THE INVINCIBLE LIST OF LANI LI, by Veeda Bybee, Hoan Phan, Shadow Mountain Publishing, Oct. 7, 2025, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 8-12)
A challenge from her little brother and a Chinese fable inspire a girl to embrace bravery on her band trip to London in The Invincible List of Lani Li, by Veeda Bybee and illustrated by Hoan Phan.
Thirteen-year-old Lani Li has grown up with the legendary tales of the Eight Invincible Brothers—Chinese heroes who used their superpowers to conquer every challenge. Lani has always wished she could be as brave as them. Now, she’s about to face her own test of courage.
When her elite performance band is chosen to perform in London, Lani should be thrilled. But with too many fears to count and her little brother, Gavin, unable to join her due to a serious heart condition, the trip feels more daunting than exciting. Before she leaves, Gavin gives her a challenge: tap into her own hidden strength by embodying the Eight Invincible Brothers—each with a special power.
In London, Lani creates her own “Invincible List” based on the fable, and as she checks off each quality, she discovers that these “superpowers” might not be as far-fetched as they seem. But when the final challenge demands that she face a daunting fear—running down the famous Cooper’s Hill in a wild cheese race—Lani wonders if she has what it takes to complete the list.
With her brother’s courage as her guide, can Lani conquer her fears and prove she’s invincible in her own way? Or will this last challenge be the one that defeats her? —Synopsis provided by Shadow Mountain Publishing
I really wanted to love The Invincible List of Lani Li. Instead, I just kind of liked it.
Authors are often admonished to show not tell, and The Invincible List of Lani Li is a good example where that advice should have been better put to use. Because, when Veeda Bybee does show, her book sings. When she doesn’t, it loses momentum.
Lani is a complex character. Sheh as an amazing relationship with her younger brother, but struggles with feeling invisible next to him. Her feeling of relief when her brother can’t go to London with her is spot on for a kid with a sick sibling. Then the guilt creeps in. It all rings true.
Bybee’s incorporation of the tales of the Eight Invincible Brothers, which comes from a Chinese legend about eight brothers with superpowers provides a nice parallel to Lani’s own family of eight kids and their own “superpowers.”
The Invincible List of Lani Li moves fairly quickly, and black-and-white illustrations sprinkled throughout help break up the text. The book has a good message about believing in yourself and should appeal to younger middle readers, ages 8-11.
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