I am thrilled to be hosting a spot
on the THE LEGENDARY MO SETO by A.Y. Chan Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my
post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
About The Book:
Author: A.Y. Chan
Pub. Date: June
4, 2024
Publisher: Aladdin
Formats: Hardcover,
eBook
Pages: 320
Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/THE-LEGENDARY-MO-SETO
A fast-paced, high-kicking debut
that’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon meets Stand Up,
Yumi Chung as a young taekwondo artist uses an ancient book to help
save her dreams—and her father.
Twelve-year-old Modesty “Mo” Seto dreams of being a taekwondo champion. Even
though her mom disapproves, Mo can always count on her dad, who is her number
one fan and biggest supporter. Lately, Mo has been on a losing streak, and it
doesn’t help that she keeps losing to her archnemesis, Dax, who’s much bigger
than her. If only she were faster, stronger, not so petite. Mo can’t even lean
on her dad like usual with how distracted he’s been lately.
When Mo learns about the chance to audition to star alongside her idol and
legendary martial artist and movie star Cody Kwok, she knows this her chance to
prove to her dad, to the world, and to herself that she can compete with
anyone, no matter her size. Unfortunately, Dax is auditioning, too. As Mo and
her nemesis progress to callbacks, someone attempts to sabotage the movie set and
Mo’s dad disappears—and both events seem linked to a mysterious book, the Book
of Joy.
The book contains information on Xiaoxi Fu, a secret dance-like martial art
developed by Mo’s ancestral grandmother. Armed with these secret moves and an
unexpected ally, Mo embarks on a high-octane adventure to rescue her father,
save the movie, and discover an unexpected joy in being small.
Reviews:
"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." ― Publishers Weekly
"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." ― Kirkus Reviews
Excerpt:
Book excerpt:
Chapter 1
I Am Fierce
I may be small, but I am
fierce. At least that’s what I keep telling myself. Over and over
again. Fierce.
“Charyeot,” the taekwondo
tournament referee says in Korean. Attention.
I snap my arms to my sides.
“Kyeong-nae,” the
ref says. Bow.
I turn to face my opponent,
Dax Washington. His dark skin glistens with sweat. We dip our heads.
I look up to see Dax
towering over me, his eyes stormy.
It suddenly occurs to me how
much “fierce” sounds like “fears.” Not that I’m scared or anything. I’m
not.
“Sijak!” The ref throws up
his hand. Begin! Immediately Dax’s large fists hammer down
like a hailstorm.
Well, maybe I’m a little
worried.
Dax lunges. I block his
front kick with my forearm. I flinch and reel back. The ref blows his whistle,
but Dax doesn’t stop. I barely have time to move before—oof—another kick nails
me in the elbow.
Okay, fine. I’m totally
panicking.
What would Cody Kwok do? My
martial arts hero would never show any sign of weakness. And neither will I.
I quickly rearrange my face
to neutral.
I kick and punch, and strike
and shift. We volley back and forth, each landing some blows, blocking others.
Dax’s heel smashes into my elbow, and I let out an involuntary shriek.
The whistle blows, twice
this time. Finally Dax falls back. If I were refereeing, I’d give him a
penalty. But all this ref says is, “Excessive force warning, Mr. Washington.
Remember to use control.”
At least he gives Dax
a You should know better look.
And
Dax should know better. He’s been in my tae kwon do class twice a
week, every week, since we were five. And now that we’re twelve and junior
black belts, he really has no excuse.
“Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.” Dax
smiles at the ref and bows his apology. He sounds sincere, but I know his phony
voice.
And when the ref looks down
to reset his scoring box, Dax pulls a Jekyll-and-Hyde, his smile turning into a
sneer.
“You’re so gonna
lose,” he says, low enough that only I can hear. “’Cause . . .”
He bends his knees so he’s
several inches shorter—though even in this position, he towers over me.
I feel a tiny rip in my
chest, like when a balloon is pinched but doesn’t pop, that slow leak of air—hisss.
Dax knows how to hit where
it hurts. Junior-level sparring is based on age and belt level, not on size.
Even after vitamins, and broccoli, and jumping jacks for a year, I’m still only
four-foot-six-and-a-half. Mom says the women in her family are late bloomers,
but she’s barely four-foot-nine, so I’m not holding my breath.
Why do I have to be so small? The
familiar thought bursts through like a weed after a rainstorm. I used to
destroy Dax all the time, but ever since his growth spurt at the end of last
summer, he’s beat me in the fall, winter, and spring tournaments.
That’s three. Three
tourneys.
Silver is great too. Variety
is the spice of life, Dad would say, as if losing gold isn’t
a big deal. But in the days and weeks after, he’d be more subdued and make me
train twice as long every day. Kick harder, Mouse. You must beat him
next time, Mouse. Because being the best really does matter to him. A
lot.
It matters to me, too.
Today’s tourney, the Dost Valley Cali-wide Mid-Year Taekwondo Championship,
takes place right at the start of summer, and it is the biggest one of the
year. I’ll show Dax.
And—I glance at the
bleachers—I’ll show Dad.
“Get him, Mouse.” Dad’s
ringing voice reaches my ears. There he is in the front row, as usual, standing
out in his bright red polo shirt, dancing his embarrassing dad-dance shuffle
thing, hollering his nickname for me. Mouse. Short for “Mousey,” which is
what I called myself back when pronouncing my name, Modesty, was
impossible for a toddler. He’s been traveling a lot for work the past few
months, but he promised he’d be here for my big tournament, and he is.
“Bop,” Dad yells. “Pow.” He
throws what looks like an awkward boxer’s jab and nearly topples over onto my
mom, sitting, prim and proper, in her flowery dress, clutching my squirming
two-year-old brother, Justis. I wince, but I also can’t help smiling.
Dad’s a jokester. With his
thick hair and round, clean-shaven face, he looks much younger than
thirty-nine. He’s not a tall guy, but he’s broad shouldered with a bit of a
belly, and he has a boomingly loud voice, so he tends to stand out.
He’s also my greatest fan.
The ref calls us to
attention. “Score is tied. Next point wins. Clean strikes.” He looks pointedly
at Dax. Dax scowls, but nods.
The spectators, the sounds,
everything around me fades away. It’s just me and my opponent. I pound my
gloves softly together like I’m giving them fist bumps. The leather is
torn and indented from years of heavy use, but I would never dream of replacing
them. Don’t let me down, old friends.
I need to attack first,
attack fast, attack with everything I’ve got.
I’m fierce.
The ref drops his hand. Dax
lunges at me straightaway, an eclipse blotting out the sun.
I leap to the side, avoiding
a flurry of fists. My heart pounds into my rib cage. I launch a roundhouse
combination kick, but Dax brushes it away. No points.
Dax
advances slowly and steadily, a snake stalking its prey. I stare into his eyes.
A flicker to the left could give away a left axe kick a moment before it’s
launched. Or a bead of sweat falling into his eye might divert attention long
enough for me to attack.
And
there it is! Dax glances at something to his
side.
I’m just about to spring,
when I hear it.
Frenzied music punctuated by
a series of doggy yelps. I recognize it instantly. The theme song to my
favorite Cody Kwok movie, Shih Tzu Ninjutsu. (What happens
when the most feared ninja assassins in the world are actually a group of shih
tzu puppies, and the only warrior skilled enough to outsmart them is severely
allergic to dogs?)
Dad’s ringtone.
My foot freezes, and it all
rushes back to me. The hundreds of people packed into the bleachers. The kiyahs
from fighters in other matches. The sharp scent of sweat.
I turn slightly. Out of the
corner of my eye, I see Dad, phone against his ear. He says something to Mom
before striding quickly to the nearest exit.
“Yaaaaaah,” Dax
hollers, leaping into a push kick. The force sends me stumbling. I try to step
around him, but he’s too big, too wide. He corners me, forcing me to the very
edge of the ring. I have nowhere to go.
Fears.
My eyes flicker to Dad just
as he walks through the gym door. He doesn’t look back.
What was that old Chinese
proverb he used to say whenever I felt scared?
When backed against a wall,
a tiger learns to fly.
Is Dad backed against a wall
like I am now? Is that why he’s leaving? He promised he’d watch my fight. . . .
Under my toes I feel the plastic tape outlining the ring.
Fly, Mo!
But
my feet remain rooted to the ground.
The
next thing I see is Dax’s fist tearing toward my face.
About A.Y. Chan:
A. Y. Chan
grew up in Canada’s Greater Toronto Area reading all the middle grade and young
adult books she could get her hands on. To this day, those remain her favorite
genres. After achieving her black belt in Taekwondo, she explored other martial
arts, such as Wing Chun, Hapkido, and Muay Thai. These days, she continues her
martial arts training some mornings, writes in the afternoons, takes long walks
to muddle out plot points, and falls asleep reading.
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Giveaway Details:
1 winner
will receive a finished copy of THE LEGENDARY MO SETO, US Only.
Ends July 23rd, midnight EST.
a Rafflecopter giveawayTour Schedule:
Week One:
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6/24/2024 |
Excerpt/IG Post |
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6/25/2024 |
Excerpt |
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6/26/2024 |
Excerpt/IG Post |
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6/27/2024 |
Excerpt/IG Post |
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6/28/2024 |
Excerpt/IG Post |
Week Two:
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7/1/2024 |
IG Post |
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7/2/2024 |
Review |
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7/3/2024 |
Review/IG Post/TikTok Post |
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7/4/2024 |
IG Review |
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7/5/2024 |
IG Review/TikTok Post |
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7/8/2024 |
Review |
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7/9/2024 |
IG Post |
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7/10/2024 |
IG Review |
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7/11/2024 |
Review |
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7/12/2024 |
IG Review |
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7/15/2024 |
Review/IG Post |
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7/16/2024 |
IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post |
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7/17/2024 |
Review |
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7/18/2024 |
Review |
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7/19/2024 |
IG Review |
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