Dragon Pearl

Dragon Pearl is a captivating middle grade novel that seamlessly weaves together Korean mythology and a futuristic space opera. It follows 13-year-old Min, a fox spirit (gumiho) who must hide her magical abilities to keep her family safe. When her older brother, a Space Forces cadet, is accused of desertion, Min runs away from her crowded home planet to find him and clear his name. Her adventure takes her across the Thousand Worlds, where she encounters gamblers, pirates, vengeful ghosts, and must learn to embrace her forbidden fox magic. This fast-paced story explores themes of identity, family loyalty, bravery, and justice, making it an excellent choice for readers aged 8-12 who enjoy action-packed fantasy and science fiction with a unique cultural twist.

Rick Riordan Presents Yoon Ha Lee's space opera about thirteen-year-old Min, who comes from a long line of fox spirits. But you'd never know it by looking at her. To keep the family safe, Min's mother insists that none of them use any fox-magic, such as Charm or shape-shifting. They must appear human at all times. Min feels hemmed in by the household rules and resents the endless chores, the cousins who crowd her, and the aunties who judge her. She would like nothing more than to escape Jinju, her neglected, dust-ridden, and impoverished planet. She's counting the days until she can follow her older brother, Jun, into the Space Forces and see more of the Thousand Worlds. When word arrives that Jun is suspected of leaving his post to go in search of the Dragon Pearl, Min knows that something is wrong. Jun would never desert his battle cruiser, even for a mystical object rumored to have tremendous power. She decides to run away to find him and clear his name. Min's quest will have her meeting gamblers, pirates, and vengeful ghosts. It will involve deception, lies, and sabotage. She will be forced to use more fox-magic than ever before, and to rely on all of her cleverness and bravery. The outcome may not be what she had hoped, but it has the potential to exceed her wildest dreams. This sci-fi adventure with the underpinnings of Korean mythology will transport you to a world far beyond your imagination.