"The Gate, The Girl, and the Dragon" by Grace Lin: A Heartfelt Adventure Blending Chinese Folklore and Spirit-World Wonder
- Kim Bartosch
- May 5
- 5 min read
Grace Lin has done it again. With The Gate, The Girl, and the Dragon, she delivers a luminous, charming middle grade fantasy that combines heartfelt character journeys with richly drawn Chinese folklore. Best known for her award-winning Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, Lin now brings us Jin—a Stone Lion guardian with a passion for soccer—and a spirited human girl who hears voices from beyond the gate.
What follows is a beautifully told tale of friendship, responsibility, and the delicate dance between duty and desire. This is the kind of story that stays with you—and feels timeless the moment you read it.
Thank you to the author and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the ebook and my honest review—book tour sponsored by TBR and Beyond Book Tours. Preorder now to snag the Deluxe Limited Edition—with sprayed edges, foil case stamp, and designed endpapers. Only while supplies last in the U.S. and Canada, and ends May 6, 2025.
Title: The Gate, The Girl, and the Dragon
Author: Grace Lin
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Preorder Release Date: May 6, 2025
Book Release Date: May 13, 2025
Book Buy Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
Preorder Perk: Don’t miss the DELUXE LIMITED EDITION! Featuring stenciled sprayed edges, a foil case stamp, and designed endpapers—available in the U.S. and Canada only while supplies last.
From award-winning and bestselling author of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Grace Lin comes a gorgeously full-color illustrated story about a lion cub and a girl who must open a portal for the spirits, based on Chinese folklore.
Jin is a Stone Lion—one of the guardians of the Old City Gate who is charged to watch over humans and protect the Sacred Sphere. But to Jin, those boring duties feel like a waste of time.
What isn’t a waste of time? Perfecting his zuqiu kick, scoring a Golden Goal, and becoming the most legendary player of all the spirit world.
But when Jin’s perfect kick accidentally knocks the Sacred Sphere out through the gate, he has no choice but to run after it, tumbling out of the realm he calls home and into the human world as the gate closes behind him.
Stuck outside the gate, Jin must find help from unlikely allies, including a girl who can hear a mysterious voice and a worm who claims he is a dragon. Together, they must find the sphere and return it to the world beyond the gate…or risk losing everything.
Award-winning and bestselling author Grace Lin returns with another gorgeously illustrated adventure story about duty, love, and balance—expertly written in the vein of the Newbery Honor winner and modern classic Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Based on Chinese Folklore, this beautiful novel features ten full-page pieces of stunning full-color art, as well as intricate chapter header illustrations.
My Review "The Gate, The Girl, And The Dragon" by Grace Lin
Meet Jin, the Spirit-World’s Most Reluctant Guardian
At the heart of this magical adventure is Jin, a Stone Lion tasked with guarding the Old City Gate and the Sacred Sphere. But Jin isn't exactly thrilled about his role. He'd much rather be known as a zuqiu (soccer) legend than a stuffy old protector of portals. Naturally, chaos ensues when his perfect kick launches the Sacred Sphere into the human world, accidentally closing the gate behind him.
Now stuck outside the spirit realm, Jin embarks on a quest that’s equal parts action-packed and emotionally resonant. His journey is one of self-discovery and growth, revealing that sometimes what we must do becomes more meaningful than what we want to do.
A Brave Girl, a Mysterious Voice, and a… Dragon Worm?
One of the most delightful parts of the book is the human girl who befriends Jin. She can hear a mysterious voice calling to her—an ability that bridges the gap between worlds. Then there’s the worm who insists he’s actually a dragon (and honestly, who are we to judge?). These quirky, heartfelt characters add warmth and humor to the tale, offering a sweet balance to the higher-stakes spirit-world adventure.
The trio’s chemistry is fantastic. There’s a quiet strength in their bond, with themes of trust, friendship, and believing in something greater than yourself shining through every page.
A Cultural Gem Wrapped in Stunning Art
Lin’s signature blend of rich storytelling and cultural detail makes this book a perfect introduction for young readers to Chinese traditions and beliefs. The themes of honor, balance, and community responsibility are woven with care, never feeling preachy but always resonating.
Visually, the book is stunning. With ten full-page, full-color illustrations and intricate chapter header designs, it’s clear that every page was crafted with love. This is a novel that feels like a piece of art—one readers will want to revisit again and again.
Final Thoughts: A Classic in the Making
The Gate, The Girl, and the Dragon is a beautiful, emotionally satisfying fantasy that blends playful charm with meaningful life lessons. Jin’s journey from reluctant guardian to brave hero is relatable and inspiring, while the story’s deeper themes of duty, sacrifice, and cultural legacy are handled with grace (pun intended).
Whether you’re a longtime fan of Grace Lin or discovering her magic for the first time, this is one book you won’t want to miss.
Highly recommended for readers aged 8–12, teachers, families, and folklore lovers alike. Add this to your classroom shelves, bedtime reading stacks, or gifting lists—it’s an instant classic.
📚 Don’t Forget! Preorder now to snag the Deluxe Limited Edition—with sprayed edges, foil case stamp, and designed endpapers. Only while supplies last in the U.S. and Canada!
Meet the Author:
Grace Lin, a NY Times bestselling author/ illustrator, won the Newbery Honor for “Where the Mountain Meets the Moon” and the Theodor Geisel Honor for “Ling and Ting.” Her novel “When the Sea Turned to Silver” was a National Book Award Finalist and her picture book, “A Big Mooncake for Little Star” was awarded the Caldecott Honor. Grace is also an occasional commentator for New England Public Radio, a reviewer for the NY Times, a video essayist for PBS NewsHour, and the speaker of the popular TEDx talk, “The Windows and Mirrors of Your Child’s Bookshelf,” as well as the co-host of the Book Friends Forever podcast. In 2016, Grace’s art was displayed at the White House where Grace, herself, was recognized by President Obama’s office as a Champion of Change for Asian American and Pacific Islander Art and Storytelling. In 2022, Grace was awarded the Children’s Literature Legacy Award from the American Library Association.
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