Common Sense Media Review
By John Sooja
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Strong girl lead in Hmong folklore inspired fantasy sequel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In PAHUA AND THE DRAGON'S SECRET, Pahua and her friends, Miv and Zhong, continue their adventure. Throughout their journey, they will encounter dangerous gods, spirits, shamans, demons, and other animal creatures while trying to solve the mystery of how to reseal the evil Xov in his eternal prison. If they don't figure it out, the world and six realms as they know it, will all be in grave danger.
Is It Any Good?
A little longer than the first, this sequel maintains momentum and culminates in a thrilling finish. All the familiar characters from the first book are here (and some new ones too) in Pahua and the Dragon's Secret, and this time, dragons! Delving more into the history and backstories of various gods, shamans, spirits, and dragons greatly help continue the Hmong folklore inspired world- building. The six realms as presented here are described creatively and colorfully, and all the characters Pahua and her friends meet are variously funny, weird, and eerie.
Pahua also gets to be a little more self-confident and assured, while still keeping her concern for her little brother, her friends, and the fate of the world. With new knowledge of her origins and how important she is, Pahua comes into her own much more in this sequel, showing great bravery, confidence, dedication, and compassion. She even contemplates a huge sacrifice once the story ramps up to its thrilling conclusion. And all this only occurs after Pahua and her friends have to solve a series of mysteries, of sorts, that all lead to some cool realizations and revelations.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in middle grade fantasy novels. Did any of the violence in Pahua and the Dragon's Secret surprise you? What were the scariest parts?
How do characters show courage, perseverance, and compassion? What parts of the story are most inspiring?
Other than Pahua, which character is your favorite? Miv, Zhong, Yulong, or someone else?
How is Pahua both the reincarnation of Shee Yee and herself at the same time?
Are you happy with how the book ends? Why or why not?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Adventures , Fantasy ( Dragons , Magic )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Rick Riordan Presents
- Publication date : September 10, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 432
- Available on : Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : March 6, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate