‘Dragon Pearl’ by Yoon Ha Lee

On an impoverished and remote planet, Min and her brother Jun dreamed of one day traveling together among their civilization’s “Thousand Worlds.” Jun joined the Space Forces and Min’s plan was to enlist alongside him as soon as she was old enough — but as Dragon Pearl opens, Jun has disappeared.

Seemingly, Jun deserted his post to pursue a mystical object, the “Dragon Pearl.”

To figure out what really happened to Jun, Min decides to run away from home, and follow him into space. Complicating matters, Min and her family are fox spirits, who are viewed with suspicion by their society.
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Many of the characters that populate this story come from Korean mythology — dragon spirits, tiger spirits, fox spirits and goblins. These creatures are not trusted equally. Min and her family can change their shapes and use Charm to influence other people, but because fox spirits are mistrusted, they’ve had to conceal their true nature.

This story kept me reading, so interested was I to learn what would become of Min’s mission. What had really happened to her brother? Would she ever find him?

In a Goodreads Q&A from five months ago, author Yoon Ha Lee indicated that, “at present,” this was a stand-alone story. Without wanting to give away spoilers, I think the ending leaves room for later follow-up adventures.

Dragon Pearl, which is slated for publication in January 2019, is the third story to be released under a new imprint, Rick Riordan Presents. The imprint features stories with themes and characters that come from world mythology, written by authors who, in Riordan’s words, “ know their mythology and folklore from the inside.”

As of this writing, there are three books published or to-be-published under this imprint. Alongside Dragon Pearl, the books are are Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi (published in March 2018) and Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes (expected date of publication in September 2018).

I would recommend all three of these books for inclusion in a children’s library, and I look forward to further releases under Rick Riordan Presents.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher. The opinion expressed is my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”