F. C. Yee grew up in New Jersey and studied economics at Brown University. For his debut novel, he drew inspiration from the best and wisest people in his life. Outside of writing, he practices capoeira, a Brazilian form of martial arts. He currently calls the San Francisco Bay Area home.
It's refreshing to see the Chinese pantheon steal some of the literary attention lavished on the Greek, Roman, and Nordic gods, and Yee handily gets Western readers up to speed on requisite backstories and proclivities. --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Genie is a unique and uniquely funny heroine, a trove of biting cultural commentary, insight on life as an Asian-American teen, and compelling interpretations of ancient Eastern legends. --Chicago Tribune Fast-paced action is offset with moments of introspection as Genie is forced to decide what matters most. Ultimately, Genie epitomizes the type of kick-ass heroine promised by the book's cover--one who uses her wits and brawn in her battles. --International Literacy Association **STARRED REVIEW** ...Yee builds a world filled with characters that carry the page-turning plot... presented in a distinctive way, combined with Yee's vivid action scenes that take place in a familiar setting, will send readers searching for more tales about Sun Wukong. -- (09/22/2017) **STARRED REVIEW** Genie's perspective on the strange turn her life has taken will have readers laughing out loud...Hilarious and action-packed, this fantastically executed tale of the Monkey King in modern-day California introduces a great new character in Genie Lo. --School Library Journal **STARRED REVIEW** A tough, self-disciplined Chinese-American teen deals with the supernatural derailing of her college-prep activities in this speculative fiction novel that draws on the folklore of the Chinese Monkey King... An exciting, engaging, and humorous debut that will appeal widely, this wraps up neatly enough but leaves an opening for further installments--here's hoping. --Kirkus **STARRED REVIEW** In this dazzlingly fun debut, Yee mixes humor, Chinese folklore, and action to deliver a rousing, irreverent adventure packed with sharp-edged banter. --Publishers Weekly