Patricia Chao's 'Monkey King' is a novel that flits through different points in time as well as through the memories of the protagonist, Sally Wang. Following a mental breakdown and a hospital stay, Wang is forced to confront a dark secret that she tried her whole life to forget and ignore. The story is written in a wry tone and tackles a lot of serious issues, such as suicide, depression, and abuse. There is a wide array of unique characters and settings. 'Monkey King' is a thought-provoking book that is good for older teens and adults.