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Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit
After inheriting a grieving fox spirit, a Chinese American boy must learn to embrace his heritage to solve the mystery of his brother's death in Jesse Q Sutanto's magical, action-packed middle grade fantasy, Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit.
Theo Tan doesn't want a spirit companion. He just wants to be a normal American kid, playing video games, going to conventions, and using cirth pendants to cast his spells like everyone else. But, when his older brother dies, Theo ends up inheriting Jamie's fox spirit, Kai.
Kai isn't happy about this either. Theo is nothing like Jamie, and the two of them have never gotten along. But, when they realize the mysterious journal Jamie left Theo is filled with clues and secret codes, it's clear that something strange was going on with Jamie's internship at Reapling Corp.
But the only way onto the campus is the highly competitive "Know Your Roots" summer camp program, a celebration of Chinese and Indian cultures designed to help connect students with their heritage. Theo and Kai will have to put aside their differences long enough to honor Jamie's last wishes, or the mystery he died for will remain unsolved forever...
Theo Tan doesn't want a spirit companion. He just wants to be a normal American kid, playing video games, going to conventions, and using cirth pendants to cast his spells like everyone else. But, when his older brother dies, Theo ends up inheriting Jamie's fox spirit, Kai.
Kai isn't happy about this either. Theo is nothing like Jamie, and the two of them have never gotten along. But, when they realize the mysterious journal Jamie left Theo is filled with clues and secret codes, it's clear that something strange was going on with Jamie's internship at Reapling Corp.
But the only way onto the campus is the highly competitive "Know Your Roots" summer camp program, a celebration of Chinese and Indian cultures designed to help connect students with their heritage. Theo and Kai will have to put aside their differences long enough to honor Jamie's last wishes, or the mystery he died for will remain unsolved forever...
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 31, 2022
51 people are currently reading
2063 people want to read
About the author
Jesse Q. Sutanto
30 books8,848 followersJesse Q Sutanto grew up shuttling back and forth between Jakarta and Singapore and sees both cities as her homes. She has a Masters degree from Oxford University, though she has yet to figure out a way of saying that without sounding obnoxious. She is currently living back in Jakarta on the same street as her parents and about seven hundred meddlesome aunties. When she's not tearing out her hair over her latest WIP, she spends her time baking and playing FPS games. Oh, and also being a mom to her two kids.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
November 25, 2025
Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit is the Middle Grade debut of one of my favorite authors, Jesse Q. Sutanto.
Recently, after finishing Sutanto's latest release, Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, I wasn't quite ready to part from her writing.
I've had Theo Tan on my radar for a while, and with the second book in the series, Theo Tan and the Iron Fan releasing at the end of May, I figured now was the perfect time to pick it up.
This story follows, you guessed it, Theo Tan, an average Chinese-American boy just doing his thing, playing video games and trying to fly under the radar. So far, he thinks he is doing pretty well in that regard.
When his older brother, Jamie, is killed in an accident though, everything abruptly changes for Theo. Not only is the startling loss of his brother devastating, Theo has also inherited Jamie's fox spirit, Kai.
Prior to this time, Kai and Theo didn't exactly see eye-to-eye. There's no love lost between the two. Kai is snarkier than ever now, grieving the loss of Jamie with every fiber of their being.
The two are forced to let bygones be bygones, however, after discovering a coded message from Jamie that seems to indicate something was awry at Jamie's internship with Reapling Corporation.
Obviously, I am cutting some corners here, but basically this chain of events leads Theo and Kai on a mystery-filled adventure at a highly-competitive summer camp program, 'Know Your Roots', run by the Corporation.
Know Your Roots is a program that celebrates Chinese and Indian cultures and is designed to help connect students with their heritage. Since Theo has been actively trying to ignore the Chinese part of his heritage his whole life, he is a bit behind the learning curve when he enters.
Together Theo and Kai think if they are at the camp, undercover of course, they will be able to get to the bottom of the mystery Jamie wanted them to solve. Are they right, or will they crash and burn in an epic way?
I had a lot of fun listening to this audio. The narration was excellent and I had no problem getting swept away with Theo and Kai.
You did get chapters from both of their perspectives and it was so funny, especially in the beginning, because neither one of them likes the other, so they definitely spill some tea. Over time, it was nice to see their relationship grow.
With Jamie being gone, and them being forced together, they were finally able to come to some mutual respect and understanding.
I definitely felt Sutanto's sense of humor in this one, which is one of my favorite aspects of her writing. Particularly with Kai's character. Kai is super snarky, smart and laugh out loud funny.
I enjoyed the setting of the Know Your Roots program. It did have a bit of that competitive feel that I like. I also liked that Kai and Theo had a mystery they were trying to solve.
The highlight of this for me though was the growth displayed in Theo's characters. He really goes on quite the journey mentally and emotionally.
His self esteem grows a lot, which was the most satisfying for me. To see him push past the shadow of his brother's legacy, who he saw as the golden child who he could never live up to.
Also, watching Theo learn about, come to appreciate and ultimately embrace his Chinese heritage was a really important message for a Middle Grade story, IMO. I think Sutanto excelled with that.
Overall, I had a great time reading this. It was action-packed, cute and funny as heck. I loved Theo and Kai so much and can't wait to continue on with their adventures.
This left off in a fantastic spot, leaving plenty to explore in the next installment. You better believe I will be picking it up as soon as possible!!
Recently, after finishing Sutanto's latest release, Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, I wasn't quite ready to part from her writing.
I've had Theo Tan on my radar for a while, and with the second book in the series, Theo Tan and the Iron Fan releasing at the end of May, I figured now was the perfect time to pick it up.
This story follows, you guessed it, Theo Tan, an average Chinese-American boy just doing his thing, playing video games and trying to fly under the radar. So far, he thinks he is doing pretty well in that regard.
When his older brother, Jamie, is killed in an accident though, everything abruptly changes for Theo. Not only is the startling loss of his brother devastating, Theo has also inherited Jamie's fox spirit, Kai.
Prior to this time, Kai and Theo didn't exactly see eye-to-eye. There's no love lost between the two. Kai is snarkier than ever now, grieving the loss of Jamie with every fiber of their being.
The two are forced to let bygones be bygones, however, after discovering a coded message from Jamie that seems to indicate something was awry at Jamie's internship with Reapling Corporation.
Obviously, I am cutting some corners here, but basically this chain of events leads Theo and Kai on a mystery-filled adventure at a highly-competitive summer camp program, 'Know Your Roots', run by the Corporation.
Know Your Roots is a program that celebrates Chinese and Indian cultures and is designed to help connect students with their heritage. Since Theo has been actively trying to ignore the Chinese part of his heritage his whole life, he is a bit behind the learning curve when he enters.
Together Theo and Kai think if they are at the camp, undercover of course, they will be able to get to the bottom of the mystery Jamie wanted them to solve. Are they right, or will they crash and burn in an epic way?
I had a lot of fun listening to this audio. The narration was excellent and I had no problem getting swept away with Theo and Kai.
You did get chapters from both of their perspectives and it was so funny, especially in the beginning, because neither one of them likes the other, so they definitely spill some tea. Over time, it was nice to see their relationship grow.
With Jamie being gone, and them being forced together, they were finally able to come to some mutual respect and understanding.
I definitely felt Sutanto's sense of humor in this one, which is one of my favorite aspects of her writing. Particularly with Kai's character. Kai is super snarky, smart and laugh out loud funny.
I enjoyed the setting of the Know Your Roots program. It did have a bit of that competitive feel that I like. I also liked that Kai and Theo had a mystery they were trying to solve.
The highlight of this for me though was the growth displayed in Theo's characters. He really goes on quite the journey mentally and emotionally.
His self esteem grows a lot, which was the most satisfying for me. To see him push past the shadow of his brother's legacy, who he saw as the golden child who he could never live up to.
Also, watching Theo learn about, come to appreciate and ultimately embrace his Chinese heritage was a really important message for a Middle Grade story, IMO. I think Sutanto excelled with that.
Overall, I had a great time reading this. It was action-packed, cute and funny as heck. I loved Theo and Kai so much and can't wait to continue on with their adventures.
This left off in a fantastic spot, leaving plenty to explore in the next installment. You better believe I will be picking it up as soon as possible!!
March 4, 2022
I think I will just read anything Jesse Q. Sutanto writes.
This book does so many things, and it never feels like too much. It's this interesting blend of sci-fi and fantasy - set in the future, magic has replaced technology - with a very interesting magic system. It's a story about a boy who loses his brother and wants to find out what happened to him. It's a story about having a fraught relationship with your heritage and learning to be proud of it. And it's also a wonderful story about a boy and his spirit companion, who initially hate each other, but who grow together through grief and going on an adventure.
Especially the last part was really amazing to me. I've always been a huge fan of animal companions in books, especially if they talk. And Kai even has her own perspective in the book! She's so funny and I loved her so much!
But really, what's not to love about this book?
This book does so many things, and it never feels like too much. It's this interesting blend of sci-fi and fantasy - set in the future, magic has replaced technology - with a very interesting magic system. It's a story about a boy who loses his brother and wants to find out what happened to him. It's a story about having a fraught relationship with your heritage and learning to be proud of it. And it's also a wonderful story about a boy and his spirit companion, who initially hate each other, but who grow together through grief and going on an adventure.
Especially the last part was really amazing to me. I've always been a huge fan of animal companions in books, especially if they talk. And Kai even has her own perspective in the book! She's so funny and I loved her so much!
But really, what's not to love about this book?
August 14, 2022
why are people sleeping on this book? i loved the whole exploration of one’s cultural heritage in a magical world. after the death of his older brother, theo is determined to feel close to jamie. joining the “know your roots” program is one of the ways theo can find out what truly happened to jamie. there’s no way, with how jamie was acting the day before, that he fell asleep behind the wheel while driving to work. jamie even left kai, his animal companion, home that day. even when jamie was alive, theo and kai never saw each other eye to eye. however, during theo’s own animal companion summoning, kai answered the call. together, they worked together to find out the truth behind jamie’s death.
in the program, theo is taught to use his own qì, the natural magical energy within one’s body, instead of relying on cirth, which is expensive and finite. with the journal left behind by jamie, theo realized what jamie wanted theo to do: save the hairless chicken aka a phoenix and find out the truth of cirth and its origin. because of his over reliant on cirth and with zero connection to his chinese cultural heritage, theo couldn’t tap into his qì at all. also, because of his lack of knowledge in chinese history, he often mispronounced spells which lands him in difficult situations.
at reapling corp, everything reminds theo and kai of jamie. their shared grief is what pulled them together and while things are hard for the two of them, they had each other. i loved the chapters with kai’s perspective. the fox spirit is trying her best to protect theo and slowly started seeing him as her human. however, each time she breaks a karmic law, she’s becoming more demonic.
one of the things i like about jesse q. sutanto’s books is the humorous dialogues and witty comebacks. it just brought so much to the story. i adore kai’s musings in the footnotes. and she’s clearly more educated in the chinese history than theo since she was jamie’s animal companion before.
overall, please pick up this middle grade. the adventure that theo and kai took together was fun. i think what makes it more enjoyable for me is the chinese-related jokes. there was one about a girl named tu because her parents couldn't differentiate between scholar and mud. little things like that made me chuckle.
in the program, theo is taught to use his own qì, the natural magical energy within one’s body, instead of relying on cirth, which is expensive and finite. with the journal left behind by jamie, theo realized what jamie wanted theo to do: save the hairless chicken aka a phoenix and find out the truth of cirth and its origin. because of his over reliant on cirth and with zero connection to his chinese cultural heritage, theo couldn’t tap into his qì at all. also, because of his lack of knowledge in chinese history, he often mispronounced spells which lands him in difficult situations.
at reapling corp, everything reminds theo and kai of jamie. their shared grief is what pulled them together and while things are hard for the two of them, they had each other. i loved the chapters with kai’s perspective. the fox spirit is trying her best to protect theo and slowly started seeing him as her human. however, each time she breaks a karmic law, she’s becoming more demonic.
one of the things i like about jesse q. sutanto’s books is the humorous dialogues and witty comebacks. it just brought so much to the story. i adore kai’s musings in the footnotes. and she’s clearly more educated in the chinese history than theo since she was jamie’s animal companion before.
overall, please pick up this middle grade. the adventure that theo and kai took together was fun. i think what makes it more enjoyable for me is the chinese-related jokes. there was one about a girl named tu because her parents couldn't differentiate between scholar and mud. little things like that made me chuckle.
Want to read
June 5, 2020June 05, 2020: Chinese-American representation! This has a young boy, magic spells, a mystical fox, and a mystery to solve. Excited for this middle-grade fantasy that has just been announced AHHH.
May 31, 2022
IDK if Jesse will read this, but I hope she does.
I finished reading this book a week before it's publication date. It was such a wonderful story and I couldn't wait to begin the next book. But then I read the author's note and this book took on a whole new meaning to me. It almost left me in tears, because of what the author had to go through just to have this amazing book come to life.
Jesse received a lot of rejection letters for Theo Tan. She almost gave up writing, because of those rejections. Can you imagine a world without "Dial A for Aunties" or "Four Aunties and a Wedding"? I mean...I'll never look at eggplant the same again without laughing hysterically at remembering Meddy's mom's love for eggplant. (If you know, you know).
A world without Jesse's brilliant work, all because of Theo Tan, just doesn't seem like such a great world to be in. That's how much Theo Tan means to Jesse. One thing I learned at HarperCollins is that it takes a village to write a book. People have this misnomer that the work is purely the author. No. There are many people involved with bringing a book to life, and what the Theo Tan team brought to life was an incredible new series for middle grade readers.
In the beginning, just getting that team, that was Jesse's first challenge. She kept working on Theo to make it salable. And then she took comments from different people who told her to keep working on it, and she kept going. There were a lot of people that helped Theo get published. For me, as the reader, I'm thankful they helped, because the end result was amazing.
So whatever journey Theo had to go on before he could be put into the hands of the reader, it was an incredible journey, because they helped create something that readers will love.
For writers out there, there is a bigger lesson in this. Just because you face a lot of rejection over a project that means so much to you, it doesn't mean this is the end. It does not mean give up. It just means to keep working, this idea can be better. It can be more incredible. Just believe in yourself. Keep improving. You're gonna make it, just keep going, because we are not perfect creatures. We always need to improve and improve and improve to make ourselves better. In Theo Tan's case, he needed some time to get to that stage of perfection, and a little help from some friends. The writing journey is not meant to go at alone.
Theo Tan means a lot to Jesse. You can see that love for Theo all throughout the book. I think what the Theo Tan team created was something incredible. This is a series I will continue to follow, like all of Jesse's other books. I may have a soft spot for Meddy and her aunties, but Theo Tan...he's the superhero. The Asian American superhero I needed.
Everything Theo Tan went through to get to this end result, I believe it was needed, because it created something amazing. I don't think he could have gotten there without those bumps along the way. He needed to grow into becoming this hero.
If you love Rick Riordan and Rick Riordan Presents, you'll love Theo Tan. The book had some elements of Pahua and the Soul Stealer by Lori M. Lee and Champion's Quest by Frank L. Cole (both books I recommend, as well).
I finished reading this book a week before it's publication date. It was such a wonderful story and I couldn't wait to begin the next book. But then I read the author's note and this book took on a whole new meaning to me. It almost left me in tears, because of what the author had to go through just to have this amazing book come to life.
Jesse received a lot of rejection letters for Theo Tan. She almost gave up writing, because of those rejections. Can you imagine a world without "Dial A for Aunties" or "Four Aunties and a Wedding"? I mean...I'll never look at eggplant the same again without laughing hysterically at remembering Meddy's mom's love for eggplant. (If you know, you know).
A world without Jesse's brilliant work, all because of Theo Tan, just doesn't seem like such a great world to be in. That's how much Theo Tan means to Jesse. One thing I learned at HarperCollins is that it takes a village to write a book. People have this misnomer that the work is purely the author. No. There are many people involved with bringing a book to life, and what the Theo Tan team brought to life was an incredible new series for middle grade readers.
In the beginning, just getting that team, that was Jesse's first challenge. She kept working on Theo to make it salable. And then she took comments from different people who told her to keep working on it, and she kept going. There were a lot of people that helped Theo get published. For me, as the reader, I'm thankful they helped, because the end result was amazing.
So whatever journey Theo had to go on before he could be put into the hands of the reader, it was an incredible journey, because they helped create something that readers will love.
For writers out there, there is a bigger lesson in this. Just because you face a lot of rejection over a project that means so much to you, it doesn't mean this is the end. It does not mean give up. It just means to keep working, this idea can be better. It can be more incredible. Just believe in yourself. Keep improving. You're gonna make it, just keep going, because we are not perfect creatures. We always need to improve and improve and improve to make ourselves better. In Theo Tan's case, he needed some time to get to that stage of perfection, and a little help from some friends. The writing journey is not meant to go at alone.
Theo Tan means a lot to Jesse. You can see that love for Theo all throughout the book. I think what the Theo Tan team created was something incredible. This is a series I will continue to follow, like all of Jesse's other books. I may have a soft spot for Meddy and her aunties, but Theo Tan...he's the superhero. The Asian American superhero I needed.
Everything Theo Tan went through to get to this end result, I believe it was needed, because it created something amazing. I don't think he could have gotten there without those bumps along the way. He needed to grow into becoming this hero.
If you love Rick Riordan and Rick Riordan Presents, you'll love Theo Tan. The book had some elements of Pahua and the Soul Stealer by Lori M. Lee and Champion's Quest by Frank L. Cole (both books I recommend, as well).
May 16, 2022
It’s hard to read a book like Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit and not immediately draw comparisons to 2021’s middle grade standout Amari and the Night Brothers. Both target the same age demographic in the fantasy genre, both feature a protagonist on the hunt for information about their golden child older sibling's recent death, and both explore themes of isolation and otherness in a world that does not want to embrace their identity. Theo Tan more specifically looks at this in the context of a blended Chinese-American culture, not unlike another recent middle grade fantasy Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor. Unfortunately, Theo Tan slightly misses the mark for me where these two other efforts in the genre delivered in full.
I won’t pretend I can speak to the accuracy of the Asian-American diaspora explored here, or how it will resonate with its target audience. But coming to this purely as work of middle grade fantasy, Theo Tan falls a little flat. The story itself was oddly passive, with things more so happening to Theo than by any action on his part. He’s swept into this world of magic and unexplored history but he spends most of the novel actively rejecting all of it. Which is part of his character’s arc, but makes the plot progression feel stilted and the final escalation rushed. So as much as I am glad stories that blend these kind of real world issues with speculative fiction for a younger age group are being published with greater frequency, I do think other works have blended this better. And with more effective character work.
I wanted Theo and Kai’s dynamic to have a little more… energy I suppose. These are two people (creatures?) forced to work together solely because of their shared connection to Theo’s dead brother, which looms over the relationship like a gloomy raincloud for the entirety of the book. It makes their banter a little dry, and even by the end of the novel I was never fully convinced that they learned to function as friends instead of reluctant acquaintances. Don’t get me wrong - I think they’re fully realized characters with their own ticks and nuance. And Kai especially was refreshing to read from with her endless quips. I just wasn’t sold on their story arc together. And the remainder of the characters are the very definition of just barely there enough to move the plot along.
I don’t want to give the impression that love and lived experiences weren’t carefully constructed in this book, if Sutanto’s author’s note is anything to go by. But I can’t help but compare this middle grade fantasy debut to other books that have also recently been released in the genre and find it falling more towards the middle of the pack, rather than a front runner.
Thank you to the publisher Feiwel & Friends for providing an e-ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.
I won’t pretend I can speak to the accuracy of the Asian-American diaspora explored here, or how it will resonate with its target audience. But coming to this purely as work of middle grade fantasy, Theo Tan falls a little flat. The story itself was oddly passive, with things more so happening to Theo than by any action on his part. He’s swept into this world of magic and unexplored history but he spends most of the novel actively rejecting all of it. Which is part of his character’s arc, but makes the plot progression feel stilted and the final escalation rushed. So as much as I am glad stories that blend these kind of real world issues with speculative fiction for a younger age group are being published with greater frequency, I do think other works have blended this better. And with more effective character work.
I wanted Theo and Kai’s dynamic to have a little more… energy I suppose. These are two people (creatures?) forced to work together solely because of their shared connection to Theo’s dead brother, which looms over the relationship like a gloomy raincloud for the entirety of the book. It makes their banter a little dry, and even by the end of the novel I was never fully convinced that they learned to function as friends instead of reluctant acquaintances. Don’t get me wrong - I think they’re fully realized characters with their own ticks and nuance. And Kai especially was refreshing to read from with her endless quips. I just wasn’t sold on their story arc together. And the remainder of the characters are the very definition of just barely there enough to move the plot along.
I don’t want to give the impression that love and lived experiences weren’t carefully constructed in this book, if Sutanto’s author’s note is anything to go by. But I can’t help but compare this middle grade fantasy debut to other books that have also recently been released in the genre and find it falling more towards the middle of the pack, rather than a front runner.
Thank you to the publisher Feiwel & Friends for providing an e-ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.
May 5, 2022
I received an advance copy via NetGalley.
This middle grade book follows 12-year-old Theo Tan and trickster fox spirit Kai. In a near-future San Francisco where magic works a lot like advanced tech, Theo is determined to be as American and not-Chinese as possible, which is in contrast to his idolized older brother Jamie. Kai is his brother’s companion spirit, and Theo’s rival for his brother’s affections. But when Jamie is killed in an accident, Theo and Kai must team up to discover what his brother’s job’s big top-secret cultural project is really about.
I wasn’t sure about this book at first but it really grew on me. The two perspectives are used well, as we can understand Theo’s point of view but through Kai’s eyes also understand Theo can be a real brat. I like that the book approached Chinese and Indian cultures from a different angle and brought a unique futuristic bent. The ending was action-packed and quite satisfying, and provides a direct lead into a sequel.
This middle grade book follows 12-year-old Theo Tan and trickster fox spirit Kai. In a near-future San Francisco where magic works a lot like advanced tech, Theo is determined to be as American and not-Chinese as possible, which is in contrast to his idolized older brother Jamie. Kai is his brother’s companion spirit, and Theo’s rival for his brother’s affections. But when Jamie is killed in an accident, Theo and Kai must team up to discover what his brother’s job’s big top-secret cultural project is really about.
I wasn’t sure about this book at first but it really grew on me. The two perspectives are used well, as we can understand Theo’s point of view but through Kai’s eyes also understand Theo can be a real brat. I like that the book approached Chinese and Indian cultures from a different angle and brought a unique futuristic bent. The ending was action-packed and quite satisfying, and provides a direct lead into a sequel.
June 21, 2022
A smart and witty middle grade fantasy book steeped in Chinese mythology that features Theo, a Chinese American boy grieving the death of his older brother who gets tasked with completing the challenge his brother wasn't able to finish and figuring out why he died. Told in alternating POVs between Theo and his snarky spirit sidekick, Kai, I couldn't help getting invested in this story and look forward to where the series will go next! Perfect for fans of Zachary Ying and the dragon emperor or the movie Turning Red. Great on audio with two narrators.
September 20, 2022
I really wanted to love this book. Anyone who knows me is pretty well aware that I’m rather eager to read just about anything with a fox in it, especially when it’s got such a great cover!
I’ve kind of waffled back and forth on my rating, ultimately landing on about 3 stars. In general, I think there’s a lot to really appreciate about this book as a whole. It tackles tough topics like grief (tw: ) and addresses a child’s disconnect / lack of knowledge with their cultural heritage. And I think the book deals with these topics really well.
Unfortunately, I just wasn’t able to get past how utterly annoying Kai was as a character. Every time I had to read from her point of view, I found myself rolling my eyes. And yes, I do understand that she is meant to be narcissistic at times as the author leans into the overly prideful characterization of foxes — still, as a fox lover, I absolutely hated every second of this.
My disappointment and annoyance with her followed me through the whole book, making it really difficult to stay engaged with the story and care about what was happening to the characters. I don’t think it really helped that we didn’t get enough time with Jamie in the beginning, either.
All of this said, however, I think that it’s very possible my annoyance with her is something that will not impact young readers of this book. For that reason and the fact that it has some exceptional messages overall, I’ve added this to my list of books to recommend to students.
I’ve kind of waffled back and forth on my rating, ultimately landing on about 3 stars. In general, I think there’s a lot to really appreciate about this book as a whole. It tackles tough topics like grief (tw: ) and addresses a child’s disconnect / lack of knowledge with their cultural heritage. And I think the book deals with these topics really well.
Unfortunately, I just wasn’t able to get past how utterly annoying Kai was as a character. Every time I had to read from her point of view, I found myself rolling my eyes. And yes, I do understand that she is meant to be narcissistic at times as the author leans into the overly prideful characterization of foxes — still, as a fox lover, I absolutely hated every second of this.
My disappointment and annoyance with her followed me through the whole book, making it really difficult to stay engaged with the story and care about what was happening to the characters. I don’t think it really helped that we didn’t get enough time with Jamie in the beginning, either.
All of this said, however, I think that it’s very possible my annoyance with her is something that will not impact young readers of this book. For that reason and the fact that it has some exceptional messages overall, I’ve added this to my list of books to recommend to students.
April 16, 2024
So, funny story. Up until now, I didn't realize that this was by the author of Vera Wong, a novel I didn't hate, but didn't love. Thankfully, this one was better.
(After inheriting a grieving fox spirit, a Chinese American boy must learn to embrace his heritage to solve the mystery of his brother's death in Jesse Q Sutanto's magical, action-packed middle grade fantasy, Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit.
Theo Tan doesn't want a spirit companion. He just wants to be a normal American kid, playing video games, going to conventions, and using cirth pendants to cast his spells like everyone else. But, when his older brother dies, Theo ends up inheriting Jamie's fox spirit, Kai.
Kai isn't happy about this either. Theo is nothing like Jamie, and the two of them have never gotten along. But, when they realize the mysterious journal Jamie left Theo is filled with clues and secret codes, it's clear that something strange was going on with Jamie's internship at Reapling Corp.
But the only way onto the campus is the highly competitive "Know Your Roots" summer camp program, a celebration of Chinese and Indian cultures designed to help connect students with their heritage. Theo and Kai will have to put aside their differences long enough to honor Jamie's last wishes, or the mystery he died for will remain unsolved forever...) ~ Blurb from Goodreads
I liked how it handled the magical elements. Basically, in the world of this novel, different parts of the world have different types of magic. For example, America's magic system uses rechargeable pendants that run on a fuel source called cirth that isn't cheap while China's magic system uses qi (aka "chee") and spirit companions (who are expensive to a point where handing down spirit companions is a much more common practice). It's a fun bit of world building that gives each country its own unique identity. Also, I like how certain magical elements have a hefty cost. It adds a layer of realism and prevents things from getting too out of hand.
Kai was certainly an interesting character. So Kai was Jamie's spirit companion before his death. Despite that though, Kai seems to embody a mix of Jamie and his brother Theo's personality traits. For example, while Kai mainly embodies the no-nonsense side of Jamie, Kai doesn't hesitate to be as immature as Theo, such as transforming her face into a baboon's butt in chapter two and getting into petty scuffles with Theo himself.
Speaking of Theo, he was a pretty good character too. He starts out as an energetic and immature kid. But throughout the story, Honestly, it was a pretty cool way to show character growth without sacrificing believably.
This novel is a master of set up and payoff. Throughout the novel, there are details that seem kind of minor at first (such as ), but actually play a major role later on in a cool way (such as ). Not only that, but the payoffs come at just the right time. Not too early, not too late.
The pacing was phenomenal. The version I read was a little over four hundred pages and it did not feel its length at all. I think part of it comes from how it doesn't waste the reader's time with extraneous details. Everything has a purpose, even if it's not obvious at first. Also, most if not all the chapters were kept to just under twenty pages long, which certainly helped.
The fact that there were very few possible suspects was confusing and disappointing. So the only suspects in Jamie's murder are Reapling and the guy on the flying bike who flew too low and almost ran over Theo and got chewed out by Jamie. I know that Jamie is supposed to be this really nice kid and I know the author may not have wanted to make the mystery too difficult for the target audience to solve, but adding one or two more suspects to the mix (like an employee of a rival cirth company or maybe a friend of Jamie's) really wouldn't have hurt. In fact, I think it would've actually enhanced the mystery by further developing Jamie's character and making things a little more challenging without getting ridiculous.
There's a reveal that I don't quite understand. So Okay. But here's the problem.
Overall, Theo Tan and The Fox Spirit was a novel that, despite its flaws, was extremely clever, extremely creative, and got me interested in checking out the next installment.
Overall Grade: B+
(After inheriting a grieving fox spirit, a Chinese American boy must learn to embrace his heritage to solve the mystery of his brother's death in Jesse Q Sutanto's magical, action-packed middle grade fantasy, Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit.
Theo Tan doesn't want a spirit companion. He just wants to be a normal American kid, playing video games, going to conventions, and using cirth pendants to cast his spells like everyone else. But, when his older brother dies, Theo ends up inheriting Jamie's fox spirit, Kai.
Kai isn't happy about this either. Theo is nothing like Jamie, and the two of them have never gotten along. But, when they realize the mysterious journal Jamie left Theo is filled with clues and secret codes, it's clear that something strange was going on with Jamie's internship at Reapling Corp.
But the only way onto the campus is the highly competitive "Know Your Roots" summer camp program, a celebration of Chinese and Indian cultures designed to help connect students with their heritage. Theo and Kai will have to put aside their differences long enough to honor Jamie's last wishes, or the mystery he died for will remain unsolved forever...) ~ Blurb from Goodreads
I liked how it handled the magical elements. Basically, in the world of this novel, different parts of the world have different types of magic. For example, America's magic system uses rechargeable pendants that run on a fuel source called cirth that isn't cheap while China's magic system uses qi (aka "chee") and spirit companions (who are expensive to a point where handing down spirit companions is a much more common practice). It's a fun bit of world building that gives each country its own unique identity. Also, I like how certain magical elements have a hefty cost. It adds a layer of realism and prevents things from getting too out of hand.
Kai was certainly an interesting character. So Kai was Jamie's spirit companion before his death. Despite that though, Kai seems to embody a mix of Jamie and his brother Theo's personality traits. For example, while Kai mainly embodies the no-nonsense side of Jamie, Kai doesn't hesitate to be as immature as Theo, such as transforming her face into a baboon's butt in chapter two and getting into petty scuffles with Theo himself.
Speaking of Theo, he was a pretty good character too. He starts out as an energetic and immature kid. But throughout the story, Honestly, it was a pretty cool way to show character growth without sacrificing believably.
This novel is a master of set up and payoff. Throughout the novel, there are details that seem kind of minor at first (such as ), but actually play a major role later on in a cool way (such as ). Not only that, but the payoffs come at just the right time. Not too early, not too late.
The pacing was phenomenal. The version I read was a little over four hundred pages and it did not feel its length at all. I think part of it comes from how it doesn't waste the reader's time with extraneous details. Everything has a purpose, even if it's not obvious at first. Also, most if not all the chapters were kept to just under twenty pages long, which certainly helped.
The fact that there were very few possible suspects was confusing and disappointing. So the only suspects in Jamie's murder are Reapling and the guy on the flying bike who flew too low and almost ran over Theo and got chewed out by Jamie. I know that Jamie is supposed to be this really nice kid and I know the author may not have wanted to make the mystery too difficult for the target audience to solve, but adding one or two more suspects to the mix (like an employee of a rival cirth company or maybe a friend of Jamie's) really wouldn't have hurt. In fact, I think it would've actually enhanced the mystery by further developing Jamie's character and making things a little more challenging without getting ridiculous.
There's a reveal that I don't quite understand. So Okay. But here's the problem.
Overall, Theo Tan and The Fox Spirit was a novel that, despite its flaws, was extremely clever, extremely creative, and got me interested in checking out the next installment.
Overall Grade: B+
April 13, 2022
This is a middle grade heroes journey adventure. You have Theo thrust into circumstances out of his control after the sudden and mysterious death of his brother Jamie. Then you have Kai a fox spirit who is grieving the loss of her master but called to be the spirit aide of her "enemy" Theo. Both mourning the loss of Jaime, they have to work together to overcome their differences and solve the mystery.
The setting reminded me of a Chinese version of Big Hero 6. Charming hardworking older brother, angry younger brother, companion of the older brother left behind.
As an adult it was hard to read how disrespectful Theo was of his parents and the background they come from at the beginning of the book. Putting my head into the perspective of Theo though I get it. To be "American" is to assimilate and to be a child is to want to blend in instead of celebrating what makes you stand out. I'm sure this will be well loved by the target audience. The voice throughout is very juvenile and I think will be relatable.
I wish we had had more time with Jamie at the beginning so we could have more context for the initial reasons why Theo and Kai don't like each other.
I'm happy to have been able to get an advanced copy of this book, and hope it finds itself in the hands of the perfect reader.
The setting reminded me of a Chinese version of Big Hero 6. Charming hardworking older brother, angry younger brother, companion of the older brother left behind.
As an adult it was hard to read how disrespectful Theo was of his parents and the background they come from at the beginning of the book. Putting my head into the perspective of Theo though I get it. To be "American" is to assimilate and to be a child is to want to blend in instead of celebrating what makes you stand out. I'm sure this will be well loved by the target audience. The voice throughout is very juvenile and I think will be relatable.
I wish we had had more time with Jamie at the beginning so we could have more context for the initial reasons why Theo and Kai don't like each other.
I'm happy to have been able to get an advanced copy of this book, and hope it finds itself in the hands of the perfect reader.
January 17, 2022
I read this book to my nine-year-old son, and he absolutely loved it, as did I! It's fast-paced, heartfelt, hilarious, and so unique. After his older brother dies in a suspicious accident, Theo inherits his spirit companion, a two-tailed fox spirit named Kai. Theo starts to investigate his brother's death, and he discovers a "Know Your Roots" program that his brother was involved with, a camp-like place that aims to connect kids with their ancestral history and magic. Right off the bat, something isn't quite right, and Theo has to learn how to channel his inner magic to unravel the mystery and figure out what happened to his brother.
In addition to the lush worldbuilding and creative magic system, the thing I loved most about this book is how much heart is in it. Theo and Kai struggle with each other at first, having both felt jealous of each other when Theo's brother was alive, but they learn to love and trust each other as the book goes on. Theo grows so much as a person, and is full of so much earnestness and deep love for his family, it's impossible not to root for him. And Kai is so absolutely hilarious, my son and I spent a lot of time laughing, even when we were on the edges of our seats wondering what was going to happen.
This book is perfect for a read-aloud, and also great for kids (and adults) who love modern-day fantasy with fun and unique magic systems, immersive cultural themes, and strong family bonds.
In addition to the lush worldbuilding and creative magic system, the thing I loved most about this book is how much heart is in it. Theo and Kai struggle with each other at first, having both felt jealous of each other when Theo's brother was alive, but they learn to love and trust each other as the book goes on. Theo grows so much as a person, and is full of so much earnestness and deep love for his family, it's impossible not to root for him. And Kai is so absolutely hilarious, my son and I spent a lot of time laughing, even when we were on the edges of our seats wondering what was going to happen.
This book is perfect for a read-aloud, and also great for kids (and adults) who love modern-day fantasy with fun and unique magic systems, immersive cultural themes, and strong family bonds.
Read
June 7, 2022I don't how to express how satisfied I am by this book. It does for me in every single way. I had forgotten what an appealing fantasy middle grade story was for me. I honestly think that it might have things that people in general may dislike, but I am so happy.
I love the fact that the whole concept was tied to the same roots and it didn't need to explore many different routes that would serve the plot - a common thing to have in middle grade fantasy is the constant exposition of many characters that are going to be useful to the MC's quest and then they remain forgotten. But this one doesn't follow that and that makes so happy. ❤️🦊
I love the fact that the whole concept was tied to the same roots and it didn't need to explore many different routes that would serve the plot - a common thing to have in middle grade fantasy is the constant exposition of many characters that are going to be useful to the MC's quest and then they remain forgotten. But this one doesn't follow that and that makes so happy. ❤️🦊
May 26, 2022
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is a funny but often heartbreaking middle-grade fantasy novel about ancient Indo-Chinese spirits and what it means to be part of the Asian diaspora. The story is slow in parts, but Sutanto delves into the grief and emotional rendering that take place with the death of a family members. I also appreciated how sarcastic Kai--the fox spirit--is and how her relationship with Theo develops. The sense of adventure is prevalent throughout even in the more passive parts of the plotline and will engage readers.
This is a funny but often heartbreaking middle-grade fantasy novel about ancient Indo-Chinese spirits and what it means to be part of the Asian diaspora. The story is slow in parts, but Sutanto delves into the grief and emotional rendering that take place with the death of a family members. I also appreciated how sarcastic Kai--the fox spirit--is and how her relationship with Theo develops. The sense of adventure is prevalent throughout even in the more passive parts of the plotline and will engage readers.
May 2, 2022
This book felt both familiar and completely original, which I loved. Kai and Theo were both instantly likable & occasionally exasperating, and as they become closer, they also become more loved by the reader. I appreciated how the author tried to differentiate between the two narration styles. I wish some side characters got to reveal a bit more depth or have a bit more page time. A really enjoyable and mysterious adventure that I hope will have a sequel.
July 14, 2024
Perfection!! I didn't feel like I was reading middle grade, the mythology is awesome, and this is written with skill!!
Miss Jesse Q. is a phenomenal middle grade author. If you like mythology retellings, you have to read this duology. This is mostly Chinese lore, but many others are mixed in. I found this story fun though dark, and
triumphant while dealing with grief. I'm jumping into the next book right away!
Miss Jesse Q. is a phenomenal middle grade author. If you like mythology retellings, you have to read this duology. This is mostly Chinese lore, but many others are mixed in. I found this story fun though dark, and
triumphant while dealing with grief. I'm jumping into the next book right away!
May 31, 2023
I already like Jesse Q Sutanto after reading Dial A for Aunties and I like her even more now.
This middle grade book was so good. I really enjoyed the cultural references and how Theo learned to embrace his heritage throughout the story.
I loved how sassy Kai was and the notes in the book from her to the reader was a really nice touch.
Really looking forward to reading the sequel! 😁
This middle grade book was so good. I really enjoyed the cultural references and how Theo learned to embrace his heritage throughout the story.
I loved how sassy Kai was and the notes in the book from her to the reader was a really nice touch.
Really looking forward to reading the sequel! 😁
December 27, 2023
A really fun story with all the good ingredients. The fox spirit was a bit too sassy and mean for my taste, her personality could be better. Also the ending was a bit confusing in regards to wrapping up however I look forward to its sequel
May 22, 2023
SO CUTE… so pure …. would totally recommend this to anyone who enjoys middle grade books!
June 30, 2022
This audio was definitely worth the listen. It was skillfully done except that sometimes the Chinese was pronounced the way it should be and sometimes not. The main character, Theo, is having identity issues. This is very normal for someone whose parents who are non-white. He's trying to be more American and wants to flub up the pronunciation of the words. Fantastical images abound. Magic and animal companions. I think it's like HP. It would be great as an animated movie.
August 29, 2022
🦊🔥🎇Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit🎇🔥🦊
To gain access to magic you must pay money to gain cirths. Cirths contain magic and are inside of a pendant, but Theo's family isn't well-off and he must save his cirths wisely. His brother Jamie has a companion spirit, Kai, a fox who is tricky and cunning but affectionate towards her master. Theo and Kai always regarded each other in a hostile matter, vying for Jamie's affection. When Jamie starts acting strange, going to secluded places, and stopping when he reaches a certain train of thought, Theo's not sure what to think about it all. But then Jamie dies in a car accident, and has left behind a journal written in code. Together, Kai is summoned out of the spirit world to help Theo find what Jamie left behind. Now ending at a prestigious place containing secrets, they untangle a web of lies and a secret possibly best left kept hidden.
With every book I go in with the mindset hoping I can find the next favorite, and this book was no exception. Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit is perfect for fans of Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao & The Dragon Warrior by Katie Zhao. Just like Alex Aster commented in the blurb, this is fantasy at it's finest.
Jesse Q. Suntanto is so talented, and this is a very promising start to a duology/trilogy/etc, whatever it will be. There are several things I loved about this book. One would be the distinct POVs. Kai and Theo had very different voices. When reading multiple POV stories, I'm hesitant that they might seem the same their personalities and narration just sounding the same. That being said, even without knowing who was leading what chapter, Kai and Theo narrated the story differently and each POV had a personality. It never gets boring with the quips and characteristics of the characters reflected through their perspectives.
Both Kai and Theo's grief were dealt with in a good way. I hate it when someone dies at the start conveniently to push the plot going. It felt like it happened and it greatly affected the characters. The death wasn't just tossed away and instantly not a main part. Grief was a theme in this story and was consistently part of both Theo and Kai's characters.
This book focused on finding your heritage, and I enjoyed both the magic woven in with real-life situations and Chinese mythology mixed in with a couple of facts about other mythologies. The stakes in this book were high. The transitioning between scene to scene, story to story was always entertaining and smooth. I was enraptured by this book, always intrigued.
The mythology was described in a descriptive but not overly-detailed way, making it easy to understand. The magical camp/school program setting was interesting and a fresh spin on the generic magic school trope.
The concept of cirth and spirit companion were both equally amazing. The characters were all done very well, Theo and Kai were both extremely likable while also having their flaws and differences. Everything about this book never missed a beat, interesting, creative and at the heart of it emotional focusing on the characters and a fun adventure.
✅PLOT
✅PLOT TWIST
✅CHARACTERS
To gain access to magic you must pay money to gain cirths. Cirths contain magic and are inside of a pendant, but Theo's family isn't well-off and he must save his cirths wisely. His brother Jamie has a companion spirit, Kai, a fox who is tricky and cunning but affectionate towards her master. Theo and Kai always regarded each other in a hostile matter, vying for Jamie's affection. When Jamie starts acting strange, going to secluded places, and stopping when he reaches a certain train of thought, Theo's not sure what to think about it all. But then Jamie dies in a car accident, and has left behind a journal written in code. Together, Kai is summoned out of the spirit world to help Theo find what Jamie left behind. Now ending at a prestigious place containing secrets, they untangle a web of lies and a secret possibly best left kept hidden.
With every book I go in with the mindset hoping I can find the next favorite, and this book was no exception. Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit is perfect for fans of Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao & The Dragon Warrior by Katie Zhao. Just like Alex Aster commented in the blurb, this is fantasy at it's finest.
Jesse Q. Suntanto is so talented, and this is a very promising start to a duology/trilogy/etc, whatever it will be. There are several things I loved about this book. One would be the distinct POVs. Kai and Theo had very different voices. When reading multiple POV stories, I'm hesitant that they might seem the same their personalities and narration just sounding the same. That being said, even without knowing who was leading what chapter, Kai and Theo narrated the story differently and each POV had a personality. It never gets boring with the quips and characteristics of the characters reflected through their perspectives.
Both Kai and Theo's grief were dealt with in a good way. I hate it when someone dies at the start conveniently to push the plot going. It felt like it happened and it greatly affected the characters. The death wasn't just tossed away and instantly not a main part. Grief was a theme in this story and was consistently part of both Theo and Kai's characters.
This book focused on finding your heritage, and I enjoyed both the magic woven in with real-life situations and Chinese mythology mixed in with a couple of facts about other mythologies. The stakes in this book were high. The transitioning between scene to scene, story to story was always entertaining and smooth. I was enraptured by this book, always intrigued.
The mythology was described in a descriptive but not overly-detailed way, making it easy to understand. The magical camp/school program setting was interesting and a fresh spin on the generic magic school trope.
The concept of cirth and spirit companion were both equally amazing. The characters were all done very well, Theo and Kai were both extremely likable while also having their flaws and differences. Everything about this book never missed a beat, interesting, creative and at the heart of it emotional focusing on the characters and a fun adventure.
✅PLOT
✅PLOT TWIST
✅CHARACTERS
July 16, 2022
RATING:
4 STARS
Jesse Q. Sutanto’s newest book, the middle-grade fantasy novel Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit is an entertaining, witty, and fast-paced tale. Our main character, Theo, is determined to ignore the Chinese side of his identity and embrace his “American-ness” as much as possible (unlike his practically perfect in any way older brother Jaime). Things go wrong, however, after his brother dies and he inherits his brother’s sarcastic and snarky fox companion spirit Kai. The two irk each other to no end, but they must join forces to find out what happened, unravel all the secrets around Jaime’s death and make sure his death is not in vain.
The grief that both Theo and Kai are experiencing is palpable. They both loved Jaime in their own way, and while he was alive they competed for his affection and attention. After he dies, the time they are forced to spend together allows them to learn more about each other, and eventually, they grow to become friends. Although they’d both deny it, I saw their interactions as something akin to a sibling bond. The story is told from their alternating points of view, and I appreciated how that decision gave more depth and perspective to the story (and their interactions).
The magic system in this book was interesting. There’s “cirth”, which is the commercialized fuel for day-to-day magical spells (and even some video games). There’s also “chi”, which is the more ancestral (for lack of a better word) fuel for magic that most humans have forgotten how to use. I appreciated getting to learn about the various diverse animal companions in the world of Theo Tan, and how many of them were influenced by stories in Chinese folktales and mythology.
One unexpected but important lesson that I learned from this book was about the nuances of the Mandarin language. Mandarin is a tonal language, with four core tones that can make one syllable be the difference between two very different words. Theo has spent most of his life ignoring his heritage, and thus not putting much effort into learning the language, so once he actually has to use it there are multiple mishaps and spells gone wrong. Kai, given her immortal nature as a fox spirit, is much more skilled at the language and takes great amusement in correcting Theo’s mistakes (often small ones based on single syllables or tones).
Overall, this was a very enjoyable and heartwarming book. I can’t speak to the accuracy of the Mandarin pronunciation in the audiobook, but in my opinion (as a white caucasian reviewer) narrators Caleb Yen and Kimberley Wong did a great job bringing the book to life. If you are a kid or an adult who's a kid at heart and would enjoy a diverse tale with a unique magic system, immersive cultural elements, and a strong sense of family then Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit should be your next read! Given that this is currently listed as being part of a series, I’m eager to hear news about the next book and read it once it’s out.
Jesse Q. Sutanto’s newest book, the middle-grade fantasy novel Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit is an entertaining, witty, and fast-paced tale. Our main character, Theo, is determined to ignore the Chinese side of his identity and embrace his “American-ness” as much as possible (unlike his practically perfect in any way older brother Jaime). Things go wrong, however, after his brother dies and he inherits his brother’s sarcastic and snarky fox companion spirit Kai. The two irk each other to no end, but they must join forces to find out what happened, unravel all the secrets around Jaime’s death and make sure his death is not in vain.
The grief that both Theo and Kai are experiencing is palpable. They both loved Jaime in their own way, and while he was alive they competed for his affection and attention. After he dies, the time they are forced to spend together allows them to learn more about each other, and eventually, they grow to become friends. Although they’d both deny it, I saw their interactions as something akin to a sibling bond. The story is told from their alternating points of view, and I appreciated how that decision gave more depth and perspective to the story (and their interactions).
The magic system in this book was interesting. There’s “cirth”, which is the commercialized fuel for day-to-day magical spells (and even some video games). There’s also “chi”, which is the more ancestral (for lack of a better word) fuel for magic that most humans have forgotten how to use. I appreciated getting to learn about the various diverse animal companions in the world of Theo Tan, and how many of them were influenced by stories in Chinese folktales and mythology.
One unexpected but important lesson that I learned from this book was about the nuances of the Mandarin language. Mandarin is a tonal language, with four core tones that can make one syllable be the difference between two very different words. Theo has spent most of his life ignoring his heritage, and thus not putting much effort into learning the language, so once he actually has to use it there are multiple mishaps and spells gone wrong. Kai, given her immortal nature as a fox spirit, is much more skilled at the language and takes great amusement in correcting Theo’s mistakes (often small ones based on single syllables or tones).
Overall, this was a very enjoyable and heartwarming book. I can’t speak to the accuracy of the Mandarin pronunciation in the audiobook, but in my opinion (as a white caucasian reviewer) narrators Caleb Yen and Kimberley Wong did a great job bringing the book to life. If you are a kid or an adult who's a kid at heart and would enjoy a diverse tale with a unique magic system, immersive cultural elements, and a strong sense of family then Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit should be your next read! Given that this is currently listed as being part of a series, I’m eager to hear news about the next book and read it once it’s out.
Read
February 20, 2024disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
I genuinely want to know what Jesse Q. Sutanto can't do. I've read the rest of her backlist besides this series thus far, and she has knocked it out of the park every single time? She continues to mother us all, my gawwwd!!! This middle-grade adventure and coming-of-age story had it all: angst, hope, bravery, friendship, and making decisions you are proud of!
After his older brother Jamie dies in a terrible tragedy, Theo inherits his brother's grieving fox spirit Kai, who mostly shapeshifts into a goldfish for most of the book. We get the rotating first-person POVs from Theo and Kai, and both of them are truly hilarious. I know that they are both grieving, and that this book covers such heavy content, but Theo and Kai's dynamic is so goofy.
Kai is hands down one of the funniest and most entertaining non-human sidekicks I have met lately! Kai is unimpressed by humans, not afraid to bluntly hurt your feelings, and needs you to KEEP UP! These two characters in close proximity as they venture on the quest that Jamie left behind are the standouts of this novel. Their dynamic, their inner thoughts, and the way they navigate this adventure kept me so invested! The quest is fun, sure, but these two characters were complex, growing, and so precious!
I loved the commentary on using cirth pendants to cast his spells (over the traditional way that his family uses) and how Theo felt pulled between his ethnic and national cultures. No matter what, generational differences are always going to hit hard when JQS writes it! Theo's journey as a first- or second-generation kid (I can't remember which, sorry!) translates so authentically and tenderly. So many kids from immigrant parents and grandparents will likely feel this is a bit representative of their own push and pull among cultures, especially during such a confusing time, middle school and high school!
I will absolutely continue the series & read anything JQS decides to bless us peasants with!
The audiobook narrators Caleb Yeng and Kimberley Wong were excellent; they were perfect for the roles of Theo and Kai!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Violence, Racism, Bullying, and Child death
I genuinely want to know what Jesse Q. Sutanto can't do. I've read the rest of her backlist besides this series thus far, and she has knocked it out of the park every single time? She continues to mother us all, my gawwwd!!! This middle-grade adventure and coming-of-age story had it all: angst, hope, bravery, friendship, and making decisions you are proud of!
After his older brother Jamie dies in a terrible tragedy, Theo inherits his brother's grieving fox spirit Kai, who mostly shapeshifts into a goldfish for most of the book. We get the rotating first-person POVs from Theo and Kai, and both of them are truly hilarious. I know that they are both grieving, and that this book covers such heavy content, but Theo and Kai's dynamic is so goofy.
Kai is hands down one of the funniest and most entertaining non-human sidekicks I have met lately! Kai is unimpressed by humans, not afraid to bluntly hurt your feelings, and needs you to KEEP UP! These two characters in close proximity as they venture on the quest that Jamie left behind are the standouts of this novel. Their dynamic, their inner thoughts, and the way they navigate this adventure kept me so invested! The quest is fun, sure, but these two characters were complex, growing, and so precious!
I loved the commentary on using cirth pendants to cast his spells (over the traditional way that his family uses) and how Theo felt pulled between his ethnic and national cultures. No matter what, generational differences are always going to hit hard when JQS writes it! Theo's journey as a first- or second-generation kid (I can't remember which, sorry!) translates so authentically and tenderly. So many kids from immigrant parents and grandparents will likely feel this is a bit representative of their own push and pull among cultures, especially during such a confusing time, middle school and high school!
I will absolutely continue the series & read anything JQS decides to bless us peasants with!
The audiobook narrators Caleb Yeng and Kimberley Wong were excellent; they were perfect for the roles of Theo and Kai!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Violence, Racism, Bullying, and Child death
May 10, 2022
Set in San Francisco, California, at a time when money can buy magic, flying cars, and flying shoes, Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit asks what does it cost to have those luxuries.
First generation Chinese-American Theo has spent his childhood eschewing as many aspects of his Chinese culture as possible, but when tragedy strikes his family, Theo and–formerly his brother’s, now his–companion fox spirit Kai are thrust into a quest that will delve into aspects of their culture, identity, and ancestry and will raise questions about what actions are ethical and moral.
The book was a bit slow-going for me at first as I came up-to-speed with Theo’s world, but once I hit the point where he and Kai are accepted into the Know Your Roots program at Reapling in Mountain View (Silicon Valley), things took off.
I enjoyed watching the bond grow between Theo and Kai, the struggles they undertook together, and their friendship with Namita. I liked seeing Theo find his courage and his inner magic (qì) The story is a nice mix of heavier themes and humor. This would be a good book for parents and elementary schoolers to read together.
Told in the alternating points-of-view of 12-year-old Theo and snarky, shape-changing Kai, Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit takes you on an adventure vacillating between an America run on commoditized magic and the Chinese spirit worlds of other realms. You even visit the gates of hell.
Content warnings: death of a sibling, violence, greed, depictions of demons, versions of hell
I received an advance ebook copy from Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
First generation Chinese-American Theo has spent his childhood eschewing as many aspects of his Chinese culture as possible, but when tragedy strikes his family, Theo and–formerly his brother’s, now his–companion fox spirit Kai are thrust into a quest that will delve into aspects of their culture, identity, and ancestry and will raise questions about what actions are ethical and moral.
The book was a bit slow-going for me at first as I came up-to-speed with Theo’s world, but once I hit the point where he and Kai are accepted into the Know Your Roots program at Reapling in Mountain View (Silicon Valley), things took off.
I enjoyed watching the bond grow between Theo and Kai, the struggles they undertook together, and their friendship with Namita. I liked seeing Theo find his courage and his inner magic (qì) The story is a nice mix of heavier themes and humor. This would be a good book for parents and elementary schoolers to read together.
Told in the alternating points-of-view of 12-year-old Theo and snarky, shape-changing Kai, Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit takes you on an adventure vacillating between an America run on commoditized magic and the Chinese spirit worlds of other realms. You even visit the gates of hell.
Content warnings: death of a sibling, violence, greed, depictions of demons, versions of hell
I received an advance ebook copy from Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2022
Thank you to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Theo Tan just wants to be an American boy. After getting teased and bullied in school for speaking Chinese, Theo no longer speaks it. He just wants to play his video games, go to ThunderCon, and cast his spells using his cirth pendant (his power source for spells) like his peers. He is not interested in anything about his culture, including his brother Jamie’s fox spirit, Kai. When Jamie dies suddenly, Theo inherits Kai, to the dismay of both of them. But when Theo find a secret coded journal that Jamie left behind for him, Theo and Kai enroll at the Reapling Corp. summer program where Jamie was doing his internship. Using the journal, Theo and Kai find that something strange is definitely going on there, and potentially dangerous. Kai has the ability to shape-shift, something that Theo takes advantage of in his training. Will Theo and Kai be able to put aside their disdain for each other long enough to figure out what Jamie wanted them to do before it’s too late?
It was nice to see a Chinese-American boy as the main character. Although this book is mostly fantasy, especially when dealing with the companion spirits and spells, there is also a sci-fi part to it. Theo can come off as a bit of a brat, not wanting to do the minimum asked of him. He does realize his potential as the story progresses. Not as fast-paced as some other mythology/heroes middle grade books but enjoyable nonetheless. I give it 4 stars and would recommend it for grades 4 and up.
#TheoTanAndTheFoxSpirit #Feiwel&Friends #NetGalley
Theo Tan just wants to be an American boy. After getting teased and bullied in school for speaking Chinese, Theo no longer speaks it. He just wants to play his video games, go to ThunderCon, and cast his spells using his cirth pendant (his power source for spells) like his peers. He is not interested in anything about his culture, including his brother Jamie’s fox spirit, Kai. When Jamie dies suddenly, Theo inherits Kai, to the dismay of both of them. But when Theo find a secret coded journal that Jamie left behind for him, Theo and Kai enroll at the Reapling Corp. summer program where Jamie was doing his internship. Using the journal, Theo and Kai find that something strange is definitely going on there, and potentially dangerous. Kai has the ability to shape-shift, something that Theo takes advantage of in his training. Will Theo and Kai be able to put aside their disdain for each other long enough to figure out what Jamie wanted them to do before it’s too late?
It was nice to see a Chinese-American boy as the main character. Although this book is mostly fantasy, especially when dealing with the companion spirits and spells, there is also a sci-fi part to it. Theo can come off as a bit of a brat, not wanting to do the minimum asked of him. He does realize his potential as the story progresses. Not as fast-paced as some other mythology/heroes middle grade books but enjoyable nonetheless. I give it 4 stars and would recommend it for grades 4 and up.
#TheoTanAndTheFoxSpirit #Feiwel&Friends #NetGalley
September 22, 2023
3.5, rounded up
"Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit" is a cute, quick-moving, heartwarming middle grade fantasy. I was really glad I listened to the audiobook because I think hearing some of the words pronounced was helpful, especially since Chinese language and pronunciation were a major plot point!
Premise: Theo adores his older brother Jamie but hates Jamie's fox spirit, Kai, who is a trickster and doesn't want to share Jamie's love. But when Jamie dies under mysterious circumstances, Theo and Kai are unexpectedly thrown together in their own spirit bond. Can they figure out how to work together to solve the clues that Jamie left about a horrifying plot that could endanger the whole city?
There was a lot to love about this book. I really appreciated the message about embracing your heritage; the characters were likable; and there were a few parts that were laugh-out-loud funny (to me. I enjoy scatalogical humor...much like middle schoolers). The part where Kai is talking about "undie panties" - I snortled multiple times. I also enjoyed learning more about Chinese culture and language.
"Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit" definitely feels like a lot of the contemporary middle grade fantasy books I have read recently - glossy and frenetic, with an emphasis on non-stop action and not as much time spent in solid world building or character work.
But it was overall a pleasant read, and I will probably read the sequel sometime soon. The ending was not a serious cliffhanger, but there were some unanswered questions. And I think this is a series that could mature nicely. The groundwork is there.
"Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit" is a cute, quick-moving, heartwarming middle grade fantasy. I was really glad I listened to the audiobook because I think hearing some of the words pronounced was helpful, especially since Chinese language and pronunciation were a major plot point!
Premise: Theo adores his older brother Jamie but hates Jamie's fox spirit, Kai, who is a trickster and doesn't want to share Jamie's love. But when Jamie dies under mysterious circumstances, Theo and Kai are unexpectedly thrown together in their own spirit bond. Can they figure out how to work together to solve the clues that Jamie left about a horrifying plot that could endanger the whole city?
There was a lot to love about this book. I really appreciated the message about embracing your heritage; the characters were likable; and there were a few parts that were laugh-out-loud funny (to me. I enjoy scatalogical humor...much like middle schoolers). The part where Kai is talking about "undie panties" - I snortled multiple times. I also enjoyed learning more about Chinese culture and language.
"Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit" definitely feels like a lot of the contemporary middle grade fantasy books I have read recently - glossy and frenetic, with an emphasis on non-stop action and not as much time spent in solid world building or character work.
But it was overall a pleasant read, and I will probably read the sequel sometime soon. The ending was not a serious cliffhanger, but there were some unanswered questions. And I think this is a series that could mature nicely. The groundwork is there.
August 7, 2022
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. Review based on final copy. All opinions are my own.
Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit is the first middle grade novel from Jesse Q. Sutanto, and it’s a lot of fun. While it begins with the tragedy of the loss of a brother, it perfectly motivates the dual main characters Theo and Kai to find out what happened.
Kai steals the spotlight right away. She has a snappy snarky sense of humor, and it comes through in a lot of the footnote asides, which were much more accessible in the final copy over the ARC. While I don’t know how the formatting overall would work for some middle grade readers (especially the target audience), I liked how it came across overall. She remains incredibly loyal to Jamie, and feels reluctant to work with her rival, Theo, but they both happen to want the same thing.
Theo is a complex kid. He’s not always the easiest to like, but I think it also makes him more relatable. He had a difficult relationship with Jamie in life, due to their different relationships with their Chinese heritage and Jamie being the “golden” child, but Theo is also deeply impacted by grief in his own way.
The quest plot is a lot of fun, and I appreciated how it played into Theo’s central issue of connection with his heritage, as well as both him and Kai wanting answers about Jamie and what happened to him.
I enjoyed this book, and hope this is just the first of many adventures in a similar vein from Sutanto. If you’re a fan of multicultural middle grade, you’ll enjoy this one.
Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit is the first middle grade novel from Jesse Q. Sutanto, and it’s a lot of fun. While it begins with the tragedy of the loss of a brother, it perfectly motivates the dual main characters Theo and Kai to find out what happened.
Kai steals the spotlight right away. She has a snappy snarky sense of humor, and it comes through in a lot of the footnote asides, which were much more accessible in the final copy over the ARC. While I don’t know how the formatting overall would work for some middle grade readers (especially the target audience), I liked how it came across overall. She remains incredibly loyal to Jamie, and feels reluctant to work with her rival, Theo, but they both happen to want the same thing.
Theo is a complex kid. He’s not always the easiest to like, but I think it also makes him more relatable. He had a difficult relationship with Jamie in life, due to their different relationships with their Chinese heritage and Jamie being the “golden” child, but Theo is also deeply impacted by grief in his own way.
The quest plot is a lot of fun, and I appreciated how it played into Theo’s central issue of connection with his heritage, as well as both him and Kai wanting answers about Jamie and what happened to him.
I enjoyed this book, and hope this is just the first of many adventures in a similar vein from Sutanto. If you’re a fan of multicultural middle grade, you’ll enjoy this one.
April 8, 2022
Theo Tan has always felt like an outsider. His brother is super smart and the overachiever. He doesn't have as much money as other kids at his school. Meaning he doesn't have as much money to purchase cirth like other kids in his school.. He really doesn't want a companion spirit, let alone one as lame as a goldfish. All Theo wants to feel like is a normal kid. One who can be seen as your standard everyday American. Yet when his brother dies and leaves behind clues that indicate that his death was anything but ordinary, Theo is swept up in an adventure to find out what really happened. With the reluctant help of his brothers companion spirit, Kia. Theo applies to the Find Your Roots program. There they find out that connecting with children's roots is one of the last things they have in mind for the students involved. Will Theo and Kai be able to find out what is really happening before all heck is broken lose? Can Kia and Theo build a bond like the one Kia had with Theo's brother?
This is a super fast paced book. It is very easy to pick up and really so well written that it is kind of hard to put down. I am very excited to see what adventure Kia and Theo go on next. Kids will be swept away by this tale and I am so very excited to recommend it.
Thank you so very much to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy.
This is a super fast paced book. It is very easy to pick up and really so well written that it is kind of hard to put down. I am very excited to see what adventure Kia and Theo go on next. Kids will be swept away by this tale and I am so very excited to recommend it.
Thank you so very much to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy.
October 26, 2025
A miraculous world, dark spells and a mystery to solve. I extremely enjoyed this novel as it explored through a true bond and a thilling adventure.
Theo Tan was a cool Chinese-American kid who loved playing video games. His family was poor and could not afford enough cirth. He and the Fox Spirit, Kai, detested each other. However after Jamie's death, Kai was inherited by his younger brother Theo. This changed everything for Theo. He was determined to find out the truth behind the incident that happened with his older brother, which forced him to join a summer program "know your roots," where he worked. The day before Jamie's death, Jamie handed his personal notebook with cororful texts to Theo which led them to find out the truth.
I loved the way Kai and Theo worked together and faced challenges just to find out the mystery and fulfill Jamie's last wishes. It would not stop reminding them of Jamie. My favourite character in this book was Kai as she was turning demonic. She tried to fix her karmaic effects and going to Diyu (hell) by facing challenges on her own. I also liked the way they explained Indian and Chinese mythology in the Reapling Corp.
Overall this book was action-packed espeacilly in the ending and emotionaly heartfelt as Kai and Theo missed Jamie a lot. I would reccommed this book to middle-grader and fantasy lovers. I am tremendously eager to read the next Jesse Q. Sutanto book!
Theo Tan was a cool Chinese-American kid who loved playing video games. His family was poor and could not afford enough cirth. He and the Fox Spirit, Kai, detested each other. However after Jamie's death, Kai was inherited by his younger brother Theo. This changed everything for Theo. He was determined to find out the truth behind the incident that happened with his older brother, which forced him to join a summer program "know your roots," where he worked. The day before Jamie's death, Jamie handed his personal notebook with cororful texts to Theo which led them to find out the truth.
I loved the way Kai and Theo worked together and faced challenges just to find out the mystery and fulfill Jamie's last wishes. It would not stop reminding them of Jamie. My favourite character in this book was Kai as she was turning demonic. She tried to fix her karmaic effects and going to Diyu (hell) by facing challenges on her own. I also liked the way they explained Indian and Chinese mythology in the Reapling Corp.
Overall this book was action-packed espeacilly in the ending and emotionaly heartfelt as Kai and Theo missed Jamie a lot. I would reccommed this book to middle-grader and fantasy lovers. I am tremendously eager to read the next Jesse Q. Sutanto book!
July 1, 2022
I listened to the audio version of this book. It was very entertaining. The companion spirit aspect reminded me of Golden Compass.
I didn’t really see why it was so important that Theo was an “old school gamer.” In the beginning of the book, his brother spoke to him about using his gaming skill, but as the book progressed Theo did not use “skill.” He relied on his brother’s former companion or chance. He does, of course, eventually grow in his mindset. However, his fecklessness resulting from years of shame and “othering” by bullies overshadows him for most of the book. When he does have his change moment, it seems to level him up for the sequel that was laid out.
Kai, the companion spirit, intermittently speaks directly to the reader in a ‘don’t-judge-me-I’m-a-supernatural-being” (calling the reader Bertha) which becomes a bit trite after a while. The “all humans look alike” comment, a comment surely casting aspersions at racist comments about people of color “all looking alike” was funny, and felt less creative as it was subsequently repeated. Her story arc was predictable, but I still liked her voice enough to ignore what I knew would be coming.
Although I am not the demo for this book, I do believe that kids who love magical stories and rooting for the underbid will find it a very appetizing read, no matter the reader’s background.
I didn’t really see why it was so important that Theo was an “old school gamer.” In the beginning of the book, his brother spoke to him about using his gaming skill, but as the book progressed Theo did not use “skill.” He relied on his brother’s former companion or chance. He does, of course, eventually grow in his mindset. However, his fecklessness resulting from years of shame and “othering” by bullies overshadows him for most of the book. When he does have his change moment, it seems to level him up for the sequel that was laid out.
Kai, the companion spirit, intermittently speaks directly to the reader in a ‘don’t-judge-me-I’m-a-supernatural-being” (calling the reader Bertha) which becomes a bit trite after a while. The “all humans look alike” comment, a comment surely casting aspersions at racist comments about people of color “all looking alike” was funny, and felt less creative as it was subsequently repeated. Her story arc was predictable, but I still liked her voice enough to ignore what I knew would be coming.
Although I am not the demo for this book, I do believe that kids who love magical stories and rooting for the underbid will find it a very appetizing read, no matter the reader’s background.
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