The Invincible List of Lani Li

by Veeda Bybee, Hoan Phan (illustrator)

A challenge from her little brother and a Chinese fable inspire Lani Li to hit every note of invincible bravery on her band trip to London.

Thirteen-year-old Lani Li has grown up with the tale of the Eight Invincible Brothers—Chinese heroes who use their superpowers to conquer challenges. Lani wishes she could be as brave as them, especially as she faces her own test of courage . . .

When Lani's elite performance band is chosen to perform in London, she should be thrilled. But with too many fears to count and her little brother, Gavin, unable to join her due to a serious heart condition, the trip feels more daunting than exciting. Before Lani leaves, Gavin gives her a challenge: tap into her own hidden strength by embodying the Eight Invincible Brothers—and each of their special powers.

In London, Lani creates her own “invincible list” based on the fable, and as she checks off each quality, she discovers that these “superpowers” might not be as farfetched as they seem. But when the final challenge demands that she face a daunting fear—running down the famous Cooper’s Hill in a wild cheese race—Lani wonders if she has what it takes to complete the list.

With her brother’s courage as her guide, can Lani conquer her fears and prove she’s invincible in her own way? Or will this last challenge be the one that defeats her?

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Childrens, Family, Adventure, Coming Of Age

224 pages, Hardcover

Published October 7, 2025

Reviews

[Camille Dayton Fostering.literacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much love for this middle grade novel! I was incredibly impressed with the story and themes of chronic illness, family, Chinese heritage, music, and honoring your parents. The sweetest part of the story for me was seeing an older sister choose to be brave and help out her brother even when it wasn’t her original plan. And seeing her brother face a chronic illness with courage and determination was so sweet as well. The novel has a story inside the story, which is an old Chinese tale about 8 brothers. I enjoyed immersing myself in the story and learning about a culture I don’t know much about.

Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy of this book. A review was not required.

[Kayla Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story took me by surprise and introduced me to culture and stories that were wonderful. I loved learning more of the Chinese Culture and stepping back into the free spirit of Middle Grade Awesomeness.

“What do you do when you’re really scared of something?”

Lani Li finds courage and strength she didn’t know she had and she also gains empathy and tenderness towards her younger brother.

“You’re going to grow up and leave me. Just like the Monkey King.”

I had tears in my eyes and a smile in my face throughout the read and declared to my children that I thought they would love this story!

“Lists improve concentration, reduce stress, and improve performance. They are good for you.”

The illustrations throughout added to this story. What talent Hoan Phan has.

This is a wonderful Middle Grade Novel. Full of friendship, family, and growth. Contains a representation of a congenital heart defect.

[Yvonne Reynders · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Invincible List of Lani Li was a touching middle-grade novel. This is the first book I've read by Veeda Bybee and I learned that I really enjoy her voice! She seamlessly wove an ancient folk story into the life of a modern family. I enjoyed seeing the beautiful bond between siblings, Lani and Gavin, as they encouraged eachother to be better and face their fears. Lani's growth throughout the story was impactful.

I'm grateful that I get to rub shoulders with Veeda in a bi-monthly book club! I'm excited to get to know her through her work and a we discuss books. 💕

[Regency_Fan_ Michelle RegencyFanMichelleAndMore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful fantasy story filled with moral lessons that really resonate. It touches on themes like empathy, overcoming fears, and dealing with feelings like jealousy and loneliness. I love how it beautifully represents Chinese culture, offering an authentic voice and lots of adventure along the way.

The main characters, Lani and Gavin, draw from their Chinese heritage to tackle their fears. It warmed my heart to see the strong love and support in their family, which is so important, especially during tough times. As a parent of three lovely Chinese daughters with medical conditions, I found it particularly moving. It does a great job of highlighting the importance of supporting all siblings, who can sometimes feel a bit left out.

This book has so many layers to explore! I really enjoyed the mix of settings, like Utah and England, and the cheese roll event was such a fun touch. It’s an entertaining read, and you’ll definitely pick up some valuable insights along the way!

I received a complimentary copy of this book and read it with pleasure. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.

[fede · Rating 5 out of 5]

⟢ 5 stars ✮⋆˙

ARC kindly sent by the publisher.
All opinions are my own!

This one comes out on October 7th

A middle-grade full of emotions, reflecting on the importance of challenging ourselves and finding our own strength, even when life becomes overwhelming. Our protagonist, Lani Li, is a teenager trying to overcome her fears in order to become someone she can be proud of. When her performance band gets the opportunity to perform in London, Lani feels scared, not only about the trip itself, but also because her brother Gavin can’t join her. The story of the Eight Invincible Brothers, an old Chinese tale she grew up with, gives Lani all the strength she needs. Lani’s journey of self-discovery was truly beautiful, I immediately connected with her and I loved her as a main character. I also enjoyed the family dynamics, especially the deep bond Lani and her brother share. A beautiful middle-grade that I believe many kids will fall in love with. Highly recommend!

-------------------

both compelling & heartwarming, lani li’s story will stay with me for a while.. just wow❤️ RTC soon!

[Tiffany (Work Kids N Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This middle grade book is a must read!

I went into with intrigue and ended it with surprise and delight! This story hits all the feels. From the highs through the lows, this story is well told and beautifully written. The themes of bravery, hope, and courage course strongly throughout.

Lani Li is a quiet 13 year old who grew up reading a Chinese fable about 8 invincible brothers. When her band takes a trip to London, she feels more worried than excited. Her brother challenges her to find her bravery, just like the 8 brothers. Will she be able to do it?

Read this book if you like:
🐒 Being Brave
🐒 Chinese Fables
🐒 Amazing Illustrations
🐒 Documenting Experiences
🐒 Rugby
🐒 Traveling Abroad
🐒 Playing Solos
🐒 Riding a Motorcycle
🐒 Cheese Wheels

I will be reading this with my kids ASAP! You should pick it up too 😉

Content: risky surgery, family expectations, world traveling, learning to be brave.

Thank you to Veeda Bybee and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the #gifted copy; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Veeda does it again! My kids loved the story of the monkey king! They liked the invincible brothers. And my 10yo who is really into medical stuff was moved by everything Gavin went through.

[Corina Flake · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a darling story! Lani and Gavin are well written, complex characters, and Sam and Sunny were just as fun, if overall more flat. The book's settings, Provo, UT, and London, England, are both integral the the story and Bybee does an excellent job of including both of them and placing readers in each location. The inclusion of the 8 Chinese Brothers was a fun note - I remember reading The Five Chinese Brothers as a child and so the story was recognizable. It also helped demonstrate an intentional effort to include diversity while simultaneously not forcing it. I love the idea of children using stories in everyday life, applying the things they see in books. It is a delightful middle grade novel and fits the genre so well.

I did reserve one star on this book. For most of the story, I could not understand why the Lani's mom was so opposed to Lani running in the race at Cooper's Hill. I eventually did watch a video of the race, and with Lani's explanation of the race, I understood better why her mom would be concerned about her daughter running. However, the book didn't explain that until the very end, making it seem like Lani's mom wanted to prevent her from running just to be spiteful - the necessary, but unprovoked villain. I felt that her motivations were unclear.

I did love the fact that this book dealt with a child's health challenges in a real world way while also approaching Gavin's heart defect with a level of calmness and imagination. Bybee didn't ignore his heart defect, and she even made it central to the story, but somehow focused on it in such a way that made the story more meaningful for all the characters, not just Gavin himself. To me, it is one of the things that makes Bybee's strong. While she intentionally uses heritage, disability, culture, family disagreements, etc. in her writing, these aspects of life are told through the lens of a 13 year old girl, rather than a 13 year old girl being told through the lens of each of those conceptual ideas. It focuses on what a 13 year old girl would focus on.

I was impressed with this middle grade novel! I am interested in reading more of Bybee's work.

[Shayla Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE INVINCIBLE LIST OF LANI LI
by: VEEDA BYBEE
@veedabybee

••ARC Review: 4 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Today, we’ve come to conquer fears—find courage for ourselves and others.”

~A challenge from her little brother and a Chinese Fable inspire Lani Li to hit every note of invincible bravery on her band trip to London…

“Finishing the list doesn’t automatically make you heroic. It happens on the journey.”

-THE INVINCIBLE LIST OF LANI LI, is a story blended wonderfully with thrilling moments of unexpected adventure and a daring race that has the ability to give Lani Liva since of empowerment and bravery. I enjoyed the mix of Chinese cultural mythology, symbolic retelling, and connection. I loved beautiful themes of bravery, resilience, self-esteem, self-reliance, new experiences, importance of support, family, and the applicable life lessons within. Most of all, I loved watching characters discover and utilize strength within to be brave on many levels! I loved watching characters rise to challenges and stay within struggles to succeed! This is a story that would also be great as a read aloud and has life lessons applicable for any age. Worth the read!📚🙌🏻❤️🧀🏃‍♀️

“Don’t worry about winning. Show up. You aren’t taking the easy way. You’re still entering the race. But now you’re living. Find yourself.”

•Content: serious heart condition, feelings of not measuring up, feeling left out, sneaking off, very mild peril, no language, no violence, no kissing.

“You don’t always have to do things in order.”

-I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

“Pick a line, stay in line. Keep on your feet as much as you can. If you fall, which is inevitable, don’t brace up. Keep loose.”

#theinvinciblelistoflanili
#veedabybee
#shadowmountainpub

“But what’s wrong with doing something a little daring sometimes? Races like this, moments like this, it gets you to feel deep in here. It’s time to be proactive.”

#allaboutthebestreads

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the coming-of-age story of Lani Lee and the Chinese folktale that inspired her. The folktale has changed through the dynasties; the number of brothers ranged from four to ten. The author's favorite version involves eight identical brothers with different special powers. If you check out the history of this folktale is fascinating. The one that the author refers to is similar to the version during the Ming dynasty, with ten brothers and similar special powers.

The author combines the story of Lani Lee, who is a second chair saxophonist. Her mother read the story of the folk tale of the eight Chinese brothers to the family often. Lani was the seventh child, 13 years old, and her tag-along brother. Gavin. was 10 years old, and was the eighth child in the family. They were different. Lani had a good ear for music and was not likely to take chances or do anything daring. Gavin was the risk-taker in the family, and he was born with a defective heart valve. He had an operation to replace the defective one with a mechanical one. So you get to learn a little medical history.

Before the trip to London, Gavin's heart valve began to fail, and less invasive surgery was planned, replacing the mechanical valve with one from a pig. The mechanical valve made noises and Gavin named it Monkey King. Gavin has to stay at home with his father while Lani goes to London with her mother. Lani feels sad that her brother cannot go with them. But they call each other often, and Lani has several adventures that Gavin is looking forward to. But the two become closer than ever by Lani takes on the part of her brother. She has many challenges, and I found myself waking up in the middle of the night to see what happens.

This is a middle-grade book that is inspirational and educational. I loved this book. I received a hardback copy as a win from FirstReads. I wish I had more copies so I could send it to my grandchildren and donate them to the local libraries.

[Brylie Young · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is a great first draft of what a good book could be. It houses some fascinating concepts as the author parallels the Chinese folktale of the 8 Invincible Brothers alongside Lani Li’s trip to London for a band concert. In theory, the double storytelling is cool, inclusive, and drives home the point. However, the attempted parallels were clunky, and the connections between the two didn’t always make very much sense. Overall, the storytelling feels very forced and like the author wasn’t entirely sure what to do next. Lani herself is lovable in her endeavors to help her brother, Gavin, fulfill his dreams. However, this gets her into some extremely dangerous situations, where she runs away from her mother to ride on a motorcycle (remember she’s 13!) with a stranger in a strange city. At one point, she also tricks her mother and runs away from her to do yet another dangerous thing. What message is this sending to young readers? Is it okay to get into cars with strangers in foreign countries and leave your parents behind? On top of this, Lani ultimately has no consequences for her actions. These lessons could have some serious consequences for young readers who try to follow in Lani’s footsteps. This book, as it is now, is mildly entertaining and heartwarming, focusing so much on family and courage. However, as I started with, it feels like a first draft and is in dire need of some revisions to be a good book.

[Hyrum · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Invincible List of Lani Li is a great book for middle-graders who love to read. As one who played a band instrument in Jr. High, I enjoyed the vibrant emotional and visual descriptions that were conveyed through musical terms. “The anticipation of what could come hung like a fermata above the clouds,” and “There was a long pause, like she was waiting for the downbeat of the next measure,” are some of my favorite examples of this.

The book delves into themes of family, responsibility, and compassion, all while displaying the wonderful and personal culture of the Li family. Lani’s younger brother, Gavin, provides motivation for the Lani as well as the comedic relief for the story. “I don’t want your charity pork,” is quite possibly the best line ever conceived in middle grade fiction.

When Gavin’s heart condition prevents him from going on the band tour with his older sister, Gavin grows sad and jealous. Lani is at first annoyed with his behavior but later realizes how much the two of them have in common. Using family stories, the siblings seek to strengthen each other in their challenges. While in Europe, Lani helps Gavin vicariously live out his dreams, and Gavin encourages Lani to reach her own goals and overcome her fears. In her list to become invincible, Lani sometimes crosses some lines, causing friction with her parents. In the end, however, the family members reconcile with each other as they continue to learn how to best live together.

[Jordan Vongphakdy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Invincible list of Lani Li is it comforting read to say the least. The what is nothing necessarily unique, being a typical Coming of Age story about a shy and timid girl learning to be brave by incorporating some form of trick to help her learn and grow up. But, the story doesn't have to be in complicated or overly unique. The cultural spin of adding Chinese Heritage and mythology within this story makes it relatable to those of not only Chinese American immigrants but all forms of Asian American immigrants, with the importance of Mythology tying into growing into daily life. Lani's inspiring and upon looking back incredibly wholesome. Her looking to the myth of the eight brothers to create her own Invincible list and therefore overcome her own trials that she said on herself is sort of a Twist on the Hercules myth. Where instead of our main character being forced to complete these Grand feats to improve, our character chooses to go through the trouble of completing these tasks and improve themselves. A wonderful and wholesome story about growth, coming of age, goal setting, and self improvement by connecting with your roots. Well I am a bit old now to enjoy this type of story I'm happy to know that stories like this still exist for the up and coming generation. All in all a great lead look forward to seeing what else is coming from this author.

[Riella Cristobal · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun and sweet story! I loved the family relationships, the Chinese culture celebration and the character growth.
Lani really felt real. She deeply loved her family, but still at times was frustrated with them, felt overlooked, and wanted her own space. I loved getting to know her and see her grow over the story. Lani was a planner and naturally cautious. Her brother Gavin’s challenge to embody the courage of the Eight Brothers of the Chinese fable forced her to consider adventure outside of her comfort zone. Sometimes it was simply seeing things in a different perspective or fully choosing a new option.
I loved seeing her journey, not only as a character but across an ocean with her band! Lani learned more about herself and also grew her friendships. I loved how they supported one another and encouraged her to bravery. I also appreciated how Lani’s family supported one another. While they certainly were not perfect, her parents loved her and she was able to connect with them over the story.
It was also fun to see the Chinese culture woven into the story. I love folklore and fables and it is so fun to see it incorporated here. This middle grade novel features adventure, culture, and growth!
I received an ARC.

[Glenna Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lani has lived her entire life in the shadow of her seven siblings--six of them because they are older, and the youngest because he was born with a congeital heart defect requiring surgeries. Now, it is her turn to shine as she plans to travel from Provo, Utah to London as second chair for saxophone with her select youth orchestra. She can't wait to take in the sights, attend a rugby game, and watch the cheese rolling race at Cooper's Hill. Except, events don't transpire as she had hoped. Gavin and dad can't come because Gavin needs a new heart valve. Mom is on the phone all the time and seems to take Lani for granted. And, biggest of all, Gavin, who had secretly planned to take part in the dangerous cheese rolling race, makes Lani promise to take his place. Lani falls back on the family's favorite Chinese folktale of the Eight Invincible Brothers. Since she loves lists, she creates an Invincible List to help her conquer her fears of flying, heights, and being in the spotlight. How Lani checks off every item on her list of eight traits based on the story is creative. In the pursuit of the eight items, Lani discovers that she can overcome her fears, sacrifice for her brother, and actually, is in her mom's mind at all times, too.

[AJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the ARC!

I originally requested this book because I myself and am alto saxophone player, and I was delighted to find out that Lani has a silver saxophone just like me!

However, I felt like the plot was more of a concept of a story rather than a fleshed out novel. A lot of things happened, but also nothing happened. The author had something really good in theory with the parallel telling of the 8 Invincible Brothers alongside the plot, but it didn't really translate well. That could be because I was reading it on mobile. Maybe it's because I am a musician, but I felt the random spatterings of musical terms as adjectives were unnecessary and forced. I really liked the plot where Lani was invisible with her mom because of her younger brother, but it was really unrealistic for her mom to just acknowledge that and try and change herself. I felt like we needed more time and more stakes to really send that home.

Obviously, I am an adult, so I could be reading into this middle grade literature too heavily. I think if you give this book to younger middle grade kids (6-7th grade) they would probably really like it.

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lani is heading to London with her elite performance band, and instead of excitement she’s a bundle of nerves. Her little brother Gavin who can’t go because of a serious heart condition gives her a challenge before she leaves: channel the Eight Invincible Brothers from their favorite Chinese fable and find her own superpowers!

Watching Lani make her invincible list on the trip and try to check off each quality was so relatable and heart-squeezing. She’s funny, anxious, determined, and very real. Bybee does a beautiful job blending Chinese folklore with a contemporary coming-of-age story, and I loved how Gavin’s quiet courage keeps echoing through Lani’s choices.

And yes, the final challenge running down Cooper’s Hill during the cheese race is as wild and hilarious as it sounds! I was literally cheering for her by the end. This book left me thinking about how bravery doesn’t always look big or flashy; sometimes it’s showing up even when you’re scared!

⚡️Thank you Shadow Mountain Publishing and Veeda Bybee for sharing this book with me!

[Carolina Colleene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: G
Lani’s band trip to England was hijacked by her little brother, Gavin (10yo), with a scheme to run in a recklessly dangerous race down Cooper’s Hill. But when his heart condition acts up and requires Gavin to stay home, he tells Lani (13yo) that she has to take his place. Lani insists that she isn’t brave enough. Can she become an Invincible Li for Gavin?
I love that Lani and Gavin use family traditions and folktales from their Chinese heritage to learn about real superpowers. They develop a super sibling relationship, even when they are an ocean away, and they learn the strengths of trying new foods, empathy, and even doing things that are uncomfortable and scary. Sometimes it feels like everything is against us and the obstacles in our lives are too big, but, in this book, we see the beauty of a world where everyone is cheering for these young protagonists. Lani and her family are Chinese, Sam is described as Hawaiian Māori Chinese, and Sunny is Korean.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/

[Sheila (sheilasbookreviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading middle-grade fiction books. The Invincible List of Lani Li tells a heartwarming family story. Lani and Gavin are siblings in a tight family of eight kids. They grew up with The Tale of the Eight Invincible Brothers, an old Chinese Tale. Their family goes by The Invincible Lis.

I adored how Lani backed her brother and his big dreams. She headed to England with her school band. Gavin hoped to join her and their parents. His heart problems became worse, he needed a new valve, and had to stay home for the surgery. He dreamed of racing in the Cheese Run at Cooper's Hill. Now he begged his sister to race for him. Lani needs to dig deep within herself. Lani uses the story of The Tale of the Eight Invincible Brothers to give her the "superpowers" to make this possible. Will she be able to grant his wish?


This story encompasses many themes:

-Showing bravery and overcoming fears

-Personal Growth

-Family unity

-Being determined and resilient

-Cultural Awareness

The Invincible List of Lani Li is written for middle-grade readers ages 8-13. With its upbeat and inspirational ideas, kids will enjoy reading this novel.
3.5-4 Stars

[Tales Untangled · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: MG Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
Age: Perfect for kids in upper elementary school
Representation: AAPI representation

THE INVINCIBLE LIST OF LANI LI is the perfect novel for kids to learn about family togetherness and perseverance.

I loved how Lani must confront her fears. She has to figure out her conflicted feelings about her place in the family and her youngest brother. Lani is excited to follow her dreams, but then she has to decide what she can do for her brother who is stuck at home.

I learned some weird facts about England and loved learning more about Asian mythology. I thought this was a fantastic book to start a dialogue with kids about family, conquering fears, chasing dreams, and staying connected to our roots.

Definitely pick this one up!

Happy reading!

[Cleanbooks4ever · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thirteen-year-old Lani Li has always admired the legendary Eight Invincible Brothers—mythical Chinese heroes with unique powers. When her elite school band is selected to perform in London, Lani should be excited. But with her younger brother Gavin unable to join due to a serious heart condition, and her own fears holding her back, the trip feels overwhelming.
Before she leaves, Gavin challenges Lani to create her own “Invincible List,” modeled after the Eight Brothers, to help her face her fears and grow stronger. As she checks off each item—like flying on a plane, speaking up for herself, and even entering a wild cheese-rolling race in his honor—Lani begins to discover her own inner strength.
The story explores themes of sibling bonds, bravery, and cultural identity, showing how stories from the past can inspire real-world courage. It’s a warm, empowering journey perfect for readers who enjoy realistic fiction with a touch of folklore.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book with my son. We both loved the story. I loved the way the author wove a Chinese folktale throughout this one. And the way it fit so well with her story.

Lani Li is a young girl about to go on a music trip to England with part of her family. Only...her brother Gavin's heart needs to be replaced and he and her dad are unexpectedly unable to go.

Gavin had so many plans for going to England. Including chasing a cheese wheel down Cooper's Hill. He insists that Lani make a list of some ways the brothers in the Chinese folktale were brave and be brave in those ways. And he really wants her to race Cooper's Hill in his place.

I loved the way Lani grows braver throughout this book. Remembering the Chinese folktale and Gavin help her to do things she really doesn't want to do. But she does them and she grows so much.

This is a beautiful story!

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pros: Fun book about overcoming fears and believing in yourself. The retelling of the Chinese brothers was clever. It was fun to have the setting in England. I enjoyed learning about Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling. The illustrations were really good.
Cons: I disliked the way that Lani kept defying leadership and/or parents and everything always worked out great. That really bothered me. I thought the hospital scenes were a bit far-fetched. If Gavin really hadn't awoken from surgery, he would be in ICU and there would be a lot more going on than just waiting for him to wake up. The final thing that bothered me is a couple of Bybee's descriptions: "white doctor" and "white boy." Declaring these individuals' race had absolutely nothing to do with the plot. Why put it in? If a white author had said Asian, the book would never have been allowed to be published.

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Being brave doesn’t mean you’re not scared. It means you do the thing anyway.”
🎷
Thirteen-year-old Lani travels to London with her middle school band, carrying the weight of worry for her brother Gavin, who’s preparing for major heart surgery back home. When she learns about the legend of the Eight Invincible Brothers, Lani creates her own “invincible list” — a series of dares to help her face her fears, from performing solos to making new friends. Along the way, she discovers that true strength comes not from being fearless, but from showing up for the people you love.
🇬🇧
This story felt like a warm hug wrapped in music and hope. Lani’s voice is so real—funny, anxious, determined—and I loved how the book shows that courage doesn’t always roar; sometimes it’s quiet, steady, and deeply human.

CW: chronic illness, anxiety, grief, hospitalization, medical content

[Jennybeast · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the format -- short book, short chapters with illustrations, some very short fable pages. The characters are solid, and the story of Lani going to London for a band concert while her brother Gavin has a heart valve replaced is very engaging. I'm also a sucker for anything cheese related and have participated in a cheese chase, so I was delighted to read more about the Cooper's Hill race. I loved how Chinese folklore is woven throughout the book. I love the All Blacks, so that was a delightful cameo. I didn't love how Lani was pressured into the race by her brother and her friend Sam and the social media aspect. I get that the point is that she ultimately chooses to push her own boundaries, but I just don't love how much of that decision making _felt_ like it was about media pressure. On the other hand, it did make me cry (in a good way) so I guess there's that.

[Jesus Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

The Invincible List of Lani is a captivating blend of lyrical prose and enchanting fairy tales, beautifully complemented by stunning illustrations. This unique book explores themes of courage, resilience, and self-discovery, making it a profound reading experience for audiences of all ages. Each story is carefully crafted to leave a lasting impression, inviting readers to reflect on the complexities of life and the importance of embracing one's true self. Whether you're a child or an adult, the insights and emotions woven throughout the narrative will resonate deeply, ensuring that its lessons linger long after the final page is turned.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of this book is intriguing—I appreciated the way the Chinese folktale of the Eight Invincible Brothers attempted to mirror Lani’s story and loved the inclusion of the unique cheese race in England. Unfortunately, I found the execution unsuccessful. The writing style felt (very) overly lyrical and stylized, which I think may be difficult for younger readers to engage with. I also found many of the plot points and character actions to be inauthentic and/or overly dramatized, which made it hard for me to stay immersed in the story. While I admire the ideas at the heart of this book, overall it wasn’t an enjoyable read for me. Thank you to the author and publisher for an Advanced Reader Copy.

Recommended by publisher for ages 8-10 and grades 3rd-6th

[Sharon the Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

This was an enjoyable MG read that includes pride in their Chinese heritage, the family bond, and the mythological tale, The Eight Chinese Brothers.

Lani, an organized list maker, is going to London with her elite band and will be joined by her parents and her younger brother. However, a heart condition scare keeps him and her dad at home. The little brother's dream is to run down the hill at Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling, so her asks her to please do it for him since he has to stay home.

“Finishing the list doesn’t automatically make you heroic. It happens on the journey.”

I enjoyed the adventure and excitement of the daring race, the overcoming of fear of performing, the empathy and kindness of siblings and friends, and the authentic heritage and culture of the author, who is proud of her AAPI background.

[Moushmi Karmokar · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Invincible List of Lani Li is a delightful and heartwarming middle-grade read! Lani is wonderfully relatable—she loves her family deeply but sometimes feels overlooked and craves her own space. Her brother Gavin challenges her to embrace courage inspired by the Eight Invincible Brothers, pushing her out of her comfort zone in fun and meaningful ways.

The story beautifully blends adventure, friendship, and Chinese folklore, making Lani’s journey across London with her band both exciting and inspiring. With its focus on personal growth, family bonds, and cultural celebration, this novel is a joy to read for young readers and adults alike.

Thankyou NetGalley, and the publisher for this ARC.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun story. I really enjoyed it. I loved the Chinese folktale woven into the page.

I adored Lani and her brother Gavin. They were going to England for a competition but Gavin’s heart issues complicate the plans. Gavin wanted to race down Cooper’s Hill to chase a cheese hill and when he can’t go, Lani is pressured to do it in his place. But what comes of it, is a very special journey for Lani.

The book is wonderful in that it shows strength, growth, perseverance, and the power of family. I loved the folktale the author told during the story and how it magnified the list of Lani’s.

The characters are well done and I enjoyed the London setting. I’d happily read another book from this author.

I received a paperback ARC from the publisher. All views are my own.