Xander and the Lost Island of Monsters (Momotaro #1)

by Margaret Dilloway (Author) Choong Yoon (Illustrator)

Xander and the Lost Island of Monsters  (Momotaro #1)
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade
Series: Momotaro

Xander Miyamoto would rather do almost anything than listen to his sixth grade teacher, Mr. Stedman, drone on about weather disasters happening around the globe. If Xander could do stuff he's good at instead, like draw comics and create computer programs, and if Lovey would stop harassing him for being half Asian, he might not be counting the minutes until the dismissal bell. When spring break begins at last, Xander plans to spend it playing computer games with his best friend, Peyton.

Xander's father briefly distracts him with a comic book about some samurai warrior that pops out of a peach pit. Xander tosses it aside, but Peyton finds it more interesting. Little does either boy know that the comic is a warning. They are about to be thrust into the biggest adventure of their lives-a journey wilder than any Xander has ever imagined, full of weird monsters even worse than Lovey. To win at this deadly serious game they will have to rely on their wits, courage, faith, and especially, each other. Maybe Xander should have listened to Mr Stedman about the weather after all. . . .

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Kirkus Reviews

A breathless retelling of the Japanese legend of Momotaro, this is an Asian version of Percy Jackson; adventure fans will be waiting for more.

Booklist

This retelling of a Japanese folktale celebrates courage, friendship, and pride of heritage, while featuring unforgettable characters and leaving readers eager for the next installment in this new series.

School Library Journal

Sixth grader Xander Miyamoto is a talented artist, but he's resigned to being considered below average in almost every other way, so when he is revealed to be the last in a line of mythical Japanese warriors, he's not sure he's up for the task. His father is swallowed by a sinister tsunami that appears out of nowhere, and Xander reluctantly accepts his destiny as Momotaro, setting forth on a quest aboard a magical ship to rescue him. His whimsical adventures parallel the traditional Momotaro tale as Xander comes face-to-face with a variety of creatures and demons from Japanese myth. He is accompanied by his loyal best friend, who sprouts wings, and they are joined by a spirited girl who argues as much as she helps them, fulfilling the roles of Momotaro's animal companions, as is customary in the traditional Japanese folktales. Though the story of Momotaro is familiar to every Japanese child, Dilloway seamlessly weaves necessary background information into the fast-paced, action-filled plot. Xander, a Japanese American boy raised near San Diego, hardly knows the legend himself, so readers learn along with him. Xander's candid and straightforward first-person narration will instantly resonate with middle grade readers, as will his story's themes of self-acceptance and friendship. Yoon's comic-style illustrations evoke Xander's talent for drawing and bring welcome visual interest for reluctant readers. VERDICT This fast-paced fantasy adventure with a foundation in Japanese culture is perfect for fans of Percy Jackson.—Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes



Margaret Dilloway
Margaret Dilloway has been a writer ever since she learned how to write. In high school she was a California Arts Scholar in Creative Writing and she won a National Council of Teacher English writing award. She practiced writing in a variety of forms, such as being a theater critic and contributing editor for two weekly newspapers, doing technical writing, and playwriting, before publishing three critically acclaimed books for adults, How to Be an American Housewife, The Care and Handling of Roses with Thorns, and Sisters of Heart and Snow. Her middle grade books include Summer of a Thousand Pies and Five Things About Ava Andrews. Her research for her Momotaro books included a trip to Japan and a samurai sword-fighting class. Margaret lives in southern California with her husband, three children, and a Goldendoodle named Gatsby. For more information, visit www.margaretdilloway.com. You can also follow her on Twitter @mdilloway.

Choong Yoon grew up in Seoul, South Korea. As a kid, he loved drawing animated characters and copying comic book panels. His passion for art grew until eventually he studied Fine Arts at Seoul National University. His fascination with narrative storytelling led him to transfer to the School of Visual Arts in New York, where he learned illustration. After graduating, Choong began working as a freelance illustrator of books and comic books and went back to live in Seoul. More of his work can be seen at www.choongyoon.com.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781484724873
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date
April 20, 2016
Series
Momotaro
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
JUV012040 - Juvenile Fiction | Fairy Tales & Folklore | Adaptations
JUV052000 - Juvenile Fiction | Monsters
Library of Congress categories
Friendship
Fathers and sons
Friendship in children
Fantasy
Racially mixed people
Mythology, Japanese
Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Honor, 2017

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