Van Hoang

Van Hoang is a Vietnamese-American author known for writing middle-grade fantasy novels. Her debut novel "Girl Giant and the Monkey King" was published in 2020 by Roaring Brook Press, followed by its sequel "Girl Giant and the Jade War" in 2021. Drawing from Vietnamese mythology and folklore, Hoang's work incorporates elements of Asian culture and supernatural beings into contemporary settings. Her stories often feature young protagonists dealing with identity, family relationships, and cultural heritage while navigating magical adventures. Prior to becoming an author, Hoang worked as a technical writer in the San Francisco Bay Area. She received her BA from the University of Texas at Austin and currently resides in Los Angeles, California. Hoang is represented by Elizabeth Bewley at Sterling Lord Literistic and continues to write stories that blend mythology with modern themes for young readers.

Van Hoang has a small but growing readership, with her debut novel "Girl Giant and the Monkey King" receiving over 1,000 Goodreads ratings averaging 3.9/5 stars. Readers appreciate: - Vietnamese folklore representation - Complex mother-daughter relationships - Action scenes and pacing - Inclusion of cultural elements without extensive explanation - Humorous dialogue between characters Common critiques: - Some find the protagonist's voice inconsistent - Middle section pacing drags for some readers - A few note the ending feels rushed From reviews: "Fresh take on mythology with realistic family dynamics" - Goodreads reviewer "My 11-year-old couldn't put it down" - Amazon parent review Amazon: 4.6/5 from 213 ratings Barnes & Noble: 4.5/5 from 42 ratings BookPage named it a Best Middle Grade Book of 2020 Note: Limited review data available as Hoang is a newer author with two published books.

Girl Giant and the Monkey King - A middle-grade fantasy novel following eleven-year-old Thom Ngho who makes a deal with the legendary Monkey King while learning to cope with her superhuman strength and Vietnamese heritage.

Girl Giant and the Jade War - The sequel continues Thom's story as she faces the consequences of her previous actions and must navigate a conflict between powerful immortals while protecting her family.

Roshani Chokshi writes middle-grade fantasy incorporating Hindu mythology and folklore into contemporary stories about young protagonists discovering their heritage. Her Aru Shah series follows a girl who must navigate both middle school social dynamics and encounters with mythological beings.

Grace Lin blends Chinese folklore with modern stories featuring young Asian-American characters discovering their identity. Her works like "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" weave traditional tales into original narratives about family and self-discovery.

Sayantani DasGupta creates fantasy adventures based on Bengali folklore featuring modern protagonists dealing with cultural heritage and family expectations. Her Kiranmala series centers on a New Jersey middle schooler who discovers she's a demon-fighting princess from another dimension.

Graci Kim writes stories drawing from Korean mythology and folklore, featuring contemporary Korean-American protagonists balancing magical adventures with family dynamics. Her The Gifted Clans series follows a young witch navigating both her supernatural powers and her cultural identity.

Rick Riordan combines mythology with contemporary settings and young protagonists discovering their connection to ancient powers. His Percy Jackson series established a template for mixing modern middle-grade stories with classical mythology that influenced many subsequent authors in this genre.