The Legendary Mo Seto
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
“An exciting mystery-adventure story that packs a punch” (Kirkus Reviews) and is 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.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
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.
