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Winston Chu #2

Winston Chu vs. the Wingmeisters

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Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents best-selling YA author Stacey Lee’s final book in her debut middle grade a whimsical, mile-a-minute adventure inspired by Chinese mythology.

Twelve-year-old Winston Chu has already rescued his sister, saved the moon’s qi, and kicked Mr. Pang’s sorry magpie-turned-human butt to the curb—but now he’s about to face an even bigger Mr. Pang’s older magpie-turned-human brother, Mr. Gu.

Sure, Mr. Gu might be the current front-runner to be San Francisco’s next mayor, but, as Winston knows all too well, appearances can be deceiving—and Mr. Gu, despite his cheerful laugh and brightly-colored shirts, is definitely hiding something.

Because all of a sudden, there’s an eerily punctual fog that seems to follow him on his trips to an island in the bay. And grown-ups are turning up all the across the city with no memory of who they are, but with plenty of enthusiasm for their favorite mayoral candidate. And then there’s the flocks of exotic birds that have begun amassing in every corner of the city. For Winston and his friends, there’s no denying something. . . fowl . . . is afoot.

And the only one who might have the answers they need to save the city? Their old nemesis, Mr. Pang. . .

Winston’s magical adventures come to a thrilling end in this whimsical, rollicking ride filled with invisible windbreakers, mischievous mustaches, and badminton rackets of destiny.

Endorsed by Rick Riordan, author of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, soon to be a series on Disney+.

348 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 6, 2024

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427 people want to read

About the author

Stacey Lee

11 books2,440 followers
Stacey 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.

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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Profile Image for Eileen.
2,400 reviews136 followers
February 6, 2024
Happy Publication Day!

This book picks up immediately where the first book left off, which is good because we were left completely hanging. Winston and his friends worked together with the help of Mr. Gu to defeat his brother Mr. Pang and save his sister and world from Pang's schemes to siphon power from the moon. But not all is completely as it seems, as Winston knows, and he starts to become suspicious when his observant mind starts to notice things that don't quite add up. I liked that each of his friends had their own challenges to face, and that his uneasy understanding with his older sister continues to move its way towards what it once was. He also has a crush on one of his friends (who is absent for most of the story), but I like how that part of the story eventually develops, although his jealousy over a so-called rival really made me laugh--ah, to be a young 12-year old boy! I think kids reading this series would find characters here they can relate with, whether it is Winston or any of the other kids.

What I really loved about this series was that I knew nothing about Magpie mythology in Chinese folklore, if there even is one. If not, then the author did a great job of creating one out of her imagination. Without heading into spoiler territory, I enjoyed the stories about how the Magpies ended up on Earth from heaven, and the motivation behind the different Magpies. I teared up a few times at the end, and loved how she concluded all the different threads.

Overall, this was a fun series and I think children would find the imaginative world of Winston Chu to be fun and dare I say, whimsical.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and the Publishers, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Megan Danvers.
215 reviews1 follower
May 2, 2024
This book frustrated me. First off, Winston was being super possessive of Dani when she started befriending this new guy Zander, acting like she was already his girlfriend almost, calling her my girl or my turf. Totally not okay. Even worse he reads her diary and she just brushes it off like it's no big deal. Oh, it was only the last entry? SO WHAT?! He read her diary, one entry doesn't make it okay.

Then as if that wasn't bad enough, Mr. Gu and Mr. Pang, the villains of this duology make up with each other so suddenly it felt both rushed and forced. Like they were at each other's throats one minute then hugging it out the next??? Then Mr. Gu gives up his villainous plan just because he and his brother made up. Then twist villain!

Like, if Stacey Lee really wanted to switch the antagonist she should've made this a trilogy and had Gu only just start feeling conflicted over his villainy right at the end of this book THEN have the change of heart in the third act of a hypothetical book 3 where the twist villain is defeated. Having the twist villain show up then dip was just a nothing of an ending. And to have at least one of the side characters stay as a Birdbrain in the end with the epilogue acting as if that's something we should feel happy about??

If you can look past the possessiveness and the rushed pacing in the third act, then you might enjoy this book. I would've given this a four star if not for these issues because these details aside it wasn't a bad read. The few issues were just glaring.
44 reviews1 follower
May 24, 2024
Winston Chu is a middle schooler.
He makes terrible pies.
He likes to skateboard and play soccer.
He may or may not have a severe crush on Dani Kim.
But he is not ordinary.
He knows and seeks to oppose a far stranger force that lurks and seeks to undermine society, a group of self-centered, related entities that one may even say to be… whimsical.
Oh, and the entities are birds. Surprise!
I feel like I really shouldn’t do that to people, but, well, I really can’t help it; that makes feel better.
So welcome to the book review of the second book of the Winston Chu series, Winston Chu and the Wingmeisters!
Winston Chu and the Wingmeisters was published by Disney-Hyperion on February 6, 2024, took 364 days, and written by Stacey Lee. Currently, it’s the second-latest book published by Rick Riordan Presents, with only Sarah Dass’s It Waits in the Forest published later, just eight days ago. (If you’re reading this on May 22, which I must say, you probably will never reading this, in the first place, so I don’t even know why I’m writing this for a nonexistent entity) (Just saying, that title makes me kind of scared of the book’s content, even if it says that it is only Caribbean mythology)
But anyways, WInston Chu and the WIngmeisters continues to chronicle the story of Winston Chu as he seeks help from Mr. Pang’s brother, Mr. Gu, to defeat Mr. Pang once and for all. But as the story progresses, things take a dark turn when Winston realizes that all his friends were placed under the spell of Mr. Gu, and after restoring them to normal, decides with his friends Bijal, Cassa, Maverick, Monroe, and sister Phillippa to find Mr. Pang and temporarily ally to him in order to stop whatever nefarious plot Mr. Gu was planning for San Francisco, California.(In case you live in San Francisco, Cordoba, Argentina)
People are disappearing all over San Francisco, birds that don’t belong in San Francisco are showing up everywhere, and the said people are returning with a fanatical obsession over Mr. Gu’s campaign for mayor and terrifying ability to guess a person’s age, along with no common sense whatsoever. I mean, a police officer let Winston off for driving Monroe’s car. He’s thirteen! He can’t drive!
Things quickly escalate when Monroe turns into a enigmatic owlet-nightjar (FOFY - find out for yourself) and Maverick follows a few weeks later and becomes a peregrine falcon (FOFY) to find Monroe. Can Winston lead his weather-beaten team to victory against a far more powerful opponent?
That was nice.
Winston Chu vs the Wingmeisters also had great elements of Chinese mythology. The usage of magpies where a pair complement each other with separate themes is one of the many critical themes in Chinese mythology, where for every force, there is a counterforce. For every element that acts in one direction, there’s one that balances it. Chinese myth is really just about balance. Every force keeps each other in check.
Winston Chu vs the Wingmeisters is a really great book that imbued critical Chinese principles and deserves its fifth star. It showed courage and using every resource at hand to defeat an ever-changing opponent. It’s a book that deserves a read.
Profile Image for Laila - Stories Steeped in Magic.
113 reviews9 followers
February 14, 2024
Rating: 4
Genre: Fantasy
Thank you Rick Riordan Presents for providing an e-copy through NetGalley

Summary:
We pick up right where we left Winston in the first book: He defeated Mr. Pang - a magpie-turned-human, rescuing his sister and saving the moon’s qi in the process. But now Winston and the gang must deal with Mr. Gu. Sure, he helped to defeat his brother Mr. Pang, but Winston notices odd things about him. Mr. Gu is running for the San Francisco mayor, using magic to boost his campaign, knock out his competitors, and…something more sinister. A weird fog seems to follow him around, exotic birds that shouldn’t be there are gathering all over the city in alarming amounts, and extreme amnesia is affecting several adults - they don’t remember who they are, but are overly enthusiastic about Mr. Gu as mayor. The magpie-turned-human’s intentions are obvious, but what exactly he wants is something Winston and friends must uncover quickly, before all of San Francisco is turned upside-down. To stop this, the gang must use their wits, their qi devices, each other, and…even Mr. Pang.

What I Liked:
Winston Chu vs. The Wingmeisters is the fun and fast-paced conclusion to the series, full of crazy hijinks, feathery friends and foes, and pies. Lots of pies. This mythology story is focused more on comedy than adventure, a nice break in the Rick Riordan series. The Chinese mythology surrounding magpies and their backstory is always a treat to read, as it is not discussed often in the media. Winston’s intelligence, observation skills, and courage are constantly highlighted as he has to solve tricky (and wacky) situations with the help of his friends. Each member of the team has their own unique personalities, supporting Winston in different ways, and each gets their own time in the spotlight, handling their own problems with magic, communication, and emotion. Mr. Pang and Mr. Gu are fun villains as well, both silly and serious throughout. Overall, a great second book of the duology that nicely ties up any loose ends, gives each character time to shine, and showcases an important aspect of Chinese mythology.

What I Didn’t Like: Nothing

Recommend to: Kids who like mythology stories and Chinese storytelling. Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao, Where the Mountain meets the Moon by Grace Lin, The Scroll of Chaos by Elsie Chapman and Charlie Hernandez and the League of Shadows by Ryan Calejo.

Review Date: February 13, 2024
Profile Image for Karen Cohn.
831 reviews12 followers
December 17, 2023
Winston Chu vs. the Wingmeisters is the sequel to Winston Chu vs. the Whimsies, and this second volume picks up where the first one leaves off. Winston and his friends are once again facing Mr. Pang and Mr. Gu, who are the personifications of magpies - magic wielders with two forms, one human and one bird, known in Chinese mythology. This time, Mr. Gu is campaigning to become mayor of San Francisco, and he's using magic to bolster his campaign. Only Winston and his friends know what's happening, and only they have access to the qi devices that will let them stop Mr. Gu from succeeding.

As in the first volume, pies play a significant part in this story, as both weapons and cures. Magic abounds, both in the form of whimsies and in other devices. This is a fun and fast-paced book that will appeal to readers of all ages who enjoy fantasy and mythology with a comedic twist. This is an enjoyable and appropriate entry to the Rick Riordan Presents universe.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for belle ☆ミ (thisbellereadstoo).
2,587 reviews172 followers
April 28, 2024
actual rating: 3.5 stars

this was such a wild ride. after saving coco, the moon’s qi, and the world (basically), winston now needs to worry about the potential mayor-to-be mr. gu, the brother of mr. pang who was the villain in the previous book. winston chu vs. the wingmeisters revolved around winston and his friends saving their town from being entirely turned into birdbrain humans and preventing mr. gu’s sinister ways of being the mayor from happening.

magpies in chinese mythology are seen as good luck, but in reality, they can be jerks which i feel was represented through mr. pang and mr. gu in this duology. the brothers have their great moments, mr. pang with his magic and innovation while mr. gu is very charismatic and personable, but they also had bad intentions.

winston was a little insecure about himself throughout the duology but he’s slowly stepping up and believing more in himself. i think with his supportive friends and their wacky ways, it brought him a lot of comfort.

overall, this was an adventure.
Profile Image for The Keepers of the Books.
575 reviews9 followers
June 16, 2024
After foiling Mr. Pang’s plans, a magpie in human form, Winston, Phillippa, Mav, Cassa, Bijal, and Monroe are on high alert. Posing as an environmental lawyer, Mr Gu, Mr’s Pang’s brother, is using his campaign as mayor to luring people in with free internet access throughout the city. From t
here, he implants bird brains into their human bodies. If Mr. Gu succeeds, he will create an unstoppable army. Will Winsston and company find a way to stop him before it’s too late?

The plot is engaging, well-developed, and full of twists and turns. The characters are well-developed, authentic to their ages, are relatable, and likable. Readers who like fantasy, mythology, and adventure will want to pick this one up. Recommended for most library collections

Please Note: A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are our own. No other compensation was received.
Profile Image for Michelle.
155 reviews
November 11, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for this DRC.
Winston Chu needs to save his city from the birds. Two sets of magic magpies are wreaking havoc in San Francisco, and it’s more than just the magpies you need to look out for.
Another fun Adventure for Winston and his friends and family. I loved that each character had their own emotional/magical fight. Each had a chance to shine in their own amazing ways. Winston Chu is a winner!
#RickRiordanPersentsWinsonChuvstheWingmeisters #NetGalley
Profile Image for Alicia.
993 reviews17 followers
May 14, 2024
This was a fun and weird middle grade read, and overall I enjoyed it. I liked the plot of trying to figure out what Mr. Gu was up to. The mystery was fun and I enjoyed seeing the characters work together to try to stop the magpies. Winston is a good character, and his friends are also good. The characters all balance each other and they rely on each other’s strengths to solve their problems.
The writing style was easy to follow along with, and I was sucked into the story every time I picked up the book.
Profile Image for Sarah.
921 reviews5 followers
June 26, 2024
Winston and his soccer teammates managed to stop Mr. Pang, a magpie trickster, from fulfilling his convoluted scheme, but now it looks like his brother Mr. Gu is going to be even more of a headache. His folksy charm has some people (especially Winston's mom) fooled into voting for him as mayor. However, highly punctual fog, flocks of unusual birds, and lots of people acting oddly have Winston on high alert. A fun, wacky adventure, though the finale was so rushed it didn't really have time to unpack all the emotional developments the characters experienced.
Profile Image for Mary Beth.
473 reviews26 followers
January 14, 2024
Another fantastic adventure with Winston and his friends trying to stop the dastardly magpies from ruining San Francisco. Only this time Mr. Pang is not the one they are trying to stop. Based off Chinese mythology, this story is whimsical, and so much fun. I mean where do I get the recipe for the pies that will freeze someone in their tracks when thrown? Sign me up! I love Winston and his friends - such a great and supportive group and maybe a little romance as well. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Jeni Enjaian.
3,456 reviews52 followers
June 3, 2024
I still enjoyed all the characters and Lee's writing style. However, the motivation of various antagonistic characters fell a bit flat. The main character and his friend group end up working with the antagonist of book one to counter the new antagonist who turns out to not have malicious motives but worked in conjunction with yet another new-ish character. The twist on twist at the end soured my opinion a little but not enough to dislike the book. It's good, just not my favorite.
Profile Image for Tina Lamb.
Author 2 books20 followers
July 24, 2025
It was a quick read. I was a big fan of Winston Chu vs. The Whimsies so I had high hopes. There were still imaginative quirks, but it felt rushed. I think more intricacies of battling with the magic would have been helpful. If you liked the first book, I recommend reading this one. But as a stand alone, it was not worth it.
516 reviews2 followers
October 8, 2023
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. Winston and his friends are back at it with the magpies.
They meet new ones along with some familiar faces. Winston and his friends learn they can count on each other even in tough situations.
Profile Image for Emma.
691 reviews39 followers
March 24, 2024
Winston Chu vs. the Wingmeisters is the sequel to Winston Chu vs. the Whimsies. This series was a duology. The second book did a great job of both picking up from where the first one left off, as well as tying everything up.
Profile Image for Eric Nhem.
311 reviews3 followers
April 8, 2024
The first book was so whimsical and fun, but this one just felt too out there. Maybe I got genre and audience whiplash from coming off of A Court of Silver Flames but I wasn’t feeling it.
14 reviews
December 25, 2024
It was really really really really confusing
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for China.
173 reviews8 followers
April 24, 2025
The conclusion to a stunning duology what’s funny was to return everything back to normal was the two brothers just had to forgive each other
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews

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