What do you think?
Rate this book
Winnie Zeng #1
Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend
An epic new fantasy series inspired by Chinese mythology that #1 New York Times bestselling author Kwame Mbalia calls "a hilarious tussle between homework, family, and heroism." When a girl awakens the stuff of legends from an old family recipe, she must embrace her extraordinary heritage to save the world.
Winnie Zeng has two survive her first year of middle school and outdo her stuck-up archnemesis, David Zuo. It won’t be easy, since, according to her older sister, middle school is the pits. Luckily, Winnie studied middle school survival tactics in comic books and anime, and nothing will stop her from being the very best student.
But none of Winnie’s research has prepared her to face the mother of all evil spirits. When she makes mooncakes for a class bake sale, she awakens the stuff of legends from her grandmother’s old cookbook, spilling otherworldly chaos into her sleepy town.
Suddenly Winnie finds herself in a race against time, vanquishing demons instead of group projects. Armed with a magic cookbook and a talking white rabbit, she must embrace her new powers and legacy of her ancestors. Because if she doesn’t, her town—and rest of the world—may fall to chaos forever.
Winnie Zeng has two survive her first year of middle school and outdo her stuck-up archnemesis, David Zuo. It won’t be easy, since, according to her older sister, middle school is the pits. Luckily, Winnie studied middle school survival tactics in comic books and anime, and nothing will stop her from being the very best student.
But none of Winnie’s research has prepared her to face the mother of all evil spirits. When she makes mooncakes for a class bake sale, she awakens the stuff of legends from her grandmother’s old cookbook, spilling otherworldly chaos into her sleepy town.
Suddenly Winnie finds herself in a race against time, vanquishing demons instead of group projects. Armed with a magic cookbook and a talking white rabbit, she must embrace her new powers and legacy of her ancestors. Because if she doesn’t, her town—and rest of the world—may fall to chaos forever.
281 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 26, 2022
33 people are currently reading
1051 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
May 13, 2022
This was a fun middle grade fantasy. This my first time reading Katie Zhao and it was a solid read. 3.5 Stars.
Winnie Zheng Unleashes a Legend follows Winnie who is about to start middle school and is attempting to outsmart and “look better” thank her rival David. Unfortunately, middle school doesn’t exactly go as planned and Winnie finds herself having difficult fitting in. When preparing moon cakes for a bake sale goes wrong, Winnie has to work with an unlikely spirit to prepare her to fight the evil beings.
What I enjoyed most about this book was all of the Chinese myths, folklore, and traditions especially the descriptions of food. There were so many pages where my mouth was literally watering from the descriptions. I also think that this is a book that some younger middle school readers will strongly relate to. Not only is Winnie trying to live up to the expectations of her family, but she also is trying to adjust to her first year in middle school. That transition from being in elementary school to middle school is definitely difficult and I think that Zhao does a great job illustrating it. This book is also fast paced with action. There were so many unique elements from the beginning to the end that a lot of readers will thoroughly enjoy.
One of my biggest hick ups with this book was the excessive references to pop culture. At first, I enjoyed it and then it became too much and then it became cringey. I think that pop culture references can be exciting and fun for readers especially when it makes a reference to something that most people love; however, it is also important to remember that too many will age a novel quickly and unfortunately it happened here. It made the novel appear as though it was trying to be too relatable.
Nevertheless, I think this was a solid start for what appears to be a beginning series. Pick this one up if you or middle grader you know enjoys mythology.
Winnie Zheng Unleashes a Legend follows Winnie who is about to start middle school and is attempting to outsmart and “look better” thank her rival David. Unfortunately, middle school doesn’t exactly go as planned and Winnie finds herself having difficult fitting in. When preparing moon cakes for a bake sale goes wrong, Winnie has to work with an unlikely spirit to prepare her to fight the evil beings.
What I enjoyed most about this book was all of the Chinese myths, folklore, and traditions especially the descriptions of food. There were so many pages where my mouth was literally watering from the descriptions. I also think that this is a book that some younger middle school readers will strongly relate to. Not only is Winnie trying to live up to the expectations of her family, but she also is trying to adjust to her first year in middle school. That transition from being in elementary school to middle school is definitely difficult and I think that Zhao does a great job illustrating it. This book is also fast paced with action. There were so many unique elements from the beginning to the end that a lot of readers will thoroughly enjoy.
One of my biggest hick ups with this book was the excessive references to pop culture. At first, I enjoyed it and then it became too much and then it became cringey. I think that pop culture references can be exciting and fun for readers especially when it makes a reference to something that most people love; however, it is also important to remember that too many will age a novel quickly and unfortunately it happened here. It made the novel appear as though it was trying to be too relatable.
Nevertheless, I think this was a solid start for what appears to be a beginning series. Pick this one up if you or middle grader you know enjoys mythology.
August 5, 2020
I am over the MOON to share Winnie Zeng's story with the world. For all the Asian kids who got teased for bringing home-cooked Asian food to school, who felt ashamed of looking and being different: WINNIE ZENG's magical story of empowerment is for you.
Read
April 26, 2022How I wish the author could find a time machine, and go back to publish this book during my teaching days. This winsome, fast-paced, generous and insightful middle grade novel would have been perfect for reading aloud to my fifth and sixth graders. Especially some of the clueless ones who didn't intend to be mean, but had been raised to regard anything outside of whitbread culture as "euuuw, gross!" A story like this illustrates and enlightens and intrigues without tipping over into the dreaded Finger of Authority shaking under the kid reader's nose to lecture them for their own good.
Winnie Zeng is a normal kid with a rival who is constantly held up to her in comparison by parents who value hard work and getting ahead . . . maybe a tad too competitively? When stress fractures appear in a family as a result, it is time to back off and reassess, and so the Zengs discover--while at the same time there is Grandma Lao Lao's ghost at Winnie's shoulder, and evils from the mythic dimension spreading chaos, and oh, there's David, Annie's rival, who is also learning to be a shaman.
The author expertly juggles all these story elements, never letting character be subsumed by pyrotechnics in this funny, delicious, zany, and altogether charming fantasy.
Copy provided by NetGalley
Winnie Zeng is a normal kid with a rival who is constantly held up to her in comparison by parents who value hard work and getting ahead . . . maybe a tad too competitively? When stress fractures appear in a family as a result, it is time to back off and reassess, and so the Zengs discover--while at the same time there is Grandma Lao Lao's ghost at Winnie's shoulder, and evils from the mythic dimension spreading chaos, and oh, there's David, Annie's rival, who is also learning to be a shaman.
The author expertly juggles all these story elements, never letting character be subsumed by pyrotechnics in this funny, delicious, zany, and altogether charming fantasy.
Copy provided by NetGalley
March 26, 2022
Listen. I don't really know why Katie Zhao isn't writing for the Rick Riordan Presents imprint, but her middle grade stories would be PERFECT for that.
April 29, 2022
Thank you to the publishers for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This was super fun, hilarious, and heartwarming at times, and out of all of Katie's characters, I definitely think Winnie is the one that 10-year-old me would've related to the most. I love Katie's middle grades, and while this one isn't my favourite of her books (it had too many pop culture references for my personal taste), I still really loved and enjoyed it. I'm seeing a lot of people recommend this for fans of Percy Jackson, but I personally think The Dragon Warrior series is a better comp for that. I personally think that this book is more MIB vibes with Chinese mythology, but either way, I highly recommend this (and Katie's other middle grades)!
This was super fun, hilarious, and heartwarming at times, and out of all of Katie's characters, I definitely think Winnie is the one that 10-year-old me would've related to the most. I love Katie's middle grades, and while this one isn't my favourite of her books (it had too many pop culture references for my personal taste), I still really loved and enjoyed it. I'm seeing a lot of people recommend this for fans of Percy Jackson, but I personally think The Dragon Warrior series is a better comp for that. I personally think that this book is more MIB vibes with Chinese mythology, but either way, I highly recommend this (and Katie's other middle grades)!
November 12, 2022
Full review to come ☺️
January 27, 2023
It is the beginning of sixth grade, and Winnie Zeng is determined to do her best to succeed in her myriad endeavors and make her family proud. But when her intellectual nemesis David appears in the halls of her new school and people begin making fun of her because of the food she brings for lunch, Winnie wonders if she is up to the challenge. If only she could be like the superheroes in the manga and anime stories she enjoys so much… A class bake sale inspires Winnie to explore some of her family's treasured recipes, which leads her to a very special book tucked beneath several others in the kitchen. Unbeknownst to Winnie, the choice to use this cookbook will link her to her family in more ways than she expects, and surviving middle school will quickly become the least of her problems.
This fast-paced middle grade story explores many of the complicated feelings and events inherent to middle school amidst the excitement of supernatural powers and Chinese legends. As part of a Chinese-American family, Winnie straddles two cultures throughout this story. Attending both American and Chinese school is only one piece of the equation, though; she must also balance American and Chinese cuisine alongside western and eastern folkloric traditions. Additionally, she feels suffocated by the high expectations placed upon her by her family, especially as she is often compared to others in her vicinity who are more successful than she is. These many feelings come to light throughout the novel, and Winnie attempts to work through each of them while beginning to come to terms with who she truly wants to be.
Fans of folklore and superheroes will fall for Winnie and her spirit from the first pages of the book. She is not perfect, but she is always working hard for what she wants. References to video games, manga, anime, and pop culture appear throughout the book, grounding readers to reality as Winnie's story takes on a supernatural twist. The legend of Hou Yi and Chang E is likewise woven into this story, which is enjoyable for anyone who is familiar with Chinese legends or has seen Over the Moon. And, as food is such a strong element of this story, recipes for two treats described in the book are found at the end for readers to try on their own. This is a stunning overture to the Winnie Zeng series, and it is a delightful inclusion to libraries for middle grade readers.
This fast-paced middle grade story explores many of the complicated feelings and events inherent to middle school amidst the excitement of supernatural powers and Chinese legends. As part of a Chinese-American family, Winnie straddles two cultures throughout this story. Attending both American and Chinese school is only one piece of the equation, though; she must also balance American and Chinese cuisine alongside western and eastern folkloric traditions. Additionally, she feels suffocated by the high expectations placed upon her by her family, especially as she is often compared to others in her vicinity who are more successful than she is. These many feelings come to light throughout the novel, and Winnie attempts to work through each of them while beginning to come to terms with who she truly wants to be.
Fans of folklore and superheroes will fall for Winnie and her spirit from the first pages of the book. She is not perfect, but she is always working hard for what she wants. References to video games, manga, anime, and pop culture appear throughout the book, grounding readers to reality as Winnie's story takes on a supernatural twist. The legend of Hou Yi and Chang E is likewise woven into this story, which is enjoyable for anyone who is familiar with Chinese legends or has seen Over the Moon. And, as food is such a strong element of this story, recipes for two treats described in the book are found at the end for readers to try on their own. This is a stunning overture to the Winnie Zeng series, and it is a delightful inclusion to libraries for middle grade readers.
April 25, 2022
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
TW: racism
I adored Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend on so many different levels. First of all, I related to the ways in which both Winnie and her sister Lisa struggle with their identity. How their differences are always at the forefront. Whether it be a packed lunch or family pressures, there's this distinct feeling that's difficult to put into words. My heart broke for Winnie and the cruelties born from ignorance that kids perpetuate.
Secondly, the feeling of Winnie of never being good enough? Knife to the heart. Not only does this fuel a rivalry, but it means that she feels like she will never measure up. That she will have to choose between being true to herself and fulfilling the expectations of others. Thirdly, the sister relationship was an element I wasn't expecting, but one I enjoyed. I have a thing for complex sister relationships, and this interaction between them and their perceptions of who's the golden child resonated hard.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
TW: racism
I adored Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend on so many different levels. First of all, I related to the ways in which both Winnie and her sister Lisa struggle with their identity. How their differences are always at the forefront. Whether it be a packed lunch or family pressures, there's this distinct feeling that's difficult to put into words. My heart broke for Winnie and the cruelties born from ignorance that kids perpetuate.
Secondly, the feeling of Winnie of never being good enough? Knife to the heart. Not only does this fuel a rivalry, but it means that she feels like she will never measure up. That she will have to choose between being true to herself and fulfilling the expectations of others. Thirdly, the sister relationship was an element I wasn't expecting, but one I enjoyed. I have a thing for complex sister relationships, and this interaction between them and their perceptions of who's the golden child resonated hard.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
September 25, 2022
This was so much fun, and genuinely hilarious at times, and it's making me really want to read Katie Zhao's other middlegrade. I loved the mix of fantasy elements set in Winnie's day to day life - she's still going to school and fighting with her sister and having all these normal middlegrade experiences, which made the story feel really balanced. Or maybe it's just that I really enjoy a contemporary setting. Either way, I would highly recommend this!
April 17, 2022
This is such a such a delightful story.
We are following Winnie Zeng, a young girl on the verge of entering Middle School and learning life will change. She loves her family, and making her parents proud. She laments that her sister turned into a different girl when she hit middle school and is sad they are no longer close.
When Winnie starts Middle School she starts to realize that things are harder than she expected - the mean girls make fun of her traditional Chinese lunches, & her Chinese-School nemesis David is now at her school. Then she decides to practice making Mooncakes for her schools bakesale and accidentally unleashes her power as a Shaman, and with it her grandmothers spirit comes to this world to help train her.
What follows is a really relatable and emotional journey of Winnie learning how to advocate for herself, and make herself happy. She loves her family but when their expectations are too much for her - she has to decide whose happiness matters most to her.
I felt the author did a really great job of exploring Chinese myths, as well as showing a loving family that still has a lot of problems. Her parents are too hard on her - but they genuinely want to do right by them. The sisters fight because they dont see eye to eye about life but through growing up Winnie begins to understand why her sister feels the way she feels and I hope if this is a series we get to see more bonding and growth between them.
David's message at the end about working 'smarter not harder' I think was really smart and useful advice for Winnie and the audience. I also love that this book included recipes for the food! I have never had red bean paste, and I am really curious to try it now!
Ultimately - if you're a fan of hero stories like Percy Jackson I think this will absolutely be up your alley.
______
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an Arc. RTC
We are following Winnie Zeng, a young girl on the verge of entering Middle School and learning life will change. She loves her family, and making her parents proud. She laments that her sister turned into a different girl when she hit middle school and is sad they are no longer close.
When Winnie starts Middle School she starts to realize that things are harder than she expected - the mean girls make fun of her traditional Chinese lunches, & her Chinese-School nemesis David is now at her school. Then she decides to practice making Mooncakes for her schools bakesale and accidentally unleashes her power as a Shaman, and with it her grandmothers spirit comes to this world to help train her.
What follows is a really relatable and emotional journey of Winnie learning how to advocate for herself, and make herself happy. She loves her family but when their expectations are too much for her - she has to decide whose happiness matters most to her.
I felt the author did a really great job of exploring Chinese myths, as well as showing a loving family that still has a lot of problems. Her parents are too hard on her - but they genuinely want to do right by them. The sisters fight because they dont see eye to eye about life but through growing up Winnie begins to understand why her sister feels the way she feels and I hope if this is a series we get to see more bonding and growth between them.
David's message at the end about working 'smarter not harder' I think was really smart and useful advice for Winnie and the audience. I also love that this book included recipes for the food! I have never had red bean paste, and I am really curious to try it now!
Ultimately - if you're a fan of hero stories like Percy Jackson I think this will absolutely be up your alley.
______
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an Arc. RTC
March 25, 2022
There may not be a great time to tell an eleven year-old she's going to awaken hereditary powers and attract scary monsters, but I'm sure Winnie would have appreciated a warning. Wouldn't you?
A decision to bake some Mooncakes* from her deceased grandmother's [magical] cookbook has more than dessert consequences!
The spirit of Lao-Lao (her grandmother) announces that Winnie is a shaman. Well, she doesn't have time! But can she afford to ignore the "calling?"
This is an adventure story with humor, that also examines some of the realities a middle-schooler (6th grader) faces, such as competition, unhealthy pressure and comparison from parents (aka manipulation), and what can happen when everyone else in a community is basically clueless.
The gripping and fun story of a reluctant hero, her dessert cakes, her rabbit, and her Lao-Lao's spirit! Great for all ages, including adults.
5/5 Stars
Thanks to Random House Children's publisher and NetGalley for the preview of this ebook! The review is voluntary.
*Mooncakes (recipe included): Pressed and formed honey dough with a spoon of red bean paste inside; apparently delicious but fussy to make. (An inexpensive mini mold-press is required.) **For alkaline water, stir 1/8 teaspoon baking soda into 8 ounces of water.
#WinnieZengUnleashesaLegend #NetGalley
A decision to bake some Mooncakes* from her deceased grandmother's [magical] cookbook has more than dessert consequences!
The spirit of Lao-Lao (her grandmother) announces that Winnie is a shaman. Well, she doesn't have time! But can she afford to ignore the "calling?"
This is an adventure story with humor, that also examines some of the realities a middle-schooler (6th grader) faces, such as competition, unhealthy pressure and comparison from parents (aka manipulation), and what can happen when everyone else in a community is basically clueless.
The gripping and fun story of a reluctant hero, her dessert cakes, her rabbit, and her Lao-Lao's spirit! Great for all ages, including adults.
5/5 Stars
Thanks to Random House Children's publisher and NetGalley for the preview of this ebook! The review is voluntary.
*Mooncakes (recipe included): Pressed and formed honey dough with a spoon of red bean paste inside; apparently delicious but fussy to make. (An inexpensive mini mold-press is required.) **For alkaline water, stir 1/8 teaspoon baking soda into 8 ounces of water.
#WinnieZengUnleashesaLegend #NetGalley
May 2, 2022
Super cute!! I loved the concept of magical baking and Winnie was a delight of a character. I’m looking forward to future books for the story, but also because I hope that David will become a bit more of a sympathetic character.
Also hoping for more Jade the rabbit because I always want more books with bunnies.
Sidenote: I’m so glad that this book came with recipes because I want to try those red bean brownies for myself.
Also hoping for more Jade the rabbit because I always want more books with bunnies.
Sidenote: I’m so glad that this book came with recipes because I want to try those red bean brownies for myself.
March 5, 2025
4.2 A cute middle grade book
March 7, 2022
At the end of January I saw an opportunity to get an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) of a book on my list.
The author reached out and offered to mail me a copy of her new book 'Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend' by Kaity Zhao. (My first EVER physical ARC)
This book was AMAZING! Winnie's story brings a diverse voice for Chinese American children... honestly for anyone who has navigated middle, struggled to meet adult expectations, has siblings, and worked to find acceptance. Zhao adds a huge splash of Chinese mythology and creates an all around great time
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Release date: April 2022
Winnie Zeng has two goals: survive her first year of middle school and outdo her stuck-up archnemesis, David Zuo. It won’t be easy, since, according to her older sister, middle school is the pits. Luckily, Winnie studied middle school survival tactics in comic books and anime, and nothing will stop her from being the very best student.
But none of Winnie’s research has prepared her to face the mother of all hurdles: evil spirits. When she makes mooncakes for a class bake sale, she awakens the stuff of legends from her grandmother’s old cookbook, spilling otherworldly chaos into her sleepy town.
Suddenly Winnie finds herself in a race against time, vanquishing demons instead of group projects. Armed with a magic cookbook and a talking white rabbit, she must embrace her new powers and legacy of her ancestors. Because if she doesn’t, her town—and rest of the world—may fall to chaos forever.
#TeamAToZeD #workhard #playhard #winniezeng #katiezhao #katiezhaoauthor #bookdragon #booklover #bookworm #bookque #bookrecommendations #bookaddict #book #booklover #DiversityInReading #representationmatters
The author reached out and offered to mail me a copy of her new book 'Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend' by Kaity Zhao. (My first EVER physical ARC)
This book was AMAZING! Winnie's story brings a diverse voice for Chinese American children... honestly for anyone who has navigated middle, struggled to meet adult expectations, has siblings, and worked to find acceptance. Zhao adds a huge splash of Chinese mythology and creates an all around great time
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Release date: April 2022
Winnie Zeng has two goals: survive her first year of middle school and outdo her stuck-up archnemesis, David Zuo. It won’t be easy, since, according to her older sister, middle school is the pits. Luckily, Winnie studied middle school survival tactics in comic books and anime, and nothing will stop her from being the very best student.
But none of Winnie’s research has prepared her to face the mother of all hurdles: evil spirits. When she makes mooncakes for a class bake sale, she awakens the stuff of legends from her grandmother’s old cookbook, spilling otherworldly chaos into her sleepy town.
Suddenly Winnie finds herself in a race against time, vanquishing demons instead of group projects. Armed with a magic cookbook and a talking white rabbit, she must embrace her new powers and legacy of her ancestors. Because if she doesn’t, her town—and rest of the world—may fall to chaos forever.
#TeamAToZeD #workhard #playhard #winniezeng #katiezhao #katiezhaoauthor #bookdragon #booklover #bookworm #bookque #bookrecommendations #bookaddict #book #booklover #DiversityInReading #representationmatters
August 11, 2023
This was a fun, cute read. It had a good mix of the magical and the ordinary, day-to-day struggles of a middle schooler trying to live up to their parents expectations. Winnie's shamanism is just one more element of her life where the expectations feel insurmountable and she feels that she isn't good enough. The relationships between the characters felt real, the magic system was fun and the pacing and action scenes were well done.
October 6, 2022
3.5 stars
July 21, 2022
Having had the opportunity to read Katie Zhao’s previous works, I’ve had familiarity with her writing style and enjoyed all her novels overall. Reading Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend was like having a nice, fluffy blanket wrapped around me while having a nice cup of tea. This is the first novel in the Winnie Zeng series inspired by Chinese mythology, and like Zhao’s debut series (The Dragon Warrior and its sequel, The Fallen Hero), it was a fun and delightful read with humor and heartwarming moments.
In Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend, our protagonist Winnie Zeng just wants to survive her first year of middle school while also wanting to outdo her archnemesis, David Zuo. The rivalry extends to their class bake sale, so Winnie comes up with a plan to make mooncakes, a delicacy traditionally eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival. But not just any mooncakes (although, if you want my humble opinion, mooncakes are by default delicious): the mooncakes are a family recipe from her grandmother’s cookbook. Little does she know it’ll awaken the stuff of legends and the spirit of her dead grandmother. She quickly learns she must embrace her heritage as a shaman to save the chaos that’s about to unleash in her town and, ultimately, the world.
Like many of the characters in Zhao’s novels, Winnie Zeng spoke to me a lot as a character. Growing up as one of the few Asian Americans in classes (if not the only one), identity and embracing my culture was something that’s long been a struggle, from traditions that others found “odd” to food that others automatically thought of as “gross.” Winnie’s feelings of isolation, loneliness, pressure from her family despite her love for them, and like the second-best all struck a chord with me. I think younger me definitely would’ve appreciated this book a lot, or at the very least felt more validated in my experiences.
Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend was slightly disappointing compared to The Dragon Warrior; it felt like something was missing that I can’t put a finger on (beyond the rushed training Winnie seems to go through, thus resulting in a somewhat rushed ending). While this didn’t live up to the enjoyment of her past works as much as I hoped it would, I had a good time reading this, and I think that’s all that matters in the end.
This review originally published on The Arts STL.
In Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend, our protagonist Winnie Zeng just wants to survive her first year of middle school while also wanting to outdo her archnemesis, David Zuo. The rivalry extends to their class bake sale, so Winnie comes up with a plan to make mooncakes, a delicacy traditionally eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival. But not just any mooncakes (although, if you want my humble opinion, mooncakes are by default delicious): the mooncakes are a family recipe from her grandmother’s cookbook. Little does she know it’ll awaken the stuff of legends and the spirit of her dead grandmother. She quickly learns she must embrace her heritage as a shaman to save the chaos that’s about to unleash in her town and, ultimately, the world.
Like many of the characters in Zhao’s novels, Winnie Zeng spoke to me a lot as a character. Growing up as one of the few Asian Americans in classes (if not the only one), identity and embracing my culture was something that’s long been a struggle, from traditions that others found “odd” to food that others automatically thought of as “gross.” Winnie’s feelings of isolation, loneliness, pressure from her family despite her love for them, and like the second-best all struck a chord with me. I think younger me definitely would’ve appreciated this book a lot, or at the very least felt more validated in my experiences.
Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend was slightly disappointing compared to The Dragon Warrior; it felt like something was missing that I can’t put a finger on (beyond the rushed training Winnie seems to go through, thus resulting in a somewhat rushed ending). While this didn’t live up to the enjoyment of her past works as much as I hoped it would, I had a good time reading this, and I think that’s all that matters in the end.
This review originally published on The Arts STL.
April 7, 2022
Eleven year old Winnie Zeng is facing her biggest challenge yet: middle school! But no amount of research into middle school survival tactics could have prepared her for a sixth grade year like this one. Entirely by accident, Winnie discovers that she has inherited special powers that she has to embrace and learn to use quickly, or there’s no telling what amount of havoc and chaos legendary evil spirits might wreak!
Winnie is an instantly likable, relatable pre-teen girl. She loves manga and anime, she wants to please her parents and teachers, she has an ongoing competition with her arch nemesis (who always seems to best her), she deals with an angsty older sister and has to tolerate a mean clique of girls, all while trying to figure out how to navigate middle school and hold on to her Chinese culture (but not stand out because of it). Her story is action-packed, humor-filled, and gives the reader a glimpse into Chinese legends, history and culture, which I enjoyed and appreciated. Some of the timeline felt a little rushed, but overall it was a fun read that grabbed my attention right away and I suspect students who are fans of Percy Jackson and Rick Riordan Presents books will enjoy it, too.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Winnie is an instantly likable, relatable pre-teen girl. She loves manga and anime, she wants to please her parents and teachers, she has an ongoing competition with her arch nemesis (who always seems to best her), she deals with an angsty older sister and has to tolerate a mean clique of girls, all while trying to figure out how to navigate middle school and hold on to her Chinese culture (but not stand out because of it). Her story is action-packed, humor-filled, and gives the reader a glimpse into Chinese legends, history and culture, which I enjoyed and appreciated. Some of the timeline felt a little rushed, but overall it was a fun read that grabbed my attention right away and I suspect students who are fans of Percy Jackson and Rick Riordan Presents books will enjoy it, too.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 14, 2022
I received an advance copy via NetGalley.
Winnie Zeng is determined to have an awesome middle school experience. She was a top student at her elementary school--but her Chinese school and piano endeavors have been less successful because of her nemesis, David, who always edges her out. Therefore, she's horrified to discover he's now going to her new school. A home room baking fundraiser rivalry gives her a chance to beat David in a new way. In her home kitchen, she discovers her late grandmother's cookbook and a recipe for mooncakes--and then her grandmother's ghost. It turns out, shamanic abilities skip a generation. Winnie's not only supposed to be the powerful new shaman in the family, but she needs to develop her talent, fast, because her small Michigan town is facing some major not-so-mythological threats.
This book offers a fast-paced, fun read that explores Chinese mythology in a fresh angle. There's less emphasis on creatures her, much more on the spirit realm and threats to humanity. Winnie is a relatable heroine, arrogant but well-intentioned, trying to live up to her parents' impossible expectations and squabbling with her older sister. The way she struggles with the new burden of a shamanic destiny feels realistic, fantastical though the dilemma is. Plus, as a baker, I loved the important emotional and weaponized role that food plays in the book.
Winnie Zeng is determined to have an awesome middle school experience. She was a top student at her elementary school--but her Chinese school and piano endeavors have been less successful because of her nemesis, David, who always edges her out. Therefore, she's horrified to discover he's now going to her new school. A home room baking fundraiser rivalry gives her a chance to beat David in a new way. In her home kitchen, she discovers her late grandmother's cookbook and a recipe for mooncakes--and then her grandmother's ghost. It turns out, shamanic abilities skip a generation. Winnie's not only supposed to be the powerful new shaman in the family, but she needs to develop her talent, fast, because her small Michigan town is facing some major not-so-mythological threats.
This book offers a fast-paced, fun read that explores Chinese mythology in a fresh angle. There's less emphasis on creatures her, much more on the spirit realm and threats to humanity. Winnie is a relatable heroine, arrogant but well-intentioned, trying to live up to her parents' impossible expectations and squabbling with her older sister. The way she struggles with the new burden of a shamanic destiny feels realistic, fantastical though the dilemma is. Plus, as a baker, I loved the important emotional and weaponized role that food plays in the book.
April 26, 2022
My mythology focus this month is Chinese mythology, so getting the ARC for this middle-grade novel was serendipitous. I’m loving the expansion of Percy Jackson-like middle grade novels across many different cultures.
This book follows 6th grader Winnie Zeng, a Chinese American who has a lot on her plate - keeping her grades up at school, pleasing her parents, and besting her rival David in piano competitions. When making mooncakes for a school bake sale, the old family recipe unlocks her grandmother’s spirit who’s there to tell Winnie that she is a shaman who now has to protect the world from wayward, evil spirits!
This was super cute and fun. I adored Winnie and sympathized with her struggle to be perfect all the time. The added responsibility of being a shaman on top of all that? I understand why she hesitated. But Winnie rises to the occasion, using her knowledge of Chinese folklore to save her town. And through all this, she learns that she shouldn’t be ashamed of her heritage.
Middle grade books are sometimes a struggle for me since I’m not the intended audience, but I think kids these days will enjoy this. Definitely recommend if you’re a fan of Percy Jackson.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows 6th grader Winnie Zeng, a Chinese American who has a lot on her plate - keeping her grades up at school, pleasing her parents, and besting her rival David in piano competitions. When making mooncakes for a school bake sale, the old family recipe unlocks her grandmother’s spirit who’s there to tell Winnie that she is a shaman who now has to protect the world from wayward, evil spirits!
This was super cute and fun. I adored Winnie and sympathized with her struggle to be perfect all the time. The added responsibility of being a shaman on top of all that? I understand why she hesitated. But Winnie rises to the occasion, using her knowledge of Chinese folklore to save her town. And through all this, she learns that she shouldn’t be ashamed of her heritage.
Middle grade books are sometimes a struggle for me since I’m not the intended audience, but I think kids these days will enjoy this. Definitely recommend if you’re a fan of Percy Jackson.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 21, 2022
Such an adorable book and what a fun adventure to follow! Winnie was such a fun character and was definitely realistic for an 11-year-old!
Following Winnie as she navigated being the child of Chinese immigrants, she is suddenly throw into the world of spirits and shamanism. How does she find this out exactly? Well, by finding a dusty family cookbook and then her grandmother’s spirit comes out of her pet rabbit. Winnie herself has a love for comics and anime and it really shows in how she sees herself or life around her. I loved seeing Winnie becoming this anime heroine that she always looked up to.
Such a fun book that I would recommend to anyone interested!!
Thank you so much again Netgalley and Katie Zhao for the opportunity to read this early in exchange for an honest review!
Following Winnie as she navigated being the child of Chinese immigrants, she is suddenly throw into the world of spirits and shamanism. How does she find this out exactly? Well, by finding a dusty family cookbook and then her grandmother’s spirit comes out of her pet rabbit. Winnie herself has a love for comics and anime and it really shows in how she sees herself or life around her. I loved seeing Winnie becoming this anime heroine that she always looked up to.
Such a fun book that I would recommend to anyone interested!!
Thank you so much again Netgalley and Katie Zhao for the opportunity to read this early in exchange for an honest review!
August 31, 2022
There was something about Winnie Zeng that didn't quite grasp my attention, and I'm having trouble articulating what it was. I found myself skim reading whole passages, and that's a sure sign that I'm not particularly connecting with a book.
I loved the little introduction to Chinese mythology, although would have liked to see more of it. I also enjoyed the dynamic of Winnie's Chinese family, and the clear pressure that she is under to perform and excel at everything.
However, for me, I felt there was something missing. There were long passages of similar situations (the sister being mean, baking mooncakes, hating on David etc), and then the action packed sequences seemed to be over before they'd even really begun.
I loved the little introduction to Chinese mythology, although would have liked to see more of it. I also enjoyed the dynamic of Winnie's Chinese family, and the clear pressure that she is under to perform and excel at everything.
However, for me, I felt there was something missing. There were long passages of similar situations (the sister being mean, baking mooncakes, hating on David etc), and then the action packed sequences seemed to be over before they'd even really begun.
April 26, 2022
Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend is exactly the kind of book I wish was available to me when I was growing up. I can really see myself in Winnie and the other characters. I love Winnie's spunk and attitude. Paired together with her flaws of her insecurities and a bit of magic, it made for a thrilling adventure that also touches readers. Katie Zhao did an amazing job in creating relatable characters and conveying messages of perfection/imperfection, generational burdens, and Asian American experiences. I am looking forward to where the rest of this series goes.
July 2, 2022
This is a fantastic middle grade adventure novel from the great and inimitable Katie Zhao! The last middle-grade series I read and loved was the Aru Shah series, and fans of that series will find lots to love here as well. It’s a fantastic entry into Percy Jackson readalikes, and it was a quick read. Also, I really enjoyed the plot device of a magic cookbook. This left me craving mooncakes. Four stars.
April 18, 2023
Winnie is constantly comparing herself to David, and he always seems to edge her out in school, in Chinese school, and in piano. When she decides her homeroom can beat his in a bake sale, she uses her grandmother's recipe for moon cakes, accidentally unleasing the spirit of her grandmother. Winnie is destined to become a shaman and has to fight evil spirits that have come to take over her town.
April 18, 2022
Cuuuuuuuuuuuuuute!
November 13, 2023
Read this first book of Katie Zhao's Winnie Zeng Series for Reddit Fantasy's 2023 Bingo Square Superheroes. The whole series qualifies for hard mode as it is not related to DC or Marvel.
Young Winnie is the second child of stereotypical Asian parents who just want their daughters to do work hard, play the piano and do well at school. Their constant comparisons of Winnie to her sister and everyone else have left Winnie scared that she won't be able to survive dreaded middle school or beat arch rival David Zuo. Winnie believes she can survive and thrive if only she applies lessons from comics and anime, envisioning herself like some of her idols!
I'm using this for a food themed Bingo card since when Winnie makes mooncakes for a class bake sale, awakens the stuff of legends from her grandmother’s old cookbook, spilling otherworldly chaos into her sleepy town. Winnie's grandmother whose spirit is anchored to their pet rabbit, Jade, tells Winnie the magical food she makes can be used as weapons or eaten to fuel her magical Shaman powers!
So now the town is in trouble, there are evil spirits around threatening everyone and Winnie must embrace her new powers and legacy of her ancestors, balance school and piano practice while teaming up with her arch rival to vanquish demons instead of group projects. And all because ...
This had all the stereotypes which ... are unfortunately true for a lot of Asian parents with high expectations. The saddest part for me occurred when Winnie threw away her mom's food made with love, and spent her Chinese New Year money buying expensive tasteless salad, all because of the desire to "fit in" and the fear of embarrassing herself at school because one of her white classmates derided the smells and strangeness of her ethnic food.
Overall this was a good, fun read. As mentioned earlier some of the stereotypes were almost overbearing, but being Chinese I cannot deny a lot of these things are par for the course as far as being a Chinese in America. Family and food are very important parts of Chinese Culture, this book gets, embraces and celebrates that. The authenticity of that sentiment is probably why I thought this book was amazing, because I can relate.
Young Winnie is the second child of stereotypical Asian parents who just want their daughters to do work hard, play the piano and do well at school. Their constant comparisons of Winnie to her sister and everyone else have left Winnie scared that she won't be able to survive dreaded middle school or beat arch rival David Zuo. Winnie believes she can survive and thrive if only she applies lessons from comics and anime, envisioning herself like some of her idols!
I'm using this for a food themed Bingo card since when Winnie makes mooncakes for a class bake sale, awakens the stuff of legends from her grandmother’s old cookbook, spilling otherworldly chaos into her sleepy town. Winnie's grandmother whose spirit is anchored to their pet rabbit, Jade, tells Winnie the magical food she makes can be used as weapons or eaten to fuel her magical Shaman powers!
So now the town is in trouble, there are evil spirits around threatening everyone and Winnie must embrace her new powers and legacy of her ancestors, balance school and piano practice while teaming up with her arch rival to vanquish demons instead of group projects. And all because ...
This had all the stereotypes which ... are unfortunately true for a lot of Asian parents with high expectations. The saddest part for me occurred when Winnie threw away her mom's food made with love, and spent her Chinese New Year money buying expensive tasteless salad, all because of the desire to "fit in" and the fear of embarrassing herself at school because one of her white classmates derided the smells and strangeness of her ethnic food.
Overall this was a good, fun read. As mentioned earlier some of the stereotypes were almost overbearing, but being Chinese I cannot deny a lot of these things are par for the course as far as being a Chinese in America. Family and food are very important parts of Chinese Culture, this book gets, embraces and celebrates that. The authenticity of that sentiment is probably why I thought this book was amazing, because I can relate.
September 28, 2023
This trope in literature - kid unlocks magical powers/history/is chosen one, saves world - is super common. I usually avoid it because while kids will enjoy it, it is one of the few tropes that as an adult kidlit reader I find just too rote. If you read enough, most things become by the numbers in some way, but I prefer to not go around 2 or 3 starring books I know for a fact will not hold high in my esteem.
Obviously, my opinion is one in a sea of likely to be gushing 4 or 5 star reviews and doesn’t matter all that much. But, since I’m the main character in my life I choose to center my perspective above all else and needlessly worry that somehow my one review will singlehandedly change the tides’ of a books’ reputation and I will feel guilty for ruining an ultimately harmless thing. Thus, I actually enter books of this kind with great trepidation - contrary to popular belief, I do not enjoy having to write a negative review.
All that is to say: Is Winnie Zeng predictable? Yes. Is it still worth reading? Absolutely.
For one, all children should see themselves as heroes. The trope is tired for me, however, the trope is predominantly tired in relation to white children who still make up the majority of kidlit depictions. A Chinese girl unlocks magical powers/history/is chosen one, saves world is not even close to being exhausted in American kidlit.
I will always champion a book that is inoffensive and does exactly what it seeks to do well. Winnie Zeng has no plot holes, does not violate its internal logic, fulfills Winnie’s character arc and is paced evenly. More than that it’s fun without resorting to ‘borrowing’ specific attributes of other similar books of this type. For example, when I read the first Aru Shah book it felt like it was copying elements of Percy Jackson wholesale. Outside of its inclusion of Indian mythology it did not stand enough on its own two feet as a novel; it relied too much on checking off the boxes along the path laid out by the trope.
That does not mean Winnie Zeng doesn't do the same thing at times (the hip and cool Grandma, the pop culture references that immediately date the book, the random power up when facing the final boss even though the main character is a level 1 whatever, the establishment of the background shadow agency/organization/powerful group in charge for decades that will most definitely be taken down a peg by kids who have only been in the business for a few months, the info-dumping) It just means that it was written under its own steam enough that I was not especially bothered.
Winnie Zeng manages to maintain its own charm while staying in the confines of the genre - I feel totally comfortable recommending it.
Obviously, my opinion is one in a sea of likely to be gushing 4 or 5 star reviews and doesn’t matter all that much. But, since I’m the main character in my life I choose to center my perspective above all else and needlessly worry that somehow my one review will singlehandedly change the tides’ of a books’ reputation and I will feel guilty for ruining an ultimately harmless thing. Thus, I actually enter books of this kind with great trepidation - contrary to popular belief, I do not enjoy having to write a negative review.
All that is to say: Is Winnie Zeng predictable? Yes. Is it still worth reading? Absolutely.
For one, all children should see themselves as heroes. The trope is tired for me, however, the trope is predominantly tired in relation to white children who still make up the majority of kidlit depictions. A Chinese girl unlocks magical powers/history/is chosen one, saves world is not even close to being exhausted in American kidlit.
I will always champion a book that is inoffensive and does exactly what it seeks to do well. Winnie Zeng has no plot holes, does not violate its internal logic, fulfills Winnie’s character arc and is paced evenly. More than that it’s fun without resorting to ‘borrowing’ specific attributes of other similar books of this type. For example, when I read the first Aru Shah book it felt like it was copying elements of Percy Jackson wholesale. Outside of its inclusion of Indian mythology it did not stand enough on its own two feet as a novel; it relied too much on checking off the boxes along the path laid out by the trope.
That does not mean Winnie Zeng doesn't do the same thing at times (the hip and cool Grandma, the pop culture references that immediately date the book, the random power up when facing the final boss even though the main character is a level 1 whatever, the establishment of the background shadow agency/organization/powerful group in charge for decades that will most definitely be taken down a peg by kids who have only been in the business for a few months, the info-dumping) It just means that it was written under its own steam enough that I was not especially bothered.
Winnie Zeng manages to maintain its own charm while staying in the confines of the genre - I feel totally comfortable recommending it.
July 8, 2022
This was a fun read in the typical middle grade adventure lane, which is hilariously drawn comparrisons to Sailor Moon and other animes - that is, preteen/teen girl discovers she has powers but still has to go about the normal parts of being a middle school student. Points for the main character STILL having to deal with a lot of regular kid stuff, instead of having all of that blissfully taken off their plate.
The story does a good job of dealing with anxieties a middle schooler will feel - especially with parents who expect the best from her, and then be told 'oh, also, please save the world?' AND THE MC SAYS NO THANK YOU.
That was so unexpected and cool - for a main character to actually point out that doing a thankless job while also 'failing to be perfect' is a bit too much for anyone to have to handle.
I did have a big issue with the older sister being completely mean and cruel to Winnie - repeatedly calling Winnie names, teasing her, mocking her - but Winnie being expected to keep secrets for her (AND THEN Winnie feels bad for telling their mom that Lisa has this secret?!?) Like, no. I really do not like the message that someone gets to treat you like dirt without consequence and you STILL have to treat them better than they treat you. The way Winnie even excuses it in her own head ("Yeah, she's been nothing but horrible to me, but who am I to tell her secret?") seems really awkward. I just don't like the message that people get to treat you horribly and you're expected to do nice things for them, like hide secrets.
I enjoyed the Chinese culture, (I didn't know that there are 'Chinese' schools where kids go to learn Chinese language culture and history on the weekends), and the anxiety was so real that some times I needed to put it down because I was getting such second hand anxiety myself. I liked how the conflict revolved around the Mid Autumn Festival (and it comes with a recipe!).
All in all, a fairly solid start for a new series.
The story does a good job of dealing with anxieties a middle schooler will feel - especially with parents who expect the best from her, and then be told 'oh, also, please save the world?' AND THE MC SAYS NO THANK YOU.
That was so unexpected and cool - for a main character to actually point out that doing a thankless job while also 'failing to be perfect' is a bit too much for anyone to have to handle.
I did have a big issue with the older sister being completely mean and cruel to Winnie - repeatedly calling Winnie names, teasing her, mocking her - but Winnie being expected to keep secrets for her (AND THEN Winnie feels bad for telling their mom that Lisa has this secret?!?) Like, no. I really do not like the message that someone gets to treat you like dirt without consequence and you STILL have to treat them better than they treat you. The way Winnie even excuses it in her own head ("Yeah, she's been nothing but horrible to me, but who am I to tell her secret?") seems really awkward. I just don't like the message that people get to treat you horribly and you're expected to do nice things for them, like hide secrets.
I enjoyed the Chinese culture, (I didn't know that there are 'Chinese' schools where kids go to learn Chinese language culture and history on the weekends), and the anxiety was so real that some times I needed to put it down because I was getting such second hand anxiety myself. I liked how the conflict revolved around the Mid Autumn Festival (and it comes with a recipe!).
All in all, a fairly solid start for a new series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews