Girl Giant and the Monkey King

Girl Giant and the Monkey King #1

by Van Hoang

Eleven-year-old Thom Ngho is keeping a secret: she’s strong. Like suuuuper strong. Freakishly strong. And it’s making it impossible for her to fit in at her new middle school.

In a desperate bid to get rid of her super strength, Thom makes a deal with the Monkey King, a powerful deity and legendary trickster she accidentally released from his 500-year prison sentence. Thom agrees to help the Monkey King get back his magical staff if he'll take away her strength.

Soon Thom is swept up in an ancient and fantastical world in where demons, dragons, and Jade princesses actually exist. But she quickly discovers that magic can’t cure everything, and dealing with the trickster god might be more trouble than it’s worth.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Mythology, Fiction, Adventure, Childrens, Magic

368 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2020

About the author

Van Hoang's first name is pronounced like the van in minivan. Her last name is pronounced “hah-wawng.” She earned her bachelor’s in English at the University of New Mexico and her master’s in library information science at San Jose State University. She was born in Vietnam, grew in up Orange County, California, and now resides in Los Angeles with her husband, kid, and two dogs.

Reviews

[CW ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friends, this was wonderful and so... wow, just, what a journey. If you love the sound of a book that has Sun Wukong (Monkey King) led by a spunky and relatable Vietnamese-American teen packed with Vietnamese mythology, then you'll adore this.

- Follows Thom, a Vietnamese-American 11-year old who has a secret: she's really strong - like, really strong. When she makes a deal with the mischievous Monkey King to get rid of her strength, Thom gets swept in a world of celestials and gods and legends - but will giving up her strength be worth it?
- This is a book that takes its time, but I really enjoyed the pacing. We get a holistic image of Thom's life - her relationship with her loving but overbearing mother, her life at school and not fitting in, her new friendship with a mysterious neighbour, and also her journey to get rid of her powers. I felt like everything was nicely developed and I enjoyed that.
- The story explores and grapples with being a diaspora Asian kid in a place where there are no Asians; how alienating and lonely it can feel, and how that alienation can turn into ugliness and rejection towards their heritage.
- The fantastical elements in this book were awesome! It was so much fun to see Hoang's take on Heaven.
- I'm looking forward to the sequel! The ending sets up great stakes for the next book without compromising depth and satisfaction of this book.
- You can tell that this story is personal to the author - and I really liked that.

Content warning: mild fantasy violence, bullying

[Bookishrealm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Girl Giant and the Monkey King is a middle grade fantasy that I've been waiting to pick up for a while. I was excited when it became available for me to check out from the library. Overall, it was a solid story, but I struggled quite a bit with pacing. 3.5 Stars

Girl Giant and the Monkey Kin is an interesting story that focuses on a young Vietnamese American girl by the name of Thom. From the beginning of the novel, we learn that Thom is different from her classmates in a lot of ways, but particularly with her super human strength. She tries so hard to hide it from her classmates and her mother, but she struggles at times. While this book does focus on Thom, readers do get the chance to learn about Sun Wukong aka the Monkey King. Hoang does a great job giving readers background information about him with rehashing the entire tale. After accidentally being released by Thom, the Monkey King convinces her that he can get rid of her super strength if she helps him get his magical staff. One of the strengths of this book is the balance that Hoang develops between the mythical elements and the real world elements that Thom deals with on a daily basis. A lot of middle grade readers will relate to her experience of not fitting in, but wanting to do anything to do so. Not only is Thom dealing with a move that causes her to lose her only best friend, but she's attempting to figure out her place as a Vietnamese-American student at a predominately White school. The hard topics that are discussed during these moments are balanced with the mythical aspects that she discusses during her relationship with the Monkey King. There are other deities that readers meet along the way that are just as intriguing.

One of the most disappointing aspects of this book was the pacing. There were some really exciting parts of the story, but they were interspersed with dialogue and expose that felt long-winded and dry. It was easy for me to lose my place and attention whenever I encountered these sections and it made me almost not want to continue the story. I was expecting the story to be a little more fast paced considering that it is targeted towards a middle grade audience. Unfortunately, that isn't the case in this book. I am considering picking up the second book based on what was revealed at the end of this title. Overall, a solid read and start to a middle grade fantasy series.

[Van Hoang]

I have worked so hard on this story of my heart, but so many people helped me get here and poured just as many hours into this book. My editor Mekisha Telfer shaped this story into something beautiful and brought these characters to life. My agent Mary C. Moore fanned the flames and helped me create something out of nothing. Aurora Parlagreco designed the beautiful cover, with illustrations by Phung Nguyen Quang and Huynh Kim Lien. So many others on the team at Roaring Brook Press and Macmillan contributed so much to make this book possible: Taylor Pitts, Allyson Floridia, Celeste Cass, Connie Hsu, Jennifer Besser, Mary Van Akin, Cynthia Lliguichuzhca, Melissa Croce, Kathryn Little, Olivia Oleck, and Caitlin Crocker.

And of course all my readers, it wouldn't exist without you.

Thank you thank you thank you 💛🧡❤️

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who felt like an outcast in school(for different reasons than our amazing MC of course)I related so much to Thom in that aspect. I cannot even begin to comprehend, however, the feelings of shame she had for just being who she was as an Asian girl b/c of how others treated her b/c of it. Nor can I ever understand the ugly things said & done to her that she had to go through that made her feel that shame in the first place. I have never wanted to beat up some kids parents(cause it’s wrong to want to beat up these mean girls themselves....right? Ugh yea)so much in my life. The fact that stuff like this happens in real life makes me so angry & sad. Growing up is hard enough, mean kids are hard enough-add in racism/prejudice & that’s just all too much for any kid to endure. I wanted to tell her to ignore those bullies, stand up for herself, & that she has nothing to be ashamed about-her culture, her strength, everything about her is what makes her HER, & there’s nobody in the world like you. But of course, at that age it wouldn’t matter telling her that-it’s something you have to realize yourself. & boy did I love watching her grow & learn. Amazing character development.

The Monkey King once again has my heart, like he has in other books he was in I’ve read recently. Even though he’s a trickster & trouble maker, there’s something about him that makes you love him, root for him, & want desperately for him to do good-guess that quality helps him be such a good trickster. Since he had such a big role in this book, I learned more about him, & my love grew. He’s not perfect, & I won’t say whether he’s “good” in this or not, but what exactly is “good”? Lol now I sound like him. Love it!

I always love learning about different mythology & different cultures, so I loved the focus on Vietnamese mythology in here. I also loved that the author included what stereotypes/prejudices Thom, & real life kids, face just because they’re Vietnamese. It’s upsetting to read(at least it SHOULD be, & if it isn’t you might need to take a good look at yourself. These things SHOULD be upsetting to read & uncomfortable), but at the same time IMPORTANT to include. It needs attention, & might help some kids who are stereotyping others realize what they are doing & stop-I’m sure there are many kids who are doing it not out of malice but just plain ignorance. Of course there are the ones doing it out of malice, & they deserve a whole other talking to, along w/their parents. I think it’s also important b/c not only will this help kids who’ve ever felt they didn’t belong, but kids who felt that way for the reasons Thom does-they will see they aren’t alone..they will feel SEEN-& that’s so important.

This also had amazing world development. I loved seeing these places through the authors/Thom’s eyes. This is full of adventure, suspense, danger, mythology, family, friendship, amazing writing....& there may even be a dragon! The twists at the end were epic! I cannot WAIT for book 2-I NEED it! Lol but I have to wait-it comes out in December I believe. Highly recommend! Stunning cover by Nguyen Quang & Kim Lien as well!💜

[b. ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was overall a pretty fun read! i picked it up on and off throughout the past couple of months because the pacing was a bit on the slower end, but once things really got rolling i finished the last third in one sitting :o

the final chapters of girl giant and the monkey king set up what’s looking to be a very exciting sequel, and i can’t wait to dive into this world again!

[Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story so much. Van has created an incredibly fun, adventurous, and heartfelt book. I cannot wait for the rest of the world to meet Thom and the trickster Monkey King!

[Care · Rating 3 out of 5]

Girl Giant and the Monkey King follows the story of Thom Ngho, a strong and badass Vietnamese American girl, and the mischievous Sun Wukong, or the Monkey King. I loved that the author chose to endow a girl with super-heroic strength, a trait almost exclusively given to men characters. She felt powerful and full of agency even when she has moments of indecision and makes mistakes. This gave some of Sun Wukong's background and storyline without turning the book into a complete retelling of his life and mythology. It also includes dragons, heavenly schools, and Boy Giant. So, if you're looking for a primer before diving further into Chinese and other countries' mythologies and folklore, this would be a good place to start most likely. That was my favourite part of this book, learning about the different figures and their personalities.

I also really liked the complexity in the relationship between Thom and her mother. It's not an easy relationship but the difficulties are softened with love and care.

The story dragged on a bit too long in between the exciting bits and I'm not entirely sure if I'll read the sequel. This book leaves off on a gigantic cliff hanger which I tend to not enjoy as it lacks closure and satisfaction upon completion. This trick will probably work better on kids and when the rest of the books are available to read right after that big, exciting ending!

Definitely for fans of Percy Jackson and Aru Shah.

Content warnings for: racism, bullying, feelings of shame in cultural heritage, parent/child separation, scenes of violence (mostly comical).

[USOM · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

Middle grade books with mythology are probably my favorite middle grades. Ever since Rick Riordan's imprint, I've become obsessed with books that make mythology and diverse cultures more accessible for younger readers. While Girl Giant and the Monkey King might skew a bit younger than some of the other Riordan stories, it shares the discussion about culture. Set in a contemporary setting, Thom struggles to accept her powers and identity.

This struggle became emotional to me as she does not want to embrace her Vietnamese roots (for culture day and lunch boxes). How her differences mark her apart from her peers in her new school and how, despite her ethnicity, she doesn't seem to be able to just fit in. For me, middle school was about trying to fit in, figuring out who we are in the midst of our peers, and how it feels to know you're the Outsider.

full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...

[Adrianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Girl Giant and the Monkey King is a creative and engaging take on the meet-the-gods genre. Thom is not only battling the popular bullies on her soccer team, she also has to hide her growing super strength. When she accidentally frees a demon demigod, she might finally get the chance to remove her curse, or find out it's not a curse after all.

This story is full of well-realized characters and mythology that will be new to many readers. Also there's Kha, who I would have immediately fallen in *squee* love with as a tween. The last third of the book is non-stop. I cannot wait to read the sequel. I would recommend it to any kid who feels like they don't belong.

Also, it's super satisfying to read something by someone you know and discover it's pretty great. :)

[Kathreadsall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this action-packed middle grade adventure story from author Van Hoang!

Girl Giant and the Monkey King features Thom Ngho, a girl trying to adapt to her new town and middle school, all while dealing with a super strength she doesn't understand.

It was really interesting to have a character not be excited about super powers, but it definitely made sense for the story- Thom just wants to fit in with her classmates, and I remember feeling the same way in middle school. The stories from Vietnamese mythology were fascinating, and presented in a really fun and engaging way!

I loved the adventures Thom goes on with the Monkey King, and the way she grows as a character and comes into her own.

Definitely recommend for fans of Percy Jackson and other adventure stories!

[charlotte, · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rep: Vietnamese American mc, Vietnamese side characters

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group through NetGalley.
An excellent entry in the current world mythologies books. Van Hoang focuses on Vietnamese gods and introduces readers to the various immortals in this culture. Thom doesn't understand why she's so strong and tries to hide it. Not easy to do when one soccer kick not only scores the goal but breaks the back of the net and continues on; she also injures the goalie when it hits her too. Her mom and she have moved to the other side of the country - California, to keep her safe.
Accidentally releasing the Monkey King launches adventures beyond the human world and the ending is open so book #2 can pick up the quest.
Readers will relate to the swirl of emotions and choices Thom makes as she figures out who to trust. She makes several mistakes along the way just like any other young teenager. She also learns and attempts to solve the situations she created. The character interactions allow readers to feel like they are standing beside them and experiencing the adventures too.
Looking forward to the next book.

[Kylie Lee Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a charming and heartfelt story! I'm a slow reader but I devoured this in 2 days. Thom is such a sweet and captivating character that I didn't want to stop reading. I love the concept of the Monkey King as a character and it was executed in such an interesting way, really bringing to life a myth that I grew up with. Overall a really fun read that I plan on giving to the kids in my family when it comes out.

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great! Main character Thom’s loneliness at her new school and confusion over her strangely changing body are believable, as well as her desire to believe the Monkey King, the only person in her life seemingly telling her the truth about all the changes and confusion in her life.
I loved how Thom changes over the course of the story, beginning to find herself in her new home and with her power.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story really takes a while to get going but is worth the tedium. Very much set up for the sequel; I might pick it up out of curiosity despite my resentment at being manipulated by such an unresolved ending.

[Sirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the past few weeks, Thom has been breaking things and can't control her own strength. It doesn't help when Mom moves them from their comfortable home in California into the boonies, where there are only two other Asian kids, and no one on the soccer team likes her. But a chance encounter leads Thom into a friendship with the Monkey King, a demon of legend, who, it turns out, has been horribly misrepresented. He helps Thom learn to control her strength, but eventually, she gets frustrated and asks him to take away her strength if she does him a favor.

So, there was a good satisfying ending. But then something happened that immediately made it clear you have to read book 2, so I'm counting this book as a cliffhanger, and I'm annoyed. This book considers how to accept who you truly are and what that means, and it also plays with the idea of being afraid to disappoint your parents while also being unable to live up to their expectations. Bullying and middle school drama also come in. These are all handled well enough, and there are a lot of fun magical moments. I struggled to get into this book, and I'm starting to think that kid mythology retellings just aren't my thing unless they have Percy Jackson's signature humor. If you'd like to think more about Vietnamese culture or if you empathize with Thom's struggle to avoid disappointing her mom while also trying to fit in and avoid bullies, I'd certainly give this book a read.

[Kate Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a straight up adventure/fantasy book, I enjoyed it, and I think fans of Rick Riordan might also, although it has far less action/tension than a Riordan book.

However, there were a few significant things that brought this down in my esteem.

First: While I understand that wanting pale skin is a value in older generations like Thom's mother, it was brought up way more often than I felt was necessary to illustrate the plot. Also, at the beginning when we're just meeting the main character, we get physical description of her that is prefaced with the judgmental line that "truthfully, (her best friend) had always been much prettier than her" and goes on to compare nose shape and face size. This judgmental description is phrased as Truth and not just low self esteem and does nothing to further the plot. It frankly made me very upset to read that. Instead of possibly making children think that a character who looks a certain way is also cool, it only serves to cement negative body image.

Second: The main character has such low self esteem for soooo long, it was a bit of a trudge to wade through those feelings before getting to any action. Maybe as a kid it might have resonated more with me, but as an adult I found it difficult.

Third: I'm not sure what message the book was trying to get across. For most of the book, I thought it was very clear that the message was that people can change and that someone who might be looked down on might be getting judged unfairly, but that gets completely negated by the end. So what exactly was the message?

Overall, I liked how Asian mythology was brought to life, but I think it had lots of room for improvement.

[Jaime Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sooooo stinkin' cute!!! Fun mythological adventure and coming of age story about a tiny 11 yr old girl named Thom, her mama and the mischievous 🐒👑 MONKEY KING

Yup, that Monkey King. I remember hearing about him, or maybe readin' about him as a kid and I always kinda saw him as the Buddhist equivalent of Loki. This book showed me how right I was. He is a mischievous trickster, manipulative and childlike and wouldn't ya know it, he shows up right when little Thom really needs a friend. Convenient, little fuzzy demon god! 🙊🐵🙉

I really liked this book. I listened to it and the voices, accents, effects were so sweet and interesting. About halfway thru i got really tired of Thom's repetitive inner dialog, though and kinda wanted to shake some sense into her but by the end, even that couldn't ruin the story.

It moves quickly. The adventure is exciting and well described and Thom shows real growth. The character behaves in a way that makes her a good role model for kids struggling to fit in or believe in themselves.

I enjoyed this and even though it's obviously a middle grade book, I really want there to be another one and I'll read it. I intend to get this one for my kids. They love Percy Jackson so much I know they're gonna love this one too.

All in all, 4 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[belle ☆ﾐ (thisbellereadstoo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

rep: vietnamese MC and SCs

moving away from her friends and everything she knew, thom wasn’t fitting well into this new place. even soccer isn’t making things better for her, and she loves soccer. alongside her superpower of being super strong, accidentally releasing the imprisoned monkey king, known to be mischievous and cunning, isn’t helping thom’s school life. thom’s schoolmates are judgemental and mean, and thom’s superhuman strength make her withdrawn. a new schoolmate and neighbor started hanging around thom. kha has a secret identity and is weirdly friendly to thom. by the end of the book, thom will discover who her true friends are. she learns more about the vietnamese and chinese lore surrounding the monkey king and the heavenly realm in general.

i love that there were some illustrations that went with the novel. i wasn’t expecting visual imagery of thom during her adventures!

[Ele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was worried I would spend this book comparing it to the original Monkey: The Journey to the West, but thankfully that was not the case. You don't need prior knowledge of the orginal - it takes place during the very beginning of it. Hoang gives all the information you'll need within this book and there is no info-dumping.

Unlike many other fantasy novels, including those for children, there are no scenes of intense violence and no bloodshed of any sort is on the pages. I feel the illustrations could've been better, but they were still OK.

This novel is a rare case where boy and girl are friends with no romantic connections and a story of appreciating your culture in the faith of ridicule. I also think it would be a good stepping-stone to get some boys more accepting to reading books about girls (it's a sad thought that many boys would refuse to read 'girl's books' no matter how 'girly' the subject matter).

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good!! This book was refreshingly original and and yet incredibly grounded. Van Hoang's characters were so well developed and compelling, her the world was immersive, and the dangers and struggles her main character went through put me on the edge of my seat. Wonderful middle grade fantasy read!

[Andy Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Girl Giant and the Monkey King” is absolutely delightful to listen to! 🎧📚 Van Hoang’s wonderful tween story beautifully borrows elements of Chinese mythology to showcase this bildungsroman of a young Vietnamese girl finding her own strength.

Kudos to Kim Mai Guest for the stellar narration.

[Reese Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kids and I really enjoyed this. It was a unique story with interesting characters. I especially enjoyed the progression of the mother/daughter relationship and the encounters with the Monkey King. I thought I knew where the plot arc was going, but turned out to be wrong, which was refreshing in an MG book. Recommended.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I simply adored Thom and the troublemaking (yet lovable) Monkey King. The story swept me away from the first pages, and I can't wait for Book Two! (The cover is so gorgeous!)

[Taylor]

I enjoyed this. Should have known it isn't a standalone 😅 ready for the sequel

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

an excellent story of a Vietnamese American girl with preternatural powers. A must for Riordan fans, or any fans of fantasy tightly rooted in non-western cultures.

[Jessica Huynh · Rating 4 out of 5]

can’t wait to read book 2!!!! Love how the author ties in insecurities of being vietnamese with her strength

[Can Dragons Read? · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is easily one of the best middle grades I've read, from the vivid imagery that Van Hoang paints to the important messages throughout this book. The use of Asian culture and the beautiful descriptions really brought this to life. I loved Thom and the friendship/family/bullying aspects here, that you shouldn't be afraid of your heritage or ashamed, but also, don't just watch someone be bullied. I can't wait to pick up the sequel.

[Bibliophilic Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.5 / 5