* I got this book for review from the publisher*

I really loved learning more about the Mong culture. I also really loved how this book was an adventure that focused on the brother and sisters realtionships. I also thought this was super fun and fast pace read, I also like that is story focsued on two girls trying frantically to save the world. I also loved all the various creatures we meet in this read. This book was erriee and creepy but not horror. It had so many classics "rirodan" moments. Will def be checking out more books with this characters! ( )

* I got this book for review from the publisher*

I really loved learning more about the Mong culture. I also really loved how this book was an adventure that focused on the brother and sisters realtionships. I also thought this was super fun and fast pace read, I also like that is story focsued on two girls trying frantically to save the world. I also loved all the various creatures we meet in this read. This book was erriee and creepy but not horror. It had so many classics "rirodan" moments. Will def be checking out more books with this characters! ( )

Pahua and the Soul Stealer is the first book in the Pahua Moua series by Lori M. Lee that focuses on Hmong mythology. It was released September 7th, 2021 and is part of the absolutely wonderful Rick Riordan Presents imprint, an imprint that aims to publish diverse mythological works of fiction for children and teens.
Lee's story was entrancing. Pahua and the Soul Stealer features shamans, ghosts, and talking cats! It has strong Hayao Miyazaki vibes (Lee even name drops Spirited Away in the story) with a girl entering a spirit realm, a talking cat, etc. but it is very much it's own unique story drawing on the mythology of Hmong culture. The story follows our delightful and sweet and brave protagonist, Pahua Moua. Pahua and her family are refugees from Laos, but her father left years earlier and she spends a lot of her time taking care of her younger brother, Matt. But Pahua can also see spirits and when she makes a mistake involving a ghost, she must journey into the spirit realm to save her brother. Her quest is fraught with danger, but there is also magic, friendship, and learning about her own strength. With the help of a girl named Zhong, a shaman warrior, Pahua risks it all to save her brother.
Pahua and the Soul Stealer was an engaging story that I am eager to read again. Pahua is a great heroine -she is noble, loving, kind, and brave. The world building and folklore is fascinating. And the pacing of the story is quick and easy to read.
I highly recommend this book ( )

It is no secret that we are big fans of the Rick Riordan Presents series in this house. While we don't buy ALL of them, I am sure that between all of us we do own most of the titles. But when I heard this one was based on Hmong culture, which I knew so little about, I definitely wanted it.

This was one of our family bedtime story books and it went over very well. While it was clear how certain story elements were going to resolve from early on, there was so much uniqueness in the worldbuilding that no one was bored. And doesn't everyone love a cat sidekick? ( )

I loved the emotional beats of this, and the Hmong folklore worldbuilding was lovely, but I'm starting to find the quest formulae of these Rick Riordan Presents books a little tedious, especially when they involve instances where the protagonist could just ask for help...and doesn't. Pahua also experienced a significant amount of self-doubt in this, and even before her moments of uncertainty or fear or hesitation became repetitive, they brought the momentum of any scene to a grinding halt. I like Pahua the Big Sister and the Girl Who Sees Spirits very much...but I find it a struggle to care about Pahua the Heroine at all. ( )