Eugenie Lo is taller than most at her school, and at sixteen is driven to get into a top college to please her relentless mother. With divorced parents, Genie cannot wait to escape stifling parental surveillance and spread her own wings. Her school year is filled with studying, tests, and the dreadful college essay that she must write to set herself apart from all of the other Asian students competing with her for the same few spots in top colleges.
Her entire life is suddenly changed, however, when, on her way to school, she comes across a boy being beaten up in an alley. She distracts the bullies, but leaves her backpack and all of her books behind. At school, she is surprised to meet that very same boy, Quentin, in most of her classes. A transfer student from China, Quentin quickly proclaims that Genie belongs to him. That immediately sets her off, and she violently punches Quentin. He keeps on following her, however, turning up in the strangest places.
What she thought was obnoxious and annoying suddenly turns deadly when Quentin reveals that he is in fact Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, who has come to San Francisco to chase a group of demons who have escaped from prison. The Monkey King reveals that Genie is in fact his ancient weapon, who has become self actualized. Genie is pissed, but as more and more demons attack her and the Monkey King and threaten her friends, she is forced to deal with a side of her Chinese heritage she didn't know existed. Can Genie manage to balance her life to both save the Bay Area from a demon invasion while remaining on track to get into the college of her choice?
A great and entertaining read, The Epic Crush of Genie Lo feature unforgettable characters and an interesting setting. Those interested in learning more about the Monkey King should first read American Born Chinese, where the story of Su Wukong is presented, or Monkey, the original Chinese tale translated in English.
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