Happy Book Birthday, The Vale by Abigail Hing Wen!

I have been and will continue to be shouting out all sorts of book birthdays these next few days. Isn't that fun? I love celebrating, and just wish there was more than virtual cake available. Hmmm...maybe, it's time to bake one myself. Now, that I'm babbling....

Today's read hits the topic of AI and world building. It takes a look at a boy, who creates a world and would like nothing better than to immerse himself into it. Now, I'm not sure how fantastical this one becomes, whether it snuggles close to the magical realism line or if it swings into a bit of scifi goodness and lets him enter the world. I'm pretty sure there's some food for thought on the family end...although I can't guarantee that, either.

What I do know is that the author has been garnishing a bit of notice. There's an article about The Vale and an accompanying short film in People magazine (here).  I've also attached an interview with Abigail Hing Wen toward the end of today's post and will provide a link to the short film (although I haven't watched it myself). So, today is quite the post!

And before I forget again...

Also, it's Monday, which means it's time for the weekly MMGM list. Middle grade literature fans and knowers get together to give their recommendations for the weeks or other thoughts on the middle grade realm. So, if you're looking for reads for this age group, head on over HERE and see what's what on that front!

THE VALE

by Abigail Hing Wen

Illustrated by Yuna Cheong

Third State Books

Middle Grade Science Fiction

313 pages

ages 8 to 12

Welcome to The Vale, a world that grows by the power of imagination

A magical new phenomenon from the New York Times bestselling author and executive producer of the Loveboat, Taipei series (adapted to the Netflix film Love in Taipei).

Thirteen-year-old Bran Joseph Lee has spent half his life building the Vale, an immersive, AI-generated, virtual-reality environment using technology created by his inventor parents. It's a lush fantasy world complete with a Blue Forest, a Castle, and adventures with his mushroom-obsessed Elf named Gnomly—a much better place to spend his days compared to his real life, where his parents have suffered through the failed launches of one invention after another. 

Bran wants nothing more than to see his Elves come fully to life, a hope that seems on the brink of reality when he enters the Vale in a multi-million-dollar competition to fund its further development. But instead, things in the Vale begin to go The sunlight is fading. A beautiful girl appears from nowhere. A wizard is stealing from the Vale’s inhabitants. And the strangest part of all is that none of this is the young inventor’s doing. 

Can Bran and Gnomly uncover the truth of what is happening before both their worlds are destroyed?

Look out for The Vale—Origins, the short film prequel to The Vale starring three-time Tony Award winner Lea Salonga, coming to film festivals and screenings near you!

GOODREADS     /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Adventure swings between the real world and a virtual one, where very different dangers threaten to ruin The Vale.

Bran is thirteen and spends much of his time working on The Vale, an AI-virtua- 4D program, which allows users to create an entire realm, interact with it, and feel it. His inventing parents have developed many things over the years but have never seemed to develop anything fast enough to make any money. In other words, they are dead broke. When a contest promises a win of $5000 and a couple months of food and rent, the family's emotions soar...until they don't win and end up living in a shed with barely anything to eat. Bran isn't about to give up and works for a bigger, better prize, but while getting The Vale in tiptop condition, he doesn't realize that something in the world is realm. Little by little, The Vale is changing and he has no idea why.

The book slides between Bran's point of view as he deals with real life and pops in and out of the virtual realm, and the elf, Gnomly's, existence in the Vale. This flows nicely, allowing the problems on each side to hook in. Both carry personalities and both are dealing with major issues. By flipping back and forth between the two, it also becomes clear why there are misunderstandings between the odd friends...and how 'real' this entire program might almost be. It's an interesting meeting of worlds, and even a more interesting adventure as both deal with their difficulties as best they can. The read picks up pace as it goes along and wraps things up in a satisfying way.

While the two different, yet intertwined adventures keep the pages turning, there are several themes as 'food for thought' as well. Bran's family faces financial issues, and this causes strains not only in the living conditions but also in their relationships. The struggle is well done and comes across naturally. Bran also needs to step outside of his comfort zone on the social end of things if he wants to succeed, and it's easy to understand his hesitation and uneasiness. Then, there's the entire topic surrounding AI. While this read doesn't dive super deep into thought loops on that end, it does start opening the door to discussions and considerations. 

This tale keeps an intriguing balance between fantasy and reality. The text flows smoothly and works especially well for the lower and middle age range of the intended audience, despite the longer length. The characters come across a little on the young side and there's a sense of playfulness along with the fantasy.  The story starts out a bit slow but picks up pace. Especially the ending holds tension, and it's not clear what the outcome will be. There are a few illustrations sprinkled inside, which are nicely detailed and give the read a lovely touch. Fans of books surrounding AI, video games, and even a little fantasy will want to take a peek at this one.

And here she is...

Abigail Hing Wen is an author, film producer and director, as well as former tech executive. She is the New York Times best selling author of multiple novels for young people, including Loveboat, Taipei, which has been adapted as the movie Love in Taipei, now on Netflix. Abigail served as an executive producer and on set during production. Her novel Kisses, Codes and Conspiracies, a thriller and romantic comedy novel featuring three teens on the run through the Bay Area, is an instant national bestseller, USA Today bestseller and Amazon Editor’s Pick for YA Book of the Month. Abigail is directing her first short film starring Lea Salonga, a prequel to her middle grade debut The Vale, coming September 2025, and featuring an inventor family that builds an AI generated virtual world. She serves on the board of Harvardwood and is a member of Dan Lin’s Rideback Rise Circle. In 2025, she served as a judge for the Golden Trailer Awards, recognizing the industry’s most outstanding film trailers.

Abigail is a frequent keynote speaker for young people, including Y’Allfest, US Presidential Scholars, and the Los Altos High Writer's Week, as well as libraries, colleges, high schools and bookstores around the country. She’s also given keynotes and fireside chats for the National Conference of State Legislatures, Meta, Google, Paramount, Paypal and other tech and entertainment companies, and spoken on panels at venues such as SDCC, LACC, LA Times Festival of Books and ALA. For more, visit AbigailHingWen.com.

Follow Abigail Hing Wen on social media:

Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X/Twitter: @abigailhingwen

An Interview!!!

After writing a successful YA series, what motivated you to write a middle grade story?

The very first novel I wrote in 2007 was a middle grade fantasy, and in many ways middle grade is my first love. I grew up on Narnia and A Wrinkle in Time, and read The Mysterious Benedict Society with my kids, and I love the innocence, adventure and wonder that comes with this genre.

As for The Vale, I actually wrote it in 2015 as my creative thesis for my MFA, before I wrote the Loveboat, Taipei series and Kisses, Codes and Conspiracies. But as a story about an AI generated VR world, it was too early for its time, so I had to shelve it for a decade. I’m thrilled now that the stars have aligned and I can finally share it with the world.

 

Your cast of characters is quite diverse. Why was it important for you to diversify the characters and their representations?

I want kids of all backgrounds to see themselves in books and movies and to know that they can be, and are, the heroes of their own stories. We need diverse, ethical people involved in building the powerful technologies explored in The Vale, tech that impacts and should serve all peoples. I hope more kids will be inspired by Bran and Piper’s adventures to consider working in tech themselves.

 

How does The Vale make the complex topic of AI engaging, clear and empowering for a younger audience, and what key ethical questions does it invite them to consider?

The Vale allows readers to experience AI generation for themselves in an easily recognizable — and fun — form. Bran’s virtual world of The Vale is trained on his own drawings and interactions with the Vale, as well as familiar folktales, fairy tales and classics such as Hansel & Gretel and The Iliad. These familiar stories are woven into the Vale’s fabric, a unique world created by Bran at the speed of imagination. By coming alongside Bran’s adventures and experiences, readers can develop an intuitive understanding of how AI generation works, as well as witness the promise, power and pitfalls of AI.

The novel also invites readers to consider the open ethical questions surrounding AI. Copyright is a consideration — the Lees have created “Clean AI” and are careful to only train the Vale on their own materials or materials no longer under copyright. This puts them on a slower track than their competitors, who may not have shared their commitment to protecting their fellow artists and creators.

Another question is safety. As the AI of the storyworld grows more sentient and powerful, safety features are overridden by the system. Bran believes he can’t be hurt in the Vale, physically — until he is. And then there’s the emotional and psychological impact on Bran. He’s spent more than half his life living and working in the Vale. His parents trained it on him, a fun family experience, but now his father regrets its impact on Bran’s ability to connect with and trust people in the real world, except for Uncle Roy, who has always been there. The novel asks readers to consider the risks as AI nears human level intelligence, but also equips them with a foundation to identify them for themselves and put guardrails into place.

 

Alongside your book’s release, you’ll also be releasing a short film, The Vale–Origins. This is incredible! Why did you choose to make a companion film?

For me, writing is about putting the images in my head onto a page for others to see as well. I’ve always loved watching behind the scenes footage and interviews that came with my favorite movies and TV shows, and I learned the movie making process from start to finish through the adaptation of Loveboat, Taipei into Love in Taipei.

I was eager to take my work in films to the next stage as a director. A short film was a bite-sized way to begin, and the prequel to The Vale jumped out at me. It was a complete story, with a beginning, middle and end. And it would set up The Vale novel with all the most important parts: the hybrid live action and animated worlds, and the stakes of why the Vale is so important to Bran, and how much a part of him it is.

I loved the creative challenge of bridging live action and animation. I have learned so much from the cast and crew and am honored to work with such talented people.

 

What does The Vale teach about creativity?

How creativity comes from both within us and the world around us. Bran’s virtual world is a mirror of his real life — the clover fields, the castle inspired by his childhood building blocks, even his elf friend was born from a garden gnome and memories of his lost sibling. Through his imagination, he transforms familiar pieces into something fantastical and new.

As the story explores the edges of AI and virtual reality, it also raises a deeper question: what makes us uniquely human? At the heart of it, The Vale celebrates the kind of creativity that no machine can replicate.

 

What’s the most important thing you want kids and parents to take away from The Vale?

At its core, The Vale is about empowerment. I want kids — and their parents — to know that they author their own dreams. Girls can be hackers. Kids can be heroes. Neurodiversity isn’t a limitation — it’s another instrument in the grand symphony of life.

Most of all, technology can be magical, but it’s the people behind it who give it purpose. The future needs ethical, creative minds to shape it.

I hope The Vale sparks conversation. This story is deeply personal to me, and I can’t wait to hear what it means to readers.

The short film (if I understood this right) is a type of prequel to the book. It shows how the family came up with The Vale program and why. This little movie does include a famous, Broadway actress, Lea Salonga, and the small sections I've seen (very small) look interesting.

The only place I could find this one, so far, is HERE, but it should be at various showings to raise excitement about the release as the book is toured.