The Legendary Mo Seto

March 25, 2024
What happens when a Chinese American martial arts student defies her parents and uses an assumed identity to audition for a movie featuring her idol? In Chan’s kick-butt debut, 12-year-old Taekwondo student Modesty “Mo” Seto does just that, along the way unearthing family secrets and battling villains. Mo’s father is traveling for work and hasn’t been answering her texts. So, with the support of her BFF Ignacio “Nacho” Garcia, she surreptitiously auditions for a new movie starring martial arts superstar Cody Kwok; she resolves to land the role, which will hopefully lead to much-desired attention from Dad. After Mo finds a mysterious book containing information on secret martial arts moves unlike anything she’s seen before, she adopts them into her practice. But as auditions proceed, so too do strange and dangerous happenings, such as plummeting set lighting and unexpected explosions. And if she hopes to find her place on and off the movie set, Mo must learn to stand—as well as kick, punch, and spin—on her own. Action-packed prose mimics the cinematic high-intensity atmosphere of a classic martial arts film, while Mo’s desire to connect with her father acts as a driving force in this adrenaline pumping series opener. Ages 8–12. Agent: Jennifer March Soloway, Andrea Brown Literary.

April 15, 2024
Grades 4-7 Twelve-year-old Mo is an accomplished tae kwon do student, but she can't seem to beat her pompous classmate, Dax. Mo resents her small stature, and her usually attentive father has disappeared on a strange work trip. In yet another blow, Mo heads to audition for a martial arts film only to discover that she doesn't clear the height requirement. She sneaks into the running, but complications pile up as it appears that the audition process is being sabotaged. Could the discovery of an ancient heirloom detailing a lost Chinese fighting style grant Mo the power to rise to the top and fix her family? The suspenseful story begins with a seemingly straightforward exploration of athletic rivalry, familial upheaval, and newfound infatuation, but it quickly spins into a thrilling adventure, complete with secret societies and deadly threats. The entertaining escapades never divert the focus on Mo's personal struggles, making it a remarkably relatable narrative despite increasingly perilous predicaments. Action fans will get a kick out of this marvelous martial arts mystery and its theme that heart is as important as height.

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April 15, 2024
A 12-year-old Chinese American girl discovers an ancient martial arts book that could make her dreams come true. Modesty "Mo" Seto has dreamed of finally winning a taekwondo tournament and making her father--her biggest supporter--proud. But at her latest tournament, she loses to her archrival, Dax Washington, just as her dad heads out to take a phone call. If only she were stronger, faster--and taller than 4 feet, 6 1/2 inches. When Mo discovers that her martial arts idol, Cody Kwok, is holding open auditions for his latest film, The Prot�g�, she knows this could be her moment. She might be able to finally beat Dax and show the world that her height doesn't define her abilities. After finding a book in her basement depicting Xiăoxi Fu, a secret martial art, Mo trains to set herself apart from her competition with the help of her best friend, Ignacio "Nacho" Garcia. As she learns more of this ancient, dancelike style, strange things begin to happen. Mo's father vanishes, someone seems to be sabotaging the auditions, and a mysterious figure starts to follow her around. Chan has created a brave, athletic girl whose realistic struggles with her identity and what she's capable of will resonate. Readers will find themselves rooting for Mo's success and enthralled with the relatable characterization that fills the pages. An exciting mystery-adventure story that packs a punch. (Adventure. 8-12)

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