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Friday, July 29, 2022
[New post] Review: Xander & the Dream Thief
colorfulbookreviews posted: " Xander and the Dream Thief (Momotaro #2) by Margaret Dilloway, illustrated by Choong Yoon.Disney Hyperion, New York, 2017.MG fantasy, 330 pages.Lexile: not leveledAR Level: 4.1 (worth 10.0 points) .NOTE: This review will contain spoilers for the previ" Colorful Book Reviews
Xander and the Dream Thief (Momotaro #2) by Margaret Dilloway, illustrated by Choong Yoon. Disney Hyperion, New York, 2017. MG fantasy, 330 pages. Lexile: not leveled AR Level: 4.1 (worth 10.0 points) . NOTE: This review will contain spoilers for the previous book in the series.
After his surprising victory, Xander is now fully the Momotaro. Having magic powers is great and all, but also means oni attack constantly, his mother had to stay away from him, he's got a new foster sibling, and has so many nightmares he can't sleep. So Obachan gives him a baku charm, warning to only use it on the worst nightmares lest the creature take all his dreams.
Xander and the Dream Thief by Margaret Dilloway, illustrated by Choong Yoon.
I enjoy stories of antiheroes or deeply flawed heroes or heroes who don't want the power. Xander is definitely that in this book, but it's entirely reasonable that a 12 year old who just inherited unlimited magical power (and is much better at using it than his father) might have that go to his head. Of course, oni are constantly testing him and watching for these kinds of slip-ups.
Luckily, the reckless energy and exuberant imagination that got him into this might also help him get out - with assistance from friends old and new, and if he can manage to get his dreams back. I'm not sure the target audience will be as interested in reading about a not-so-heroic kid as I am, but it's refreshing when the legendary chosen one is all too human (and a person of color besides).
Dilloway's second novel again follows a Riordan-ish plot, but full of references to Japanese mythology and culture. Kintaro, Fudo-Myoo, Daruma, and Kaguya-hime are among the featured characters. He also learns/remembers a tiny but crucial bit about his Irish heritage.
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