by Stacey Lee (Author)
Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents best-selling author Stacey Lee's final book in her debut middle grade duology: a whimsical, mile-a-minute adventure inspired by Chinese mythology.
Twelve-year-old Winston Chu has already rescued his sister, saved the moon's qi, and kicked Mr. Pang's sorry magpie-turned-human butt to the curb--but now he's about to face an even bigger problem: Mr. Pang's older magpie-turned-human brother, Mr. Gu. Sure, Mr. Gu might be the current front-runner to be San Francisco's next mayor, but, as Winston knows all too well, appearances can be deceiving--and Mr. Gu, despite his cheerful laugh and brightly-colored shirts, is definitely hiding something.
Because all of a sudden, there's an eerily punctual fog that seems to follow him on his trips to an island in the bay. And grown-ups are turning up all the across the city with no memory of who they are, but with plenty of enthusiasm for their favorite mayoral candidate. And then there's the flocks of exotic birds that have begun amassing in every corner of the city. For Winston and his friends, there's no denying something. . . fowl. . . is afoot. And the only one who might have the answers they need to save the city? Their old nemesis, Mr. Pang. . .
Winston's magical adventures come to a thrilling end in this whimsical, rollicking ride filled with invisible windbreakers, mischievous mustaches, and badminton rackets of destiny.
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In the second book of Winston Chu's adventures, the magpie Mr. Gu is trying to take over the city by running for San Francisco's mayor. Once Winston, Mav, Cassa, Bijal, Monroe, and Philippa realize that Mr. Gu is putting bird brains into human bodies, they know it's time to save the world again. With the help of old adversary Mr. Pang (Mr. Gu's brother) and his oddities store, Pang's Whimsies, they arm themselves against Mr. Gu and an unexpected accomplice. With a first-person narrative, the novel establishes a self-reflective tone of moving on as grief is being processed and change has begun, which in return inspires hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel. As each side quest is completed to achieve the overall goal of defeating Mr. Gu, Winston discovers what type of person and friend he wants to be while overcoming his own pride and anger. There are references to Chinese and Senegalese cultural traditions by way of food and mythology. VERDICT A rollicking sequel that focuses on friendship, grief, and overcoming your fears that will appeal to anyone who enjoyed the first book in Lee's series.—Jessica Calaway
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