine! In a "preview" note following a different Rick Riordan Presents book = fine! As the first 2 pages of the actual book = BAD IDEA = insulting, confusing, undermining.
Parents of readers might see parallels between this and Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher, and the rest of Bruce Coville's Magic Shop series - and in comparison, this novel is more richly nuanced, has added depth of cultural connections, more realistically-realized secondary characters, and is - obviously - currently in print and includes pop-culture references that modern readers will recognize. (...what I'm trying to say to librarians and parents; if you only have room on your bookshelves for EITHER Coville's Magic Shop OR this book, choose this book.)
One thing that I really appreciated was that the author kept track of the various things people are using, keeping, or exchanging. So many times when a character is attached to a skateboard, bicycle, phone, backpack, etc., there are gaps in the story where the item is momentarily forgotten - the bike isn't locked, the backpack is stored in a locker & not retrieved, etc. Stacey Lee keeps track of All The Things - which is good & appropriate because the entire book revolves around the collecting, exploiting, exchanging, and imbuing concrete things with extra energy & power.
Another thing I appreciated is that all of these things have some greater or lesser spiritual heft or psychological significance to different characters, and this is made manifest and conscious in the course of solving the mystery.
For this reason, even though the story is a fantasy-based mystery with a few legendary or god-like characters involved, the gist of the story is about the middle-school-aged main character and how they grapple with the meaning of the important people in their life.
All of that sounds so heavy, and good material for producing relevant school book reports or literature responses - and yet the feeling of the whole book is humorful and hip. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it, especially to middle-grade and middle-school fantasy readers.
However, I have to bring up one minor criticism about which I have a strong negative opinion: Mr. Riordan, the editors of Rick Riordan Presents, and the rest of the people at Disney/Hyperion who make editorial decisions need to know that it is OFFENSIVE to have the first 2 pages of the book's text to be a "preview" written by Mr. Riordan, without a warning that it *isn't* the start of the book. This felt insulting to me as a reader, but even more insulting to the author. It made me wonder what other editorial choices were made, and by whom - I can't imagine that the author thought this would be flattering or helpful, so I assume it was an editor or Mr. Riordan himself who suggested it.
On the back cover = fine! On the front flap = fine! In an advertisement in a magazine = fine! In a "preview" note following a different Rick Riordan Presents book = fine! As the first 2 pages of the actual book = BAD IDEA = insulting, confusing, undermining.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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