Reviews

Kai and the Monkey King (Literati edition): Brownstone's Mythical Collection 3 by Joe Todd-Stanton

anaw's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

3.75

annieharhar's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

lostwithoutabook's review against another edition

adventurous reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

xsleepyshadows's review against another edition

4.0

Ooo, So I'm really taken by this illustrator recently. Lovely!

Fun book, that's not all about the monkey king but about a mother and daughter having adventures together, separate, and together again.

juliatsang's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

mat_tobin's review against another edition

3.0

Following on from the extremely successful [b:Arthur and the Golden Rope|29633705|Arthur and the Golden Rope (The Brownstone's Mythical Collection, #1)|Joe Todd-Stanton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1460506127l/29633705._SX50_.jpg|49985050] and [b:Marcy and the Riddle of the Sphinx|36359134|Marcy and the Riddle of the Sphinx|Joe Todd-Stanton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507221118l/36359134._SX50_.jpg|58042490], Joe Todd Stanton’s Brownstone family this time cross oceans and time into Chinese mythology. Embracing elements of traditional tales and Chinese folklore, he presents us with a young, headstrong girl, Kai and her mother whose job it is to protect the local villages from dangerous monsters. Unlike her bookish, reflective mother, Kai would prefer to tackle problems first and consider her actions later. When this leads her to unleashing the chaotic Monkey King from his cage, the consequences are greater than she could have imagined.

The story of the Monkey King (Sun Wukong) is an ancient one and much beloved in Chinese mythology. He is known to have hatched from an egg, maintained an endless search for immortality and angered both the gods and the Jade Emperor with his violence and impetuousness: echoed in parts by Kai herself. Although some of Monkey’s story is played out in this graphic novel, I was left wanting to know more about where Todd Stanton sourced his own research and how close to Wu Cheng'en, Journey to the West he remained. Interestingly, Damon Albarn and Chen Shi-Zheng created a soundtrack and stage adaptation of Journey to the West in 2007. Well worth chasing up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR7EEoOwIdg

rackle's review against another edition

adventurous informative inspiring mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

careinthelibrary's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

ositothatreads's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

3.0

stofkochic's review against another edition

2.0

Easily my least favorite in the series.