Book Bunnies

Caramel reviews Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao

Last year, Caramel grabbed a book from Marshmallow’s reading pile, as all little brothers do, and did not stop reading until he was done with it. We published his review of Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao in December 2022. While he is eagerly awaiting the sequel to that book, he was excited to find a different book by the same author this week: Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor. Today he is talking about this book originally published in 2022. As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, I know you really liked Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao, and you are eagerly waiting for its sequel, Heavenly Tyrant. But apparently that book won’t come out till next year. So in the meantime I thought you might enjoy this book by the same author. Was I right?

Caramel: Yes. I really liked Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor. And the two books are actually kind of related. They both have a character named Wu Zetian, who just happens to be the first female emperor of China.

S: But Iron Widow was a story that took place in a different planet.

C: And probably in the future. Yes.

S: How about this one?

C: This one is in our world. But it is also a bit in the future. They have full-blown virtual reality, a lot more advanced than what we have today.

S: I see. So they are not related in terms of narrative, but more in that they are both related to Chinese history and mythology, right?

C: Yes. But also they are both written from the point of view of their main characters. I mean, Iron Widow is written in first person, and we see everything from her perspective. This book is not in first person, but still we see everything from the perspective of the main character.

S: Cool. Tell me about this main character.

C: The main character is a boy named Zachary. He is of Chinese origin and is trying to learn about his Chinese heritage. And then the spirit of Qin Shi Huang, the first Chinese emperor, tries to take him over.

S: Wait. That is strange! You said, “tries”, so does he succeed?

C: No. Instead he takes over Zachary’s VR headset. Which is very helpful when Zachary has enough of him and doesn’t want to talk to him anymore. He can just take the headset off.

S: That is funny!

C: Yep. But it also looks kind of suspicious, him walking around with his VR headset in public.

S: Yes, I can see that would be weird. So what else can you tell us about the story?

C: There are two other kids taken over by two other spirits — one of the spirits is Wu Zetian’s — and the three of them go on a quest of sorts. And lots of things happen then. Lots of dangerous things. His mom’s spirit is stolen, for example.

Caramel is reading Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao. — Caramel is reading *Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor* by Xiran Jay Zhao.

S: Okay, so maybe we can stop there with the plot because we are getting too close to giving away too much. What else do you want to tell me about the book?

C: Well, Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor is apparently the first of another series! Because the book ends with a cliffhanger!

S: Oh, and I know you do not like those.

C: No, I don’t.

S: But at least is the main quest of the book accomplished?

C: I guess, more or less, yes and no.

S: So some things are resolved and some not?

C: True.

S: Hmm, did you like the book then? Was it still a satisfying read? Do you want to read the next one?

C: Yes. Yes. And yes.

S: Did you think Zachary was a likeable character?

C: Yes. He is really shocked and confused when his VR headset starts to talk to him. I think that is very realistic.

S: Yes, I agree. It would be really weird if my headset started to give me commands and tell me they are the spirit of a long-gone Chinese emperor.

C: You are not Chinese, so probably it would not happen to your headset.

S: That’s right. But think about your watch being taken over by the spirit of a long-gone historic figure, for example. It could talk to you and give you commands, wouldn’t it be weird?

C: Absolutely.

S: Okay, so what three words would you use to describe this book?

C: Exciting, adventure, mythological.

S. Those work! Okay, then, as we are wrapping up this review, what do you want to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel enjoyed reading Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao and recommends it for all bunnies young and old. — Caramel enjoyed reading *Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor* by Xiran Jay Zhao and recommends it for all bunnies young and old.

Marshmallow reviews 9 From the Nine Worlds by Rick Riordan

Marshmallow reviewed all three books of Rick Riordan’s Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series. (You might want to check out her reviews of The Sword of Summer, The Hammer of Thor, and The Ship of the Dead before moving on.) She has also reviewed Hotel Valhalla: Guide to the Norse Worlds, a companion book to the trilogy. Today she reviews 9 From the Nine Worlds, a 2018 book of short stories written by Riordan about the nine worlds of the Norse mythology. As a fan of many of Riordan’s series, Sprinkles is asking questions and taking notes.

Marshmallow reviews Nine from the Nine Worlds by Rick Riordan. — Marshmallow reviews *Nine from the Nine Worlds* by Rick Riordan.

Sprinkles: So Marshmallow, what would you like to tell us about this book?

Marshmallow: This is a collection of short stories Rick Riordan wrote about the nine worlds of Norse mythology. There is one story for each world.

S: Are any of the stories or the characters in them related to the Magnus Chase series?

M: Yes. All of them actually.

S: So these stories complement the Magnus Chase trilogy then?

M: I think they happen after the trilogy ends, but many of the characters are people we met before in the trilogy. There are some new characters, too, of course.

S: Of course. So what did you think of the stories? Did you enjoy them?

M: Yes, I thought the stories were really good.

S: Can you tell us about one or two of them? Did you have a favorite?

M: I liked “This Is Why I Hate Clothes Shopping” by Amir Fadlan the most.

S: Wait, weren’t these stories all written by Riordan?

M: Yep. Amir Fadlan is a character from the world of Magnus Chase. Maybe you remember? He was engaged to Samirah al Abbas.

S: Oh, yes, I remember. So the stories are each narrated by a character from the Magnus Chase trilogy.

M: Yes. I guess I should have said that earlier. Anyways, in the story by Amir, he gets tricked into wearing a pair of pants and the pants are– oh wait, no spoilers, so I cannot tell more.

S: But somehow some weird stuff happens about the pants, right?

M: Yes. Some magical stuff.

Marshmallow is reading Nine from the Nine Worlds by Rick Riordan. — Marshmallow is reading *Nine from the Nine Worlds* by Rick Riordan.

S: Okay, so how does Riordan manage to narrate nine stories from nine different voices?

M: I really don’t know how he does it, but he definitely does it well. And they are all very funny. Or at least lighthearted.

S: And I saw that there were some full-color pictures in the book. Can you tell us a bit about those?

M: Yes, there are sixteen full-color full-page pictures, by James Firnhaber, Jim Madsen, and Yori Elita Narpati. Eight of them portray eight of the narrators, all except Amir actually. And the remaining eight depict eight of the nine worlds. Midgard is missing, probably because that is our world, the world of humans and bunnies, so we already should know what that looks like. There might be bunnies in Alfheim, too, actually, but I would not know. I have not been there.

S: Do the portraits of the characters fit your image of them in your mind from before?

M: A little. It is always interesting to see how other people visualize a character.

S: For sure. So overall, you enjoyed this book, right?

M: Yes, and it definitely is a quick read, and since it is made up of many short stories, you could stop and start and it would be okay. Just keep in mind that the stories are all kind of connected.

S: So does one need to read the book in order?

M: I think it would be better to read the stories in order.

S: And do you think one would need to have read the Magnus Chase trilogy before diving into these stories?

M: That would probably be a good idea. There might be some spoilers. And you would know the narrators much better then.

S: Okay Marshmallow, it seems like you will be lending me yet another book of yours soon. I am eager to read this book now that I know more about it.

M: Sure. I think you will like it!

S: Okay, it is time to wrap this up now. How would you rate the book?

M: I’d rate it 100%.

S: Great! And what do you want to tell our readers?

M: Stay tuned for more amazing reviews from the book bunnies!

Marshmallow rates Nine from the Nine Worlds by Rick Riordan 100%. — Marshmallow rates *Nine from the Nine Worlds* by Rick Riordan 100%.

Caramel reviews Weird But True! 350 Outrageous Facts (Book 6) by National Geographic Kids

Caramel is a little bunny who loves robots, animals, space ships, and … facts. He loves facts! So today he is talking about a book that is all about facts: Weird But True! 350 Outrageous Facts (Book 6), by National Geographic Kids. As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, you have found yet another book full of facts!

Caramel: Yup! I have.

S: This is a little book with some weird facts on each page, and with lots of colorful pictures. So for example, I did not know that there was a pink lake in Australia.

C: I did know about Lake Hillier, yes!

S: I know you know a lot of weird facts already! So I am not too surprised that you had already known of this lake. Were there things that were new to you in the book then?

C: Sure. For example, I did not know that some people built a life-size Star Wars x-wing from LEGOs. And I did not know that there is an airport in Turkey named Batman.

S: Oh, there I win! I knew about Batman. It is actually a whole city, and it has nothing to do with the superhero Batman. It is also pronounced differently.

C: Well, I know it now! And I now know that ailurophobia is an extreme fear of cats. And that a planet about the size of our Earth partially made up of diamonds is worth $26.9 nonillion (that is 26.9 plus twenty-nine zeros!)

S: I did not know any of that! But did you know that this is the sixth book in a series and that there are many more books called “Weird But True! 350 Outrageous Facts”?

C: Yes, in the back of the book, there are pictures of ten of them. Can we get some of those books, too?

S: Hmm, I don’t know. Do you think it is useful to have a book that has random facts organized in no discernible order or logic?

C: Yes!

Caramel is reading Weird But True! 350 Outrageous Facts (Book 6) by National Geographic Kids. — Caramel is reading *Weird But True! 350 Outrageous Facts* (Book 6) by National Geographic Kids.

S: To me, it sounds amusing but maybe kind of weird because there is no way to organize the facts in my mind.

C: Why bother with organizing? It is fun to read the book. Something new and surprising shows up on each page, and that is fun.

S: Hmm, I guess I can see the appeal of that. You could also just read the book on and off, and open it randomly to a random page and get amused and pass time and learn things, all at the same time.

C: Yes. That’s what I am saying.

S: That wasn’t how you read it though, right? You read it from cover to cover?

C: Yes. At least the first time. But the second time and the third time and the fourth time and so on, I just open the book to some page and read.

S: So even though you have read the book already, you think you might want to read it again and again?

C: Yup. I sometimes forget some of the facts and when I read them I remember and it is like new again. I like to look at the pictures, too.

S: Okay, so we are trying something new this week. You just started using a reading notebook. It asks you how the book made you feel. What is your answer to that question?

C: Happy!

S: How come?

C: Because I was happy to learn all these new facts!

S: You are an awesome little bunny Caramel! What three words would you use to describe the book?

C: Colorful, factful fun.

S: I think that works! This is a good place to end this post. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel loved reading Weird But True! 350 Outrageous Facts (Book 6) by National Geographic Kids and is now wondering about the nine remaining books in the series. — Caramel loved reading *Weird But True! 350 Outrageous Facts* (Book 6) by National Geographic Kids and is now wondering about the nine remaining books in the series.

Marshmallow reviews The Unofficial Harry Potter Bestiary by Media Lab Books

Today Marshmallow goes back into the world of Harry Potter and writes about a 2021 book about its many fascinating creatures: The Unofficial Harry Potter Bestiary: MuggleNet’s Complete Guide to the Fantastic Creatures of the Wizarding World, published by Media Lab Books.

Marshmallow reviews The Unofficial Harry Potter Bestiary: MuggleNet's Complete Guide to the Fantastic Creatures of the Wizarding World by Media Lab Books. — Marshmallow reviews *The Unofficial Harry Potter Bestiary: MuggleNet’s Complete Guide to the Fantastic Creatures of the Wizarding World* by Media Lab Books.

Marshmallow’s Quick Take: If you like the wonderful world of Harry Potter or reading about magical creatures, then this might be the book for you.

Marshmallow’s Summary (with Spoilers): The Unofficial Harry Potter Bestiary is a full A to Z guide to all the magical animals and creatures in the Harry Potter Wizarding World. Similar in format to The Unofficial Ultimate Harry Potter Spellbook, which I reviewed earlier, this book includes detailed information on pretty much every magical creature or animal ever seen or mentioned in the Harry Potter universe, with citations of where and when it was seen or mentioned.

This book also has information about unnamed mundane creatures, enchanted animal candy, house mascots, known animagi and their animal forms, Patronuses and their known shapes, the finer points of potion ingredients, Quidditch critters by team, transfiguration spells with animals, and Luna Lovegood’s magical menagerie.

Marshmallow is reading The Unofficial Harry Potter Bestiary: MuggleNet's Complete Guide to the Fantastic Creatures of the Wizarding World by Media Lab Books. — Marshmallow is reading *The Unofficial Harry Potter Bestiary: MuggleNet’s Complete Guide to the Fantastic Creatures of the Wizarding World* by Media Lab Books.

Marshmallow’s Review: If you enjoyed reading any of the Wizarding World books written by J.K. Rowling, then this book will make a great addition to your knowledge base. Size and notable features of, and fun facts about all sorts of magical creatures make this a must-have for Harry Potter fans. A handy table of contents in the beginning makes the book easy to navigate and allows you to flip to whichever page you need. Stories about Muggle perceptions and notable members of each species make this a great read for any and all interested in delving deeper into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

While Newt Scamander’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a great book to read, too, The Unofficial Harry Potter Bestiary furthers the world of Harry Potter with extra fun facts. If I were to compare Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and The Unofficial Harry Potter Bestiary, I would say that Newt Scamander’s is more of a field guide for wizards and witches, whereas, The Bestiary is more for Muggles interested in learning about magical creatures. The Unofficial Harry Potter Bestiary goes more into depth with information, not only about magi-zoology (but there certainly is a lot about it too!), but also about animals and creatures in the entirety of the Wizarding World, such as Patronuses, Animagi, and enchanted animal candy. The Unofficial Harry Potter Beastiary also has more information about each species, mentioning notable members of each species and going into how Muggles incorporated some magical creatures into myths, legends, and stories.

This book is appropriate for all ages and is a great read for all, although having read the Harry Potter books before or planning on reading them would be a good idea. I, being a huge Harry Potter fan, loved reading this book and would definitely recommend it to all bunnies great and small.

Marshmallow’s Rating: 100%.

Marshmallow rates The Unofficial Harry Potter Bestiary: MuggleNet's Complete Guide to the Fantastic Creatures of the Wizarding World by Media Lab Books 100%. — Marshmallow rates *The Unofficial Harry Potter Bestiary: MuggleNet’s Complete Guide to the Fantastic Creatures of the Wizarding World* by Media Lab Books 100%.