CANR
WORK TITLE: Want
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S): Pon, Cindy Wei-Chieh
BIRTHDATE: 8/29/1973
WEBSITE: http://cindypon.com/
CITY: San Diego
STATE: CA
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
LAST VOLUME: CANR 313
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born August 29, 1973, in Taipei, Taiwan; immigrated to United States, 1980; married; children: two.
EDUCATION:University of California, San Diego, B.A.; New York University, M.A.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Author and artist. Exhibitions: Pon’s Chinese brush paintings have been exhibited in San Diego, CA.
AVOCATIONS:Traveling, watching films, reading fantasy and historical fiction.
MEMBER:Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Chinese Brush Painting Society.
WRITINGS
Also author of a blog. Contributor of short stories to anthologies, including Diverse Energies.
SIDELIGHTS
In her debut novel, Silver Phoenix: Beyond the Kingdom of Xia, Cindy Pon offers “an appealing magical adventure set in a refreshingly non-Western milieu,” observed a critic in Kirkus Reviews. Taking place in an ancient land that resembles China, the work centers on a young woman’s quest for her father, who is held prisoner by a corrupt emperor. Pon’s fantasy tale is a reflection of her own literary tastes, as she remarked to Lee & Low Books online interviewer Stacy Whitman. “When I read,” Pon stated, “I love escapism, and if I can learn something about a different culture or become immersed in the author’s world and characters, that is the best experience for me.”
Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Pon moved to the United States when she was six years old. Entering the public school system without a background in English proved difficult for the author. “I remember going into the class and not understanding anything,” she recalled to Cynsations online interviewer Cynthia Leitich Smith. “It made a deep impression on me—when a child cannot comprehend what’s being said. I remember my first grade teacher writing my name on the board because I didn’t know the alphabet, much less how to spell.”
With the help of both her ESL (English as a second language) teacher and her mother, who tutored her at home, Pon eventually learned to read and write, and her English skills then surpassed those of her mother. Pon became a voracious reader, devouring the works in Noel Streatfeild’s classic “Shoes” series of career novels, and she also read and reread A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett and Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell. As a teenager, Pon gravitated to fantasy, counting Tad Williams, Terry Brooks, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Madeleine L’Engle among her favorite authors. “I honestly wonder if there will be a day when I can write a novel without fantastic elements in it,” she told Whitman. “I think fantasy (and speculative fiction) is so liberating. You are only limited by your own imagination in the worlds and stories you create.”
Pon is also a student of Chinese brush painting, and she notes that her efforts as an artist informed her writing. “When the idea of this novel came to me,” the author told Whitman, “I had just begun studying Chinese brush painting and becoming more interested in learning about the art and culture. (I did take classes in Chinese studies in university but that was more recent times, like the Cultural Revolution, etc.) Fantasy has and always will be my first love. … So I thought I’d write a story that combined these two interests.”
Silver Phoenix focuses on the adventures of Ai Ling, a seventeen-year-old from the land of Xia who undertakes a dangerous journey to locate her father, who disappeared months earlier while visiting the emperor’s palace. Along the way, Ai Ling is joined by Chen Yong, a young man of mixed race who is searching for clues to his origins, and Chen’s brother, Li Rong. As the trio traverses a mysterious landscape, they face a host of demons and predators, and Ai Ling discovers that she possesses fantastic powers.
“Strong characters and lyrical writing make this story compelling,” Christina Fairman remarked in Voice of Youth Advocates. In Booklist, Ilene Cooper also complimented Pon’s novel, maintaining that the author’s prose, “both fluid and exhilarating, shines whether she’s describing a dinner delicacy or what it feels like to stab an evil spirit in the gut.”
Fury of the Phoenix is the sequel to Silver Phoenix. It finds Chen Yong on a long sea voyage to seek out his father. Ai Ling has had visions that suggest that Chen Yong may experience danger while at sea, so she secretly joins him by stowing away on the boat. Frightening sea creatures and pirates threaten the ship and its passengers, but Ai Ling uses her powers to help protect them. She also begins dreaming of her enemy, Zhong Ye. In her dreams, she sees a softer side of him and observes his difficult history.
“Teens will enjoy the burning attraction between the two protagonists, even if it sometimes does venture into soap-opera territory,” predicted Fairman in a review for the Voice of Youth Advocates. Writing again in Booklist, Cooper described the book’s protagonist as “a brave and true heroine who will entice readers.” A Kirkus Reviews writer suggested: “The intertwining of the two histories is rushed … but lush detail will enthrall, from tantalizingly detailed food to gruesome demonic tortures.” Kathy Kirchoefer, a reviewer in School Library Journal, remarked: “The novel is sensuous and descriptive.”
Serpentine is the first book in another duology, once again set in the fictional land of Xia. In an article on the Whatever Web site, Pon noted: “My heroines have always been underdogs, and it is no different in Serpentine. Orphaned at birth, the main character Skybright has been a handmaid and companion to her mistress her entire life. She is pragmatic and hardworking, until one night she wakes to find the lower half of her body has morphed into a long serpentine coil. This changes what she thought she knew about herself and her life forever.” Skybright discovers secrets about her strange attributes and falls in love with Kai Sen, an aspiring monk. She also maintains a deep friendship with Zhen Ni, her mistress.
S.E. Smith, reviewer on the This Ain’t Livin’ Web site, commented: “One of the things that makes Serpentine so elegant and compelling is the integration of tiny details—like brush paintings, one of Pon’s pursuits—that create a realistic and living world, one that seems almost touchable from the page. It’s a definite must-add to your shelf.” A critic on the Book War Web site remarked: “It is such a rich fantasy with all the grand elements of fantasy we love but, in the end, it is a meditation on humanity and why the ability to choose is the most basic and the most cherished right of all humans (and some half-humans).” Writing in Voice of Youth Advocates, Diane Colson suggested: “The novel is about friendship, loyalty, and self-acceptance, with characters as delightfully real as any in the realm of young adult literature.” A Kirkus Reviews contributor described the volume as “a fast-paced and engrossing read for anyone weary of the same old hackneyed storylines.” “YA fans will love Pon’s storytelling ability and the immersion into a world filled with love, danger, and fantasy,” opined Jessica Strefling in School Library Journal.
In 2016, Pon published Sacrifice, the sequel to Serpentine. The sequel follows the four main characters after the Great Battle between the mortals and demons. Stone, who no longer has his immortality, begins to admire mortals as he tries to protect them by closing the breach into the demon world. Zhen Ni is now married to the brutish Master Bei who has dark plans afoot. Skybright, who is dealing with being a serpent demon, tries to rescue Zhen Ni. Determined to free Skybright, Kai Sen hones his magic.
Calling the sequel thrilling, a writer in Kirkus Reviews added: “The resulting dramatic irony tests the characters’ integrity and their faith in one another.” Praising the book for its vivid descriptions, lush world building, and action heroine, a reviewer online at Reading (As)(i)an (Am)erica observed: “Skybright’s journey to understand and accept her demon heritage functions as a metaphor of being the ‘other’ in the real world. It puts into painful relief the struggles of living between identities.” Online at Book Wars, a reviewer observed: “In a lot of ways, Sacrifice continues the conversation of power imbalance, class struggle, and sexism, that began in Serpentine….The last few chapters were especially heart-breaking, but I can say for certain that I, personally, loved it. Sacrifice is a perfectly paced and finely written conclusion to Skybright’s story. It is every bit as complex and beautiful as its protagonists.”
In a new story for young readers, Pon published Want in 2017. Set in a future, heavily polluted Taipei, the rich, called Yous, can afford the protective suits and helmets that filter out the deadly pollution and viruses. Street kid Jason Zhou, a member of the poor class called Mei, meaning “without,” have no suits, which he knows is why his mother died. Jason vows to take down the corrupt Jin Corporation which manufactures the suits, as well as the pollution the suits are required to protect against. His plan is to get his hands on a suit and pose as a rich American so he can infiltrate Jin Corp. When Jason gathers friends to help him, his plans are complicated when he falls in love with Daiyu, the daughter of Jin’s CEO.
In an interview online at Book Wars, Pon described the range of her story Want: “It is the first novel I’ve written that wasn’t fantasy, and I love it so much. I hope that readers do too. It is a cross (at least visually) between Blade Runner, Ocean’s Eleven, with tons of sexual tension through in, and features (of course) an all Asian cast.” Want is an adaptation of Pon’s short story, “Blue Skies,” published in the Diverse Energies 2012 anthology. The book version, according to a Kirkus Reviews writer, is “fleshed out here into action occasionally overwhelmed by romance. Overall, though, the effect is successful. An exciting, socially conscious futuristic thriller.”
Jim Nicosia in Voice of Youth Advocates called Pon a science fiction writer of the highest order and noted that “Want is full of conspiracy, idiosyncratic language, thrilling action, and just enough reality to make this future seem very close indeed.” Writing in Publishers Weekly, a contributor said: “The strength of Pons story lies in the way it immerses readers in its gritty Taiwanese setting” and explores emotional and cultural conflicts. Praising the layered characterization, Ilene Cooper commented in Booklist: “Though some predictability shoots through the plot, the action, attraction, and high stakes will keep readers satisfied.” At School Library Journal, Amy Reddy said: “The plot moves along at a fast pace. There is plenty of romance to appeal to wistful readers.” Reddy also acknowledged the diverse and intelligent cast of characters.
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, April 1, 2009, Ilene Cooper, review of Silver Phoenix: Beyond the Kingdom of Xia, p. 39; March 1, 2011, Ilene Cooper, review of Fury of the Phoenix, p. 56; April 15, 2017, Ilene Cooper, review of Want, p. 51.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, June, 2009, Kate McDowell, review of Silver Phoenix, p. 414.
Kirkus Reviews, April 1, 2009, review of Silver Phoenix; March 15, 2011, review of Fury of the Phoenix; July 15, 2015, review of Serpentine; May 1, 2017, review of Want.
Publishers Weekly, May 1, 2017, review of Want, p. 63.
School Library Journal, December, 2009, Christi Esterle, review of Silver Phoenix, p. 129; May, 2011, Kathy Kirchoefer, review of Fury of the Phoenix, p. 121; July, 2015, Jessica Strefling, review of Serpentine, p. 97; April 2017, Amy Reddy, review of Want, p. 156.
Voice of Youth Advocates, August, 2009, Christina Fairman, review of Silver Phoenix, p. 242; June, 2011, Christina Fairman, review of Fury of the Phoenix, p. 190; October, 2015, Diane Colson, review of Serpentine, p. 76; June 2017, Jim Nicosia, review of Want, p. 82.
ONLINE
Book Wars, https://thebookwars.ca/ (September 18, 2015), review of Serpentine; (September 23, 2016), review of Sacrifice; (September 27, 2016), author interview.
Cindy Pon Website, http://cindypon.com (May 19, 2016).
Cynsations Web log, http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/ (May 7, 2009), Cynthia Leitich Smith, “New Voice: Cindy Pon on Silver Phoenix: Beyond the Kingdom of Xia.”
Fantastic Fiction, https://www.fantasticfiction.com/ (May 19, 2016), author profile.
Happy Ever After, http://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/ (September 7, 2015), article by author.
HarperTeen Web site, http://www.harperteen.com/ (May 1, 2010), “Cindy Pon.”
Hello Giggles, http://hellogiggles.com/ (October 12, 2013), Malinda Lo, author interview.
Kirkus Reviews, https://www.kirkusreviews.com/ (August 15, 2016), review of Sacrifice.
Lee & Low Books Web site, http://www.leeandlow.com/ (May 1, 2010), Stacy Whitman, “Cindy Pon on Reading beyond Reality.”
Reading (As)(i)an (Am)erica, https://readingasiam.wordpress.com/ (November 23, 2016), review of Sacrifice.
TeenReads, http://www.teenreads.com/ (September 15, 2015), author interview.
This Ain’t Livin’, http://meloukhia.net/ (August 16, 2015), S.E. Smith, review of Serpentine.
Whatever, http://whatever.scalzi.com/ (September 8, 2015), John Scalzi and Cindy Pon, article by author.
YA Interrobang, http://www.yainterrobang.com/ (September 7, 2015), Alison Ng, author interview.*
I’m addicted to twitter and bad reality television. And some good ones too, like Project Runway. Silver Phoenix and Fury of the Phoenix, my two young adult fantasies from Greenwillow Books are available now! My first published short story, “Blue Skies”, is also available in the Diverse Energies anthology (Tu Books). Serpentine, the first book of my second Xia duology was released September 2015, published by Month9Books. Sacrifice, the sequel, is out September 2016. WANT, my near-future thriller set in Taipei will be released by Simon Pulse Summer 2017! A children’s picture book with my chinese brush art is also in the works! I’m represented by Bill contardi of Brandt & Hochman. When I’m not writing or painting, I like to read, daydream, travel, eat and watch films in the theatre. I am a new hobbyist in reef keeping and have an 8g saltwater tank that I spend much time on and adore. I love pastries, americanos and Taiwanese food! =D
I’m the co-founder of Diversity in YA with Malinda Lo and part of the We Need Diverse Books advisory board.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
q : can i purchase your brush paintings?
a : Of course you can. Please email me to inquire on availability, art dimensions and prices. My prices range from $100 to $400 approximately, depending on the size and subject. This does not include shipping costs. Sometimes, unframed pieces are available for a lower price. I have cards and framed and unframed art work available at my etsy store.
q : can i interview you for my blog, etc?
a : Yes, I love interviews! BUT it does depend on my writing schedule, if I’m under deadline, it may not happen. Also, authors get so many of the same questions so often. Please check out a really awesome interview with Stacy Whitman of Tu Books here and also many of the other interviews I’ve done to see if I already answered your questions? If you’re still interested, email me!
q : how long have you been painting?
a : I’ve been taking chinese brush classes since 2001. I’m still one of the newer students in a class full of talented artists and a wonderful, inspiring teacher. As a new student to Chinese brush, we “copy” other artists to learn. Nearly all of the birds you see in my gallery are a replication of bird lessons from brush art books. I’m at the stage where i’m moving toward painting from my own mind’s eye—as some of my flowers, bamboo and orchids are.
I’m excited by the prospect of doing a childrens picture book with my own art as it will be something entirely mine—with the use of my imagination and years of practice. I think it’ll be a wonderful challenge and accomplishment. I’m grateful for the opportunity!
q : have you published works before Silver Phoenix?
a : I have never been published prior to SILVER PHOENIX : Beyond the Kingdom of Xia. Both Silver Phoenix and its sequel, Fury of the Phoenix are available now. I’ll also be working on a childrens picture book using my own brush paintings–a process I’m excited to learn more about. My first published short story, “Blue Skies”, is available in the Diverse Energies anthology out with Tu Books. My second Xia duology is published by Month9Books: Serpentine is availabe now
and Sacrifice, the sequel, releases September 27th, 2016. My first
near-future thriller set in Taipei, WANT, will be released by Simon
Pulse Summer 2017.
q : any advice for new writers?
a : It’s been said before—just write. It takes a lot of dedication and work to hone your craft. There are so many elements to creating a good tale, the only way to improve is to practice. Set realisitic goals for yourself. Take writing classes. Find a good critique group. Read loads within your own genre and beyond it. And then write some more. Keep dreaming. Never give up on your dream. And my personal writing motto? you are allowed to write utter poo. Rough drafts are never pretty—that’s what revisions are for!
q : who are your favorite authors? favorite books?
a : I’m a fan of Iris Murdoch. I also love Ursula Le Guin. She is my favorite fantasy author–I really admire her quiet storytelling style. Megan Whalen Turner with her Queen’s Thief series and Cinda Chima’s Seven Realms series come in at a close second! I’ll read anything written by Sarah Waters and enjoy historicals by Jeannie Lin and Kate Quinn. I’ve been reading more horror and thrillers lately. Some of my favorite books include Anna Karenina, LOTR, A Fairly Honourable Defeat, Gifts, Tehanu, The Other Wind, The King of Attolia, and Tipping the Velvet. Childhood favorites include : A Little Princess, A Wrinkle in time, Dancing Shoes and Ballet Shoes.
Interview with Cindy Pon: On Writing, Sacrifice, and Beyond
POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 IN AUTHOR INTERVIEW, INTERVIEW
Cindy Pon (Author Photo)Cindy Pon is the author of Silver Phoenix (Greenwillow, 2009), which was named one of the Top Ten Fantasy and Science Fiction Books for Youth by the American Library Association’s Booklist, and one of 2009′s best Fantasy, Science Fiction and Horror by VOYA. Her most recent novel, Serpentine (Month9Books, 2015), is a Junior Library Guild Selection and received starred reviews from School Library Journal and VOYA. The sequel, Sacrifice, releases this September and is also a Junior Library Guild Selection title. WANT, a near-future thriller set in Taipei, will be published by Simon Pulse in summer 2017. She is the co-founder of Diversity in YA with Malinda Lo and on the advisory board of We Need Diverse Books. Cindy is also a Chinese brush painting student of over a decade. Learn more about her books and art at http://www.cindypon.com/ .
***
Q. Even though you’ve mentioned the possibility of yet more stories set in the Kingdom of Xia, Sacrifice is the final book in this series that follows Skybright and Zhen Ni. Was it difficult to say goodbye to these characters? How do you strike a compromise between the things you would like to write in farewell and the things that you have to write in order to properly conclude the story? Or are these driving forces one and the same to you?
A. I seem to naturally think and story tell in duologies (two books), because I do not plot my stories. I believe trilogies and longer series need more careful planning than I am capable or interested in doing as a writer right now. It is always bittersweet to end a character’s story, but I also enjoy it, because I do not believe a character’s story truly ends with my last words on the page. I believe they live on, and have more adventures. It’s why I love more open endings. I think you’ll still see old characters from Serpentine in my third Month9Books Xia title (slated for Fall 2018 release), but I just don’t see Skybright as the center of the story. It is easy for me to let go because I feel very much like when a story arc ends, I need to move on as an author. Otherwise, the characters will begin to bore me, and this will show in the writing.
Q. When you started writing Serpentine did you already know how Sacrifice was going to end? Did your characters—many of whom are delightfully loud and independent—lead you to the epic conclusion, or were you stern about your plotting?
A. I actually had no idea how Sacrifice was going to end. As I mentioned before, I am not a plotting type of writer. But I very much believe following a character to a natural conclusion and arc, something that makes sense and is organic to the story. I don’t like to force things, I like to let the characters be and do and act how they will. Having said that, I’m not the type to sit down with nothing in mind at all when I’m writing. With second books, I feel I know the characters a lot more, so I have a lot of fun writing them!
Q. Unlike Serpentine, Sacrifice has a couple of new POVs woven into the narrative. How did you decide which characters to follow closely in this book? Was it a matter of plot, or did it have to do with the characters’ voice, or the lack of it?
A. Since Skybright and Zhen Ni are separated for most of the book, I knew that Zhen Ni needed to be a main pov in Sacrifice. It wasn’t until I finished my first draft and had beta readers that I realized Kai Sen needed to tell his view point as well! I do what needs to be done to serve the story, and it’s interesting that with Fury of the Phoenix (the sequel to Silver Phoenix), I found it necessary to use dual pov.
Q. In our last interview you had cited the 1981 movie Clash of the Titans as having inspired you to explore issues of beauty/monstrosity through Skybright. Sacrifice, I feel, further complicates this dichotomy as it brings in the issue of how sexuality in women is often punished, and how defiance of these unspoken rules of proper femininity results in the dehumanization of the women. Were there certain stories that you were inspired or influenced by as you tackled these topics again in the second book?
A. Not this time, no. I think there is so much from just current events in our society to underscore how women and girls are still policed and judged in so many ways when it comes to their sexuality, sexual pleasure, and sexual independence. It’s why I love writing fantasy so much, because the otherworldly elements, for me, helps often frame themes and issues that are still existing in our world today.
Q. How do you silence your inner censor? What happens when your inner critic gets rowdy?
A. I learned to write through the poo years ago, I think. ha! I think I’m practical in that way, like Skybright, and also, I’ve learned to trust myself and my process. If I over think it or over censor, I would never get any writing done. It also helps that I am kept so incredibly busy with author travels as well as taking care of my two bubs. There is no time to give in to the inner critic or her voice!
Q. The publishing gods say there is to be a break between Sacrifice and the next Kingdom of Xia novel, but you do have a rather different novel coming out in between. Would you like to tell us more about your upcoming novel WANT?
A. Ah yes! WANT is my near-future thriller set in Taipei, and will publish with Simon Pulse summer 2017. It is the first novel I’ve written that wasn’t fantasy, and I love it so much. I hope that readers do too. It is a cross (at least visually) between Blade Runner, Ocean’s Eleven, with tons of sexual tension through in, and features (of course) an all Asian cast. The cover is AMAZING. I can’t wait to share it!!
Q. What are you looking forward to reading this fall?
A. I loved My Sister Rosa and Labyrinth Lost. I’m looking forward to reading Radical, The Reader, Another Brooklyn, Enter Title Here, Crooked Kingdom, When the Moon was Ours, and Tattoo Atlas!
***
Thanks Cindy, for patiently fielding all my long, convoluted questions! Congrats on the release of Sacrifice and good luck with WANT! Can’t wait to chat with you about your next project! <3
Pon, Cindy. Want
Jim Nicosia
40.2 (June 2017): p82.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC
http://www.voya.com
4Q * 4P * S
Pon, Cindy. Want. Simon Pulse, 2017. 336p. $18.99. 978-1-4814-8922-5.
Want is full of conspiracy, idiosyncratic language, thrilling action, and just enough reality to make this future seem very close indeed. Jason Zhou lives in a dualistic Taipei where the rich can buy everything, including longer lifetimes. It is a polluted society, literally and figuratively, but the rich--called Yous--can afford suits that keep them safe from the city plagues. Zhou, however, is a poor Mei ("without"), and he is hurting from the dubious death of his mother. When he and his friends hear rumors that someone is purposely infecting the Meis with a deadly virus, Zhou must act. He must take down the Jin Corporation, which believably controls the economy; they not only design the pollution suits but probably manufacture the pollution in the first place. Zhou is a likable hero who, with his Mei friends and against all odds, is able to infiltrate the You plutocracy to discover just how powerful it is.
Pon is a science fiction writer of the highest order, and her intelligent prose creates a rich, complex world. Her sense of dark social commentary is like crossing Alex London's Proxy with M.T. Anderson's Feed (Candlewick, 2002/VOYA February 2002) and Paolo Bacigalupi's Shipbreaker (Little, Brown, 2010/VOYA August 2010). The concomitant romantic twist is unnecessary, but it does satisfy the reader who comes to expect one. Science fiction fans who enjoy action, technology, and some romance will want this book.--Jim Nicosia.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Nicosia, Jim. "Pon, Cindy. Want." Voice of Youth Advocates, June 2017, p. 82. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA497860400&it=r&asid=89d89625da045e1c92a57bd6371ceaa9. Accessed 9 Sept. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A497860400
Pon, Cindy: WANT
(May 1, 2017):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Pon, Cindy WANT Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster (Children's Fiction) $18.99 6, 13 ISBN: 978-1-4814-8922-5
In a future Taiwan, street kid Jason Zhou disguises himself as one of the wealthy elite in order to take down a murdering CEO.Jason's been alone since his mother died of pneumonia when he was 13, just another casualty of the disease-ridden streets of polluted future Taipei. He's been poor his whole life, but now Jason's living in luxury and wearing something only the ultrarich can afford: a Jin Corp suit and helmet, designed to keep Taiwan's polluted air from touching his lungs. Among the Taipei glitterati, Jason's success rides on his successfully pulling off a disguise as a rich American new to Taiwan. Taiwan-born Jason and his international crew of friends believe the head of Jin Corp--and inventor of the suits--has been murdering anyone who agitates for cleaner air. The only way Jason can find the information they need is to pose as a high-rolling playboy romancing Jin's daughter, so Jason kidnaps a rich girl so they can use the ransom to finance his wealthy disguise. It's just bad luck that he's kidnapped Jin's daughter. A few seams show from the adaptation of "Blue Skies," Pon's short story from the anthology Diverse Energies (2012), fleshed out here into action occasionally overwhelmed by romance. Overall, though, the effect is successful. An exciting, socially conscious futuristic thriller. (Science fiction. 13-16)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Pon, Cindy: WANT." Kirkus Reviews, 1 May 2017. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA491002729&it=r&asid=4fcdd955c4cfaa97ca49ca36511a3327. Accessed 9 Sept. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A491002729
Want
264.18 (May 1, 2017): p63.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Want
Cindy Pon. Simon Pulse, $18.99 (336p)
ISBN 978-1-4814-8922-5
In this SF thriller, adapted from a short story that appeared in the 2011 anthology Diverse Energies, teens struggle to survive in a pollution-choked Taipei, where the wealthy live in expensive environmental suits and everyone else risks sickness and early death. Jason Zhou, one of the have-nots, joins a group determined to infiltrate the rich and powerful in order to undermine Jin Corp and its monopoly on the protective suits. In Jason's undercover role, he grows close to his target, Jin Corp heiress Daiyu, but must avoid being seduced by power and privilege. But there's no time to waste with a deadly flu sweeping through the city. Pons (Serpentine) dystopian setting is chilling but familiar--it's a standard class warfare scenario--as is the omnipresent, corrupt Jin corporation and the romance that brews between resourceful Jason and privileged-yet-rebellious Daiyu. The strength of Pons story lies in the way it immerses readers in its gritty Taiwanese setting, and the emotional and cultural conflicts that arise as a result of this perspective. Ages 14--up. Agent: Bill Contardi, Brandt & Hochman. (June)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Want." Publishers Weekly, 1 May 2017, p. 63. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA491575382&it=r&asid=6a319dedfb24e444d679fde5b2e32bd1. Accessed 9 Sept. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A491575382
Want
Ilene Cooper
113.16 (Apr. 15, 2017): p51.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Want. By Cindy Pon. June 2017.336p. Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse, $18.99 (9781481489225). Gr. 9-12.
Jason Zhou lives in a near-future Taipei where the super-rich yous wear suits that protect them from the deadly pollution, while the meis struggle and die young. But Jason and a group of bright and clever friends are determined to change things, and to do that they need money. So Jason kidnaps a wealthy you girl; the ransom lets them put into motion a plan to destroy the powerful Jin Corporation that makes the suits--and perhaps manufactures some of the deadly poisons that ensure their necessity. Jason, who must assume a you identity to get close to Jin Corp, is successful thanks to the escalating relationship between him and Mr. Jin's daughter, Daiyu. Unfortunately, she's the girl he kidnapped, and he must hope the memory-wiping he administered will hold. Pon excels as this society's architect, constructing sights, sounds, and smells that make this Taipei come alive. Her characters are layered, too, and though some predictability shoots through the plot, the action, attraction, and high stakes will keep readers satisfied.--Ilene Cooper
Cooper, Ilene
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Cooper, Ilene. "Want." Booklist, 15 Apr. 2017, p. 51. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA492536250&it=r&asid=9c667cf41af40d1a56b6776c2267393b. Accessed 9 Sept. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A492536250
Pon, Cindy. Want
Amy Reddy
63.4 (Apr. 2017): p156.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
PON, Cindy. Want. 336p. S. & S./Simon Pulse. Jun. 2017. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781481489225. POP
Gr 9 Up-Jason Zhou and his friends are determined to change the world for the better. They live in an alternate future in smog-filled Taipei, where prolonged exposure to pollution can be fatal. The Jin Corporation holds a monopoly on manufacturing suits to protect citizens from the toxic air. Yet a rigid class structure divides those who can afford suits (yous) from those who cannot (meis). When it becomes clear to Jason and his friends that Jin, the CEO of Jin Corp, is driving profits by intentionally harming the environment and infecting citizens with a powerful strain of the flu, they decide to infiltrate and destroy the corporation. The success of this plan depends on Jason, who intends to pose as a you and gain intel by befriending Jin's daughter. However, his developing feelings for Daiyu threaten to thwart the scheme. This fully realized futuristic city is complete with descriptions of airpeds, bots, and colorful nighflife. While the technological advancements are alluring, Pon reminds readers of the devastating effects of pollution by depicting the dull and damaged landscape of Taiwan. The plot moves along at a fast pace. There is plenty of romance to appeal to wistful readers, but this won't deter fans who prefer action. A supporting cast of diverse and intelligent characters with relationships rooted in loyalty round out the book. VERDICT A strong sci-fi novel that will entice an array of readers. A solid addition to any library.-Amy Reddy, Lewiston High School, ME
Reddy, Amy
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Reddy, Amy. "Pon, Cindy. Want." School Library Journal, Apr. 2017, p. 156+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA488688288&it=r&asid=dfce8e8e920338eb878be6b88810cf77. Accessed 9 Sept. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A488688288
This thrilling sequel to Pon's Serpentine (2015) begins soon after the Great Battle between mortals and demons, as Skybright and her compatriots struggle with the fallout and face the looming threat of a new breach to the underworld.
Vivid sensory descriptions make the Chinese-inflected fantasy kingdom of Xia an immersive world. The mortal realm, the heavens, and the underworld are at once enchanting and terrifying, and at the story’s core are dynamic characters who resist confinement to archetypes. Torn away from her mortal life, Skybright grows to accept her nature as a serpent demon without rejecting her love for her friends. Zhen Ni, meanwhile, displays extraordinary cunning as she navigates her new duties as a wife while uncovering her husband’s dark plans. Kai Sen’s fierce determination to save Skybright and break the covenant makes him shed his dreamer personality to hone his magic. Stone, immortal intermediary to the gods, learns to respect and admire the mortals as he witnesses the strength of their will. The narration unfolds through their four points of view, shifting perspectives at key scenes rather than chapter by chapter. The resulting dramatic irony tests the characters’ integrity and their faith in one another. Still, they are impressively wise and compassionate, acting, when pressed, out of loyalty rather than bitterness.
A brilliant second act that can be read alone. (Fantasy. 15 & up)
Pub Date: Sept. 27th, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-944816-52-0
Page count: 304pp
Publisher: Month9Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2nd, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15th, 2016
Review: Sacrifice by Cindy Pon
POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2016 IN DIVERSE, FANTASY
Sacrifice by Cindy Pon
Sacrifice by Cindy Pon is the sequel to Serpentine and the final instalment of Skybright’s story. For those of you are new to this blog and/or don’t know me, Serpentine was the fantasy novel that took me by surprise last year. I knew Cindy Pon wrote fantasy, but I knew her more as the co-founder of Diversity in YA. I had no idea how enchanting Pon’s imagination was until I discovered the cover for Serpentine. Yep, it was the cover that drew me in, solely because it didn’t do any of the annoying things that covers tend to do when they feature a character of colour. And the book, like its cover, did not disappoint.
At the end of Serpentine, we left Skybright in a pretty hopeless situation. She sacrifices herself to save the world, but that sacrifice means being torn from the human world. It means being separated from the two people who loved Skybright best: Zhen Ni, her once-mistress, and Kai, her once-lover. She’d left both of them, these people she adored, with questions in their minds and problems left unresolved. Stone, a cold and strange immortal, is Skybright’s sole companion … and her captor. But when Stone’s powers are taken as punishment for the fact that Skybright’s sacrifice didn’t seem to work–i.e. the borders between worlds haven’t totally been closed–the shift in power allows Skybright to team up with Stone as partners, more or less.
In a lot of ways, Sacrifice continues the conversation of power imbalance, class struggle, and sexism, that began in Serpentine. Women’s sexuality, especially, is cleverly explored in this one, more so than the last one, since Skybright has grown up some and is much more careful in her understanding of romance versus sexuality. Also in this one, as you can maybe tell from the cover, the question of what constitutes monstrosity–especially where women are concerned–is less of a conversation that Skybright is willing to have. For her, this is almost a non-issue. Over her travels with Stone, away from her human companions, she has learnt to embrace every side of her. The issue is that the more she delves in her serpentine identity, the more she must confront how her mother’s past actions may effect her own future.
Bravery in the face of difficult choices and impossible situations is woven through Skybright’s story. Of course, heroism is not just a trait that Skybright has to display–it is what unites the other two perspectives in the novel. Serpentine had solely focussed on Skybright’s POV, but Sacrifice brings Kai and Zhen Ni’s POVs to readers as well. This new menace, the one that that tearing down the walls between worlds, is one they must face together. I am so glad that Pon chose to include these new POVs, since from the first book itself they are so well-developed and deserving of page-time.
Zhen Ni, I feel, could have had a novel to herself. My one complaint of Sacrifice is that, unlike with Skybright, we don’t get to see Zhen Ni really explore her sexuality or properly fall in love. My hope is that in future stories–and I’ve been told that there may be at least one companion book–we get more about Zhen Ni. What we do get of Zhen Ni in Sacrifice, however, is a real show of her strength. She shines in this novel as much as she did in the last one. It seems that being married off to a strange man and trapped in his large estate can’t seem to tame Zhen Ni’s spirit. And the horrific things–think Bluebeard–she discovers about her not-so-beloved husband can’t quash her courage. Can you tell I loved her POV best of all? That’s not to say, however, that Kai and Skybright didn’t shine in this book. They did. Cindy Pon’s ability to create these beautifully detailed worlds is only matched by the brilliant, complex characters she populates them with.
As with most endings, Sacrifice left me gasping at the plot-twists and crying over all the feelings. The last few chapters were especially heart-breaking, but I can say for certain that I, personally, loved it. Sacrifice is a perfectly paced and finely written conclusion to Skybright’s story. It is every bit as complex and beautiful as its protagonists.
Review for Serpentine and Sacrifice by Cindy Pon
November 23, 2016ReviewChinese, Fantasy, Own Voices, Young Adult
The cover for Serpentine Sacrifice
Note: This series takes place in the same same universe as Silver Phoenix and Fury of the Phoenix, which were published first, but you don’t have to read those books to read these.
My Summary: Skybright is content with her life as the handmaiden and best friend of Zhen Ni. However, her comfortable, structured life is thrown into disarray when she discovers that she can grow a serpent’s tail. In the wake of this troubling discovery, she reevaluates her relationship with Zhen Ni, experiences unexpected romance, and becomes ensnared in a supernatural conflict that threatens the mortal world.
Review:
Cindy is back at it again making me hungry and creeped out (not at the same time) with her vivid descriptions. I liked the first series for its lush worldbuilding and kickass heroine; this series has that and more, including a broader scope and greater complexity.
In a departure from the tone set by the first Xia duology, Serpentine and its sequel explore the moral consciousness of demons and half-demons, who are more than just cruel monsters. Skybright’s journey to understand and accept her demon heritage functions as a metaphor of being the “other” in the real world.It puts into painful relief the struggles of living between identities, called “liminality” by academics.
Chief among the “and more” that makes this duology great is the female friendship that lies at the core of the story. Skybright and Zhen Ni are sisters of the soul. They love each other deeply and stick by each other, but they also struggle with secrets and lies and hurt each other sometimes.
In addition to the female friendship, there’s girl/girl romance! In a historical Chinese-inspired fantasy! Finding representation as a queer and Asian person is like looking for a needle in a haystack, so I have to thank Cindy for making that step in the right direction toward full diversity and inclusivity. YA needs more of this. My only complaint is that there isn’t more from the perspective of Zhen Ni (novella/sequel/companion, maybe?).
Another thing I loved about this series is the dynamic characters. All of the major characters grow and change in some way throughout the course of the story. Just when you think you know them, they surprise you with something new. The second book was narrated from three different points of view, giving readers the opportunity to become more emotionally invested in characters besides Skybright.
The second book also contains a number of surprises and twists that I did not see coming, and I liked it even more than the first book. My only regret is that there wasn’t more on what happened to Zhen Ni and Stone during the interlude between the climax and the ending.
Recommendation: Read it! You can order signed/personalized copies of the books from Cindy’s local indie bookstore, Mysterious Galaxy.
REVIEW: SACRIFICE BY CINDY PON
Posted on 11 November, 2016 by Audrey
ponTitle: Sacrifice
Author: Cindy Pon
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 304
Publisher: Month9Books
Review Copy: Purchased
Availability: Available now
Summary: Sacrifice, the sequel to Serpentine, plunges Skybright into the terrifying underworld where demons are bred and whisks her up to the magnificent Mountain of Heavenly Peace where the gods dwell.
Stone is stripped of his immortal status and told to close hell’s breach, which mysteriously remains open, threatening mortals.
Zhen Ni, Skybright’s former mistress and friend, has been wed to the strange and brutish Master Bei, and finds herself trapped in an opulent but empty manor. When she discovers half-eaten corpses beneath the estate, she realizes that Master Bei is not all that he seems.
As Skybright works to free Zhen Ni with the aid of Kai Sen and Stone, they begin to understand that what is at risk is more far-reaching then they could ever have fathomed.
Review: After reading Serpentine earlier this year, I knew I had to get my hands on the sequel. I’m happy to report that everything I loved about the first book is here: fantastic world-building, unique characters, and memorable mythology.
Cindy Pon still excels in writing descriptive passages, whether that’s clothing, fight scenes, building layouts, or supernatural/demonic creatures. Her ability to set a scene is remarkable, and I loved her descriptions of the underworld to the Mountain of Heavenly Peace and everywhere in between. Pon made good use of Skybright’s reliance on smell and life-sensing in this book—it was a great way to show that Skybright was developing and getting used to her abilities as a serpent demon.
While Skybright was the sole narrator in Serpentine, the scope of Sacrifice was wide enough that two additional POVs were necessary: Zhen Ni and Kai Sen. Of the two of these, Zhen Ni was the strongest, and her slow discovery of what was truly going on in her new husband’s manor was terrifying in the best sorts of ways. Kai Sen had an important, though not as compelling, part of the narrative. It was great when their plots converged with Skybright’s, and I admired the (somewhat tumultuous) friendship and love between them. I enjoyed being able to get their takes on the events of the previous book and see them drive their respective plots forward in this book.
In the previous book, I didn’t like Stone all that much, which made my eventual appreciation of him in this book all the more surprising. Getting his powers stripped from him—and thus no longer able to drag Skybright around with him at his whim—definitely helped me (and Skybright) stop hating him entirely. I’m still not sure how I feel about the romance that developed between Skybright and Stone, because while it felt better paced than the one between Skybright and Kai Sen in the previous book, something Stone forced Skybright to do prior to losing his powers crossed my “actions that are acceptable for love interests” line. And once that line is crossed, I can’t completely get rid of the nagging voice that says the heroine should run the other way, even if he consistently proves he isn’t that person anymore.
Recommendation: Get it soon, especially if you enjoyed Serpentine. It was a treat to come back to the Kingdom of Xia, and while I’m a little sad that this will be the last book to focus on Skybright, I feel like this was a good place to conclude her story. I’m looking forward to Cindy Pon’s next work, both in the Kingdom of Xia and outside of it.
OCTOBER 03, 2016
Monday Review: SACRIFICE (Serpentine Book 2) by Cindy Pon
Synopsis: Sacrifice is the sequel to Serpentine (reviewed here), and follows the continuing quest of Skybright to save her world and the people she loves from encroaching demons. By the end of the first book (minor spoilers ahead, so you might want to stop here if you haven't read Serpentine yet) Skybright has accepted the fact that she will never have a normal life: as a half-demon, she can shape-shift at will to a serpent with human head, arms and torso, and she has preternatural abilities that humans lack.
At the same time that she came into her own as a half-demon (helped along by the powerful, magical, and brutally handsome Stone), she also came to realize how very human she was in other ways—the important ways, such as her friendship for her former mistress Zhen Ni and her love for the young monk Kai Sen. Skybright loves them so much, and her world, that she makes a profound sacrifice at the end of Book 1: she gives herself up to the underworld in Zhen Ni's place in order to close the breach that is leaking demons into the kingdom of Xia.
Now, Skybright, Kai Sen, and Stone have realized that, even after Skybright's courageous act, demons are still somehow leaking into the world, in defiance of the ages-old agreement between the monks and the immortal world. As punishment, Stone is stripped of some of his powers, making him much more human and more knowable; but at the same time that Stone is growing closer to Skybright, Kai Sen is drifting apart from her on his own path as the head abbott at the monastery. And Zhen Ni becomes completely inaccessible after she is married off to the mysterious Master Bei, who has secrets of his own. Tracking down the source of the new breach into the Underworld brings Stone and Skybright along a converging path with Kai Sen, but can they find the breach in time to save everyone? And what in the world has happened to Zhen Ni?
Observations: This is another fun foray into the intriguing world of the kingdom of Xia, with its vivid mythology and Asian-inspired fantasy feel. Tanita and I both agree that the end of Book 1 left us wanting more, and I was lucky in terms of timing, since I read Serpentine last month and only had a few weeks to wait for this one. What I really liked about both books was seeing Skybright's transformation and experiencing from her perspective the incredible inner and outer changes of her demonic half. Where the first book left me wondering what more was to come, the second book satisfyingly continued to follow her inner journey toward self-acceptance and strength.
The metaphor is clear here, applied to those of us who are fully mortal: we all have parts of ourselves that we have trouble accepting, that we might want to reject or ignore, but in order to be fully ourselves and whole, we need to know those aspects and realize they are part of us too. By seeing ourselves as we are, clearly and honestly, we can learn to grow and change.
Conclusion: This was an action-packed sequel that also didn't skimp on the interpersonal tension between characters—the strong portrayal of love and friendship gives the story its emotional heart. Cindy Pon's Asian-flavored fantasy world will also appeal to those looking for more diversely inspired stories.
I purchased my copy of this book courtesy of Amazon. You can find SACRIFICE by Cindy Pon at an online e-tailer, or at a real life, independent bookstore near you!
POSTED BY SARAH STEVENSON