The Iron Will of Genie Lo

Starred review from November 1, 2019

Gr 7 Up-Genie Lo is settling into her powers as the Ruyi Jingu Bang, trying to be an effective Great Divine Guardian of California, and balancing it all with school, family, and friends. Her plans for college always seemed set in stone, but a health scare with her mom puts her family's precarious financial situation in stark relief. The uncertainty causes rifts in her romantic relationship with her boyfriend Quentin (who is the Monkey King Sun Wukong). Despite the tension, they still have to work together because a ball of demonic qi is tearing through the planes of existence and the Jade Emperor is nowhere to be found. When Genie takes a side in the battle for the next King of Heaven, she, Quentin, Guanyin, and even Erlan Shang are on a new adventure to save humanity. The politics of the gods, criticism of Silicon Valley VC funding, college parties, and the uncertainty of the future on this plane of existence (plus all the others) are all explored with Genie's hilarious and biting voice-especially when she's at her most vulnerable. VERDICT Readers who have been waiting for more Genie will not be disappointed. A worthy sequel.-Jennifer Rothschild, Arlington County Public Libraries, VA

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from November 15, 2019
Genie Lo, Slayer of Demons and the Divine Guardian of the Protectorate of California, could really use a break. Several months have passed since Chinese American high schooler Genie and her boyfriend, Quentin, the legendary Monkey King, prevented a heavenly coup and subdued a legion of demons. With graduation looming, Genie and her Korean American best friend, Yunie, plan one final vacation together: a long weekend getaway in the guise of a college campus tour. The trip is cut short, however, when a powerful demonic enemy overwhelms a vast army of warrior spirits, sending all of Heaven into crisis. When the Jade Emperor refuses to emerge from his palace, he is deemed unfit to be the ruler of Heaven and a Mandate Challenge is issued: Whichever god eliminates the threat will replace him on the throne. Genie is as tough as ever in this sequel, facing dangerous foes on the battlefield without clinching, but she balks at addressing new tensions in her personal relationships and at the uncomfortable realization that her future is full of uncertainty. Fortunately, between descriptions of thrilling extradimensional battles and inefficient celestial bureaucracy, Yee (The Rise of Kyoshi, 2019, etc.) gives Genie just enough time to reflect on life's inevitable changes and the lengths she would go to protect the people she loves. A satisfying conclusion that packs a triple punch of action, humor, and heart. (Fantasy. 13-18)

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