Mulan: Before the Sword

This was an absolutely amazing book; Grace Lin does not disappoint! The characters are relatable, and it was nice to see new additions that weren’t in the movie Disney created. The fables and stories that are told in the book make it all the more enjoyable. I loved the references to other stories and tales that weren’t fully told, and it was fun to see some I’d heard before. The book is mainly told from Mulan’s point of view. Though sometimes you get The Red Fox’s view of things, which I liked because you don’t get to see the villain or henchmen’s point of view very often. The characters Mulan meets along her journey were varied and interesting; they ranged from a jokester immortal to an eye rolling bunny. This book has action in just the right places and is entertaining throughout. The plot was very well written and the mysteries and challenges the characters face kept my eyes glued to every page. The characters were easy to relate to, and I would definitely have fun reading this again.