Author Archives: amloughrey

About amloughrey

I write children's fiction, non-fiction and teacher resources for a wide range of publishers. I had two monthly columns in Writers’ Forum, one on writing for children and the other about authors and their research before the magazine shut down. I do school visits and run creative writing workshops . I also review children's books and do blog tours and have special guest authors on my blog. I am passionate about stationery, growing bonsai trees and walking my bearded collies.

Blog Tour Two – The Legendary Mo Seto

Today is my slot on the blog tour for the fantastic middle grade adventure, The Legendary Mo Seto by A. Y. Chan and publsihed by Simon & Schuster. This exciting action-packed novel was released on June 4th 2024.

I have previously reviewed this book on my blog here: Blog Tour – The Legendary Mo Seto by A. Y. Chan.

My stop on the tour today takes the form of an author interview.

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What are the underlying themes The Legendary Mo Seto?

The underlying themes in The Legendary Mo Seto are ones every kid can relate to—self-acceptance, loving yourself, forgiveness and figuring out how to navigate friendships and family. Mo’s story is all about setting goals and pushing through challenges, but at its core, it’s about embracing who you are and realizing you’re perfect just the way you are. My hope is that this adventure not only entertains but also inspires kids to believe in themselves and see the greatness they already hold inside.

How do you get inside your character’s heads? Talk us through your writing process.

When I get inside my characters’ heads, I focus on their essence—what makes them them—rather than on their physical appearance. I picture their energy, expressions, and how they move through the world. I love blending in traits from quirky people I know and imagining how they’d react in different situations. Then, I play around with dialogue and tweak their personalities until they feel real and relatable.

In your opinion what are the essential characteristics of a hero you can root for?

To me, a hero you can root for is someone who’s flawed but still redeemable—imperfect, yet relatable. They take charge, making things happen instead of waiting for life to come to them. They might be defiant or even a bit rebellious, but they never cross ethical lines. A true hero trusts their instincts, isn’t dependent on others to solve their problems, and, most importantly, continually challenges themselves to grow. When I created Mo Seto, I wanted her to embody these traits—a real, relatable hero you can’t help but cheer for!

Do you play music whilst your write? If so what is your favourite? If not, why not?

I don’t usually play music while I write because I’m easily distracted! When I’m deep in a scene, especially one with lots of dialogue or action, I need to “hear” the words in my head, and lyrics tend to steal the spotlight. But when I do use music, it’s all about setting the mood with instrumental tracks. For the fight scenes in The Legendary Mo Seto, I’d search for ‘Martial Arts Music’ to capture the right vibe and keep the energy high. While I usually prefer the quiet, sometimes the right music can really bring a scene to life!

If you were to write a spin-off about a side character, which one would you pick and why?

What a fun question! I hadn’t considered a spin-off before, but there are definitely a couple of side characters who could shine in their own stories. Dax, the antagonist, is complex and intriguing—he’s dealing with a tough family situation, and his struggles have shaped him into someone who’s strong-willed but misguided. Exploring his journey as he learns to process his emotions could make for a fascinating story. Then there’s Nacho’s grandfather, Gramps, who has an incredible backstory filled with missed opportunities and dreams of acting. I’d love to dive into his life and see him finally tackle those movie roles he always dreamed of, having the time of his life.

Which part of The Legendary Mo Seto was most fun to write?

The most fun part of writing The Legendary Mo Seto were the fight scenes. I drew on my own experience in taekwondo and all the martial arts movies I’ve loved over the years. In fact, I got to sit down and watch martial arts movies as “research,” which was a blast. Since Mo is trying out for a movie in the story, I wanted the fight scenes to feel cinematic—like you’re right there, watching it all unfold on the big screen. Bringing that energy and excitement to the page was a thrilling challenge, and I hope readers feel that same adrenaline rush when they dive into Mo’s world!

What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve ever been given about writing?

The most valuable piece of writing advice I’ve ever received is to keep writing, even when stuck. It’s better to have something on the page, no matter how rough, because you can always edit and improve it later—working with bad writing is easier than staring at a blank page! Another gem is to treat every character like they’re the hero of their own story. Even the side characters need their own hopes, dreams, and arcs. They’re not just there to support the main character—they each bring something unique and important to the story. This approach really shaped The Legendary Mo Seto and made the characters come alive in ways I hadn’t imagined.

Is there anything else you would like to tell readers about The Legendary Mo Seto and writing for children?

What I loved most about writing The Legendary Mo Seto is capturing the optimism and innocence that make middle grade books so special. There’s something magical about the way middle grade stories can uplift you, no matter your age. I’m an adult, and it is still my favourite genre to read! Every time I finish a book, I’m left with a feeling of joy and hope, and that’s what I aimed to convey in Mo’s story. I wanted readers to come away believing that anything is possible and to feel inspired to reach for their dreams. Middle grade books aren’t just for kids—they’re for anyone who needs a little extra magic in their life.

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About the Author:

A.Y. Chan is the author of The Legendary Mo Seto, a story about a 12-year-old female martial artist who auditions for a movie role opposite her favorite martial arts movie hero—only to find out she’s too small for the role. Growing up in Canada’s Greater Toronto Area, A.Y. read 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 a range of other types of martial arts, and she draws upon her experiences in learning new techniques and philosophies to inspire her writing. 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.

You can follow A. Y. Chan on Twitter/X: @aychanwrites, Instagram: @aychanwrites and Facebook: @aychanwrites.

Her website is: www.aychanwrites.com.

I would like to thank Dave at The Write Reads for inviting me on this tour. Thank you.

Blog Tour – Bloodtide and Bloodsong by Melvin Burgess

I was lucky enough to receive the 25^th anniversary edition of the duology, Bloodtide and Bloodsong by Melvin Burgess, to review as part of the Kaleidoscopic blog tour.

My stop on the tour takes the form of a book review.

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Title: Bloodtide and Bloodsong duology 25^th anniversary edition

Written by: Melvin Burgess

Cover design and Illustration by: Kate McKendrick Grove

Published by: Anderson Press

Blurb

London is in ruins. The once-glorious city is now a gated wasteland cut off from the rest of the country and in the hands of two warring families – the Volsons and the Conors.

In Bloodtide, Val Volson offers the hand of his young daughter, Signy, to Conor as a truce. At first the marriage seems to have been blessed by the gods, but betrayal and deceit are never far away in this violent world, and the lives of both families are soon to be changed for ever…

A generation later, in Bloodsong, fifteen-year-old Sigurd, son of King Sigmund, is the last surviving member of the Volson clan. His father’s kingdom – the former city of London – is gone. Armed with a legendary weapon, Sigurd faces death, fire and torment as he travels through Hel and back to unite his country once again.

Review

This duology is a thrilling and violently gory, fast-paced adventure set in post-apocalyptic United Kingdom, 200 years in the future. Both Signy in Bloodsong and Sigurd in Bloodtide have to fight to overcome the villainous and menacing technology engulfing what is left of the UK.

I was totally consumed by this incredible Terminator meets Lord of the Rings fantasy. The reimagining of Norse Legend mixed with science fiction, kept me turning the pages despite the fact I found the physical book rather bulky and heavy to hold.

With themes of betrayal, revenge and despair, I would recommend this duology to all fantasy fans who enjoy discovering links with popular mythology.

Extract

The top thirty floors had broken away a long time ago, but the Galaxy Building was still the tallest in London. Engineers had cleared it up so it was safe up there – sort of. A man with close, curly white hair was standing on the viewing platform, pointing out landmarks. His face was a net of fine, soft wrinkles and hard lines cut across by a Y-shaped scar over one eye. He was dressed in a loose suit, rolled up at the sleeves. As he leaned forward to point out Big Ben, St Paul’s, Tower Bridge, Docklands and beyond, the man’s jacket hung open. Under the suit was a shoulder holster. You could see the neat, deadly shape tucked inside.

This was Val Volson. He owned half of London.

By his side, following his finger, was a tall, wiry girl aged fourteen. She was wearing a short skirt and leggings and a little green jacket which hung open to reveal another shoulder holster containing another, smaller gun. It was handmade for her – girl-sized. But just as deadly.

You could see it all from up here – the buildings of London, its hills and peaks as far as the suburbs and the Wall. Beyond the Wall, dappled in the distance, lay the halfman lands – acres of rubble and tumbling walls, and the trees turning yellow on this mild autumn day, pushing their way through the Tarmac. After that, the world began.

And far out of sight to the northwest, Ragnor. Its towers and buildings were said to dwarf Old London. Halfman captives said that it seemed to float on the air, made of glittering stripes of light and glass and dark stripes of shadow. At night it shone like a bright little galaxy in the great world Outside. Its very existence was a reminder that London was locked out of the world.

‘And when we’ve got the rest of London just like that,’ said Val. He pushed his thumb down hard onto the palm of his other hand to show just where he wanted the rest of London. ‘Then, my girl, we’ll break out into the halfman lands. And after the halfmen it’s the fields and the farms and the villages and the towns. And after that we take Ragnor itself and deal with the security forces . . .’

‘But the halfmen!’ cried the girl, in an agony of delight and terror.

‘That’s the easy part. They’ll be all dead and gone by then. Then . . . England . . . Europe. Be part of the nation again. We’ll be the nation. Yeah. Not long now. We’re getting so close, Signy!’

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About the Author

Melvin Burgess was born in London and brought up in Surrey and Sussex. He has had a variety of jobs before becoming a full-time writer. Before his first novel, he had short stories published and a play broadcast on Radio 4.

He is now regarded as one of the best writers in contemporary children’s literature, having won the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize for his acclaimed novel Junk.

You can follow Melvin Burgess on Twitter: @melvinburgess

To see the rest of the tour take a look at the schedule below:

I would like to thank Bee from Kaleidoscopic Tours for inviting me to take part in this tour. Thank you.

Blog Tour – Scareground by Angela Kecojevic Spotlight

To celebrate the release of Scareground by Angela Kocejevic in the US, I am on another tour for this ‘spooky adventure story set in Victorian England’, which is published by Neem Tree Press.

This time I will spotlighting some of the fantastic reviews already on the world wide web for this ultimately eerie read, ideal for Halloween.

To start pop over and see my review of Scareground by Angela Kecojevic for the blog tour written to celebrate when the book was first released in the UK on September 2023: Blog Tour – Scareground by Angela Kecojevic

Next it is my great honour to present some more reviews of Scareground written by other fellow book bloggers. You simply must take a peek at these blogs:

You can also read reviews of this spectacularly spooky middle grade book on Amazon and Goodreads.

As an added bonus you can read my interview with the author about the writing of Scareground on my blog here: Special Guest Q & A with Angela Kecojevic.

To follow the rest of the US book blogging tour see the schedule below:

I would like to thank The Write Reads for inviting me to take part in this tour. Thank you.

Spotlight – Seawitch by Skye McKenna

Skye McKenna’s Hedgewitch middle grade series continues in this bewitching third book Seawitch, published by Hachette Children’s Books and due for release on Thursday 26th September 2024.

Blurb

Cassie Morgan needs to earn her Sapling pin to get one step closer to passing her Witch’s Licence. To do this, she’s set the challenge of training a beginner witch by the Hedgewitch – but the newest member of her coven is not what she expected…

Meanwhile, the wicked Erl King is luring witches up and down the country to his side, with promises of unimaginable power. While those who stand against him are running a deadly risk.

When a letter arrives from Cassie’s cousin, Sebastian, desperate for help to solve an intriguing mystery, she travels to his home of Porthmorven with her friends, both old and new, to help work out what’s going on. But Porthmorven is no ordinary place – it’s a Faerie border town, like Hedgely, and it has its own protector: the elusive Seawitch. But she is nowhere to be found and Cassie is determined to help the people of Porthmorven however she can. Can Cassie use all of her training – along with help from her friends – to solve the secrets of the sea and foil the Erl King’s plans once and for all?

About the Author

Skye McKenna grew up in a mining town in the Australian outback. Surrounded by the red dust of the Pilbara, she developed a healthy respect for wild things and wild places at a young age.

She now lives in Scotland where she enjoys exploring the woods, hills and castles of her new home. She works in heritage, supporting rural communities to tell their own stories about the history of their land.

Her first book, Hedgewitch, was nominated for the YOTO Carnegie Medal for Writing and was a CBCA Notable.

Blog Tour – Spencer Edwards: Emperor of the Galaxy

Join me on the blog tour for Spencer Edwards: Emperor of the Galaxy by Alex Prior.

Blurb

In this gripping and spectacular rollercoaster of an adventure, a fourteen-year-old Earth boy is chosen, seemingly at random, to become Emperor of the Galaxy during a time of grave peril.

Spencer, an ordinary teenager, lives with his mum, his stepdad Hassan and his younger brother Mo. He is decidedly average at school, sports and at video gaming, but when he is chosen to become the new Emperor of the Galaxy everything changes.

Spencer must learn how to balance being Emperor of the Galaxy and battle the evil Haxenaar, trying to get his homework in on time, and all the while pursuing the love of his life, Amy Heartly. With the help of his new companions and Bradlii, the smartest and smuggest AI ever created, Spencer must brave an epic journey to save the galaxy and discover the ultimate truth.

My stop takes the form of a book review.

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Title: Spencer Edwards Emperor of the Galaxy

Written by: Alex Prior

Cover Art by: Adi Granov

Published by: Matador

This is a fantastic science fiction quest to save the galaxy in the vein of Ender’s Game, Star Trek and one of my ultimate favourites, Farscape. This fast paced adventure full of twists and turns that ticked all the boxes for me.

Fourteen-year-old spencer is an average teenager who is trying to navigate school, his homework and dating the girl of his dreams, when he is whisked away and told he has been chosen at random to protect the galaxy from falling into an intergalactic war. I was particularly impressed with Haxenaar who is a larger than life antagonist with an insatiable goal of dominating not only our galaxy but also the neighbouring galaxy of Andromeda. He makes Scorpious look like a kitten.

I must say, the final few chapters set the reader up in anticipation for the sequel. Full of breath-taking spacecraft, jaw-dropping battles, vivid aliens and some highly unique planets and planetary systems, this is the ideal book for young sci-fi fans to read over the summer.

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About the Author

Alex Prior graduated from Manchester University and worked in TV and Film as a cameraman, editor, then director, ending up at Elstree Film Studios. He decided to change his career and became a Headteacher for several challenging schools.

He has always written scripts and copy and his first book The Lost Case Files of Sherlock Holmes was published in 2020 and went to number one in several Amazon categories, selling many thousands of copies worldwide. Spencer Edwards: Emperor of the Galaxy is his second novel.

To find out more about Alex Prior and his books take a look at his website www.alexpriorauthor.com or follow him on Twitter @alexpriorauthor and Instagram @alexpriorauthor.

To follow the rest of the tour take a look at the schedule below:

I would like to thank Kelly from Love Book Tours for inviting me to take part in this tour. Thank you.

Spotlight – Raining Strawberries at Wimbledon by Anthea Turner and Wendy Turner

Following the success of The King’s Coronation and the Kohinoor Diamond, the first in the Underneath the Underground series, sisters Anthea Turner and Wendy Turner have penned the much anticipated second adventure, set among the communities of mice living busily below London’s bustling tube stops.

Their second book is called, Raining Strawberries at Wimbledon.

Blurb

It’s Wimbledon tennis fortnight and there’s much excitement as King Charles and Queen Camilla receive a special invite from Princess Kate – to watch her and Prince William play a charity match against Sir Andy Murray and Heather Watson on Centre Court. What a treat!

Off go Charles and Camilla to brush up on their own tennis skills with their faithful aide, Jenkins, on hand to whip up some royal tennis whites. Meanwhile, beneath Marble Arch Station, daring mouse Elly Archer also has her sights set on a visit to Wimbledon and is soon hatching a plan to sneak over there with her friends Billy and Bunty Bell to watch the Ladies’ Final – without the grown-ups! What could possibly go wrong?

And Harry the Hero Rat has a secret plan too… he’s heard that juicy red strawberries are eaten there by the tonne, a perfect opportunity to gather up the leftovers and make strawberry jam for all the mice on the London Underground! But things go messily wrong when Kate and William discover Harry’s stash of strawberries… and somehow, Charles and Camilla find themselves serving for the match on Centre Court. Thank heavens they practiced! The question is, will they win…?!

In Book 1, readers were introduced to a host of loveable furry characters who reside Underneath the Underground including Hounslow Mice, Shoba and Lo Mow, Harry the Hero Rat who adores strawberries and Sir Roger Russell, the Mouse Minister for Transport. Fans will be delighted to learn they return in Raining Strawberries at Wimbledon along with some new faces, all set for a brand new adventure set in…you’ve guessed it, Wimbledon.

To see the spotlight for The King’s Coronation and the Kohinoor Diamond take a look at: Spotlight – The King’s Coronation and the Kohinoor Diamond

Raining Strawberries at Wimbledon begins as King Charles and Queen Camilla are full of excitement after receiving a surprise invitation from Princess Kate; to watch her and William take on Sir Andy Murray and Heather Watson at a charity tennis match on Wimbledon’s famous Centre Court. What a treat!

Meanwhile, beneath Marble Arch Station, daring mouse Elly Archer also has her sights set on a visit to Wimbledon and is soon hatching a plan to sneak over there with her friends Billy and Bunty Bell to watch the Ladies’ Final – without the grown-ups!

Readers fell in love with ginger Harry the Hero Rat in Book 1 and will be delighted to discover he’s not lost his passion for juicy strawberries, so much so that he’s devised his very own jam-making business, the strawberry variety of course.

Naturally, as this is an adventure story, nothing goes quite to plan. Discover what happens to Elly, Billy and Bunty as they make their secret journey to Wimbledon, how Princess Kate stumbles upon Harry’s strawberry stash and why King Charles and Queen Camilla end up serving for the match…but will they win?!

“We’re so excited by this story and have loved every minute of reuniting the characters whom we’ve become so fond of,” says Wendy.

Anthea says:

“Wimbledon is such a special sporting occasion and we know young readers will love this hilarious version of what ends up happening on Centre Court. Our mice characters are endearing and full of surprises – I’m sure this adventure will leave fans wanting to know what they will get up to next!”

Book Review – Hannah Messenger and the Gods of Hockwold

Title: Hannah Messenger and the Gods of Hockwood

Written by: Bryony Pearce

Cover Illustration by: Claire Powell

Published by: UClan Publishing

Bryony Pearce’s debut middle grade novel, Hannah Messenger and the Gods of Hockwood, is a crazy romp of an adventure that will keep readers turning the pages. Based on the children of the Greek gods, you may think this story is going to be a predictable demi-god story or a weak version of Percy Jakson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, but you would be wrong.

Hannah Messenger and the Gods of Hockwood is a highly original, hilariously funny and entertaining story. Eleven-year-old Hannah Messenger, the granddaughter of Hermes the messenger god and Dylan, the grandson of Demeter the god of harvest, are best friends. Hannah has recently come into her powers and her and Dylan decide to go to the marker stone on the outskirts of Hockwood to practice using them instead of going to school.

Whilst they are there they meet Amy, the granddaughter of Aphrodite and school bully who is also bunking off school as she is upset her school work is not taken seriously by the teachers, as all that is expected of her is to be pretty. They also find school loner, Alistair has missed school too for a me-day. All the characters including the antagonist have been well-developed with their own strengths, weaknesses and well-crafted character arcs.

These four children form the core characters are real heroes fighting to save the human world through all odds. When someone moves the and marker stone, the gods of Olympus and their descendants lose their memories so they believe they are ordinary humans with no powers. Only Hannah, Dylan, Amy and Alistair know who the gods are and they are also losing their powers fast.

They discover the god’s objects of power such as Thor’s lightning bolt and Aphrodite’s apple and Herme’s staff have gone missing so they must overcome their differences and work together to find the thief and stop them using the source of the god’s powers to destroy the world.

A great story with endearing characters and a lot of heart. Encompasses themes of hope, perseverance and combating depression.

You can buy copies of Hannah Messenger and the Gods of Hockwood by Bryony Pearce from your local bookshop, or online at uk.bookshop.org which supports local, independent bookshops.

Spotlight – Marley’s Pride by Joëlle Retener and DeAnn Wiley

Today, I am shining a spotlight on Marley’s Pride by Joëlle Retener and DeAnn Wiley, which was published by Barefoot Books on 2nd April 2024.

Blurb

Marley is a little nonbinary kid with big anxieties. Crowds? Pass. Loud noises? No, thanks. When their Zaza is up for an award at Pride, they want to go to the parade for the first time with their beloved grandparent. But can Marley overcome their fears?

Featuring the joyful experiences of a queer Black family finding community through identity at Pride, this story also explores how to cope with social anxiety.

Created by a queer Black author and illustrator team, central to the story is Zaza, a transgender elder who receives an award for their work helping the trans community.

Additional endnotes include the history of Pride and its origins, a glossary of LGBTQ+ terms and a list of resources.

Praise for Marley’s Pride

“This sensitive work will be a valuable teaching tool to support children with questions concerning themselves or their friends” – School Library Journal

“From its bright and colourful cover, Marley’s Pride is a whirlwind of cheer and a celebration of being trans, Black and neurodivergent” – Inis magazine

About the Author

Spelman College graduate Joëlle Retener (they/them) is a Kreyol American children’s author with a passion for sharing stories that celebrate Black pride and Queer joy.

Joelle lives in Baltimore, USA.

About the illustrator

DeAnn Wiley (she/her) is a self-taught illustrator with a Master’s degree in counselling psychology. She illustrated Sarah Rising, the Sunday Adventures series, and her author-illustrator debut, Homegrown.

She advocates for social justice from the intersection of multiple identities – Black, Woman, Queer, and disabled. DeAnn lives in Detroit, USA.

About the Publisher

Barefoot Books is an award-winning, independent, women-owned and run, children’s book publisher based in Concord, MA. Founded by two mothers in England in 1992, we are committed to creating visually captivating books that celebrate global awareness and diversity, spark curiosity and capture imaginations.

Today, our unwavering commitment to opening children’s hearts, minds and worlds feels more important than ever. Barefoot Books has been shortlisted for the Alison Morrison Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award in 2024’s IPG Awards.

Blog Tour – The Legendary Mo Seto by A. Y. Chan

I am thrilled to be kicking off the blog tour for an exciting new middle grade mystery adventure, The Legendary Mo Seto by A. Y. Chan, which was released for publication on the 4th July 2024 by Aladdin / Simon & Schuster.

The Legendary Mo Seto is a story about a 12-year-old female martial artist who auditions for a movie role opposite her favourite martial arts movie hero, only to find out she’s too small for the role.

Blurb

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.

My stop takes the form of a book review.

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Title: The Legendary Mo Seto

Written by: A. Y. Chan

Cover illustrated by: Amber Ren

Published by: Aladdin / Simon & Schuster

The Legendary Mo Seto, is a well-paced adventure with plenty of dynamic action scenes that kept me turning the pages. One of my favourite scenes was when Mo loses focus during the tournament at the beginning of the book as her dad left in the middle of her fight. This scene was a great example of showing rather than telling the protagonist’s character.

The character arc has been artfully crafted in the way she learns to accept and even ‘love’ her short stature. It is believable and I would personally like to see Xiaoxi Fu in action. I hope it is as cool to watch as Martha’s dance fighting in the Jamanji (2017).

Written in first-person we are able to immediately identify with Mo from her love of Taekwondo to her hang-ups about her height. She is a fully-rounded character with a whole list of flaws, some of which I wish she’d learnt the hard-way that dishonesty does not pay. I enjoyed the friendship between Nacho and Mo but after it was pointed out to her how handsome he was, it made me cringe slightly that she started developing feelings for him. I would rather she felt jealousy about others showing an interest in her friends than start liking him more than a friend. Even so, the reader is able to empathise with Mo and appreciate her courage and loyalty. She most definitely has a stubborn determination to admire.

I also enjoyed the movie scenes with the vivid descriptions that immediately conjured up a realistic image of life on a movie set. It was good that the book highlighted the stress and drama behind the scenes as well as the gloss and glamour captured by the camera. The mystery around her father and what had happened to him was intriguing.

A great, excellently written middle-grade mystery with themes of identity and finding the best in yourself. Would be suitable for Key Stage Two and Three readers.

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About the Author

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 favourite 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.

She explained her reasons for writing The Legendary Mo Seto:

“I started training in taekwondo when I was six and, growing up, I longed to read books about kick-butt girls doing kick-butt things, but there really weren’t as many as I had hoped for. The idea for this book has been percolating in my head ever since. I wish to inspire kids not only to be brave and never give up, but also to be proud of who they are.

My inspiration for my story came from a real city-wide competition, where, like Mo, my protagonist, I faced off against a bigger, stronger boy during the final match. At that time, pairings were determined by belt-level and age, not by weight class. I ended up losing. I remember feeling so crushed by my second-place finish, and I kept replaying the fight in my head, wondering what I could have done differently.

I was also inspired by martial arts movies—especially the stunt actors and body doubles, and the thugs in the background serving as punching bags for the protagonist. As an introvert, I never wanted to be the main character…but to get beat up by the main character? That seemed awesome. After achieving my black belt in Taekwondo, I explored other types of martial arts and came away with an appreciation for the similarities and differences in the different forms, and how each has a unique philosophy linking the physical to the mental (and spiritual). Martial arts is about discipline and practice, but it’s also about respect (for oneself and for others) and integrity. And, of course, indomitable spirit, the all-encompassing light within us all that shines with determination and hope and an unshakable optimism for a brighter tomorrow.” (A.Y. Chan)

You can find out more about A. Y. Chan on her website: www.aychanwrites.com. Or follow her on X: @aychanwrites, Instagram: @aychanwrites and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560087155240

To follow the rest of the tour check out the schedule:

I would like to thank Anne Cater from Random Things Through My Letterbox for inviting me to take part in this blog tour. Thank you.

Blog Tour – The Rock

Please join me on the blog tour for The Rock by Ann Bryant and illustrated by Josephine Birch, published by Graffeg Publishing on the 23rd February 2024.

Blurb

The first in a series about twins Zane and Finola’s adventure to reunite their family.

After being forced to flee from their home planet, twins Zane and Finola find themselves on Earth. Dad is lost and Mum is no longer able to teleport, meaning that it is up to the twins to reunite their family. With such a large prize on offer for whoever is able to find the ‘aliens’, Zane and Finola can’t trust anyone and must make sure that they never break cover on their tour of planet Earth.

My stop on the tour takes the form of a book review.

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Title: The Rock

Written by: Ann Bryant

Illustrated by: Josephine Birch

Published by: Graffeg Publishing

Perfect for independent readers between the ages of 7-11, The Rock is a highly original middle grade adventure. I rarely see children’s books featuring aliens that are stranded on Earth from the alien’s point of view. I enjoyed learning about the differences between the two planets and wish there was a bit more comparing of the differences between the two worlds. The key themes are diversity and cultural awareness, empathy, family, green travel and teamwork.

The reflection on human nature was believable and realistic. There was only one thing that niggled me we know the mother and children are there to find their dad but we are not told why the dad came to Earth in the first place.

I liked the fact they could communicate telepathically and also teleport themselves by thinking of an image of a place. The teleporting symbol added each time they did this throughout the book was a nice touch. The way they tried to solve the picture image clues that had been transferred into their minds by their dad added mystery and suspense that kept me turning the pages. Although, the story did not end and left a lot of unanswered questions to be continued in the sequel.

On the whole, an exciting middle grade adventure with a unique mystery that will intrigue science fiction fans.

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About the Author

Ann Bryant trained at the Royal College of Music and began her writing career when her daughters were little. She has published around 125 books, roughly 75% children’s fiction including many series, the rest, music resources for primary school teachers. Ann narrated her latest picture book Peter and the Timber Wolf at 48 concerts in 2019 whilst Kidenza orchestra played the famous Peter and the Wolf music.

Reading from her book Code Breaker at the Gibraltar literary festival in November 2022, a year 6 class was inspired to take it on as their class reader. Ann regularly gives author presentations in international schools as well as the UK, and also leads music workshops for teachers.

She says:

“I’m often asked what you need to be an author – well, I think it boils down to imagination and discipline, or put another way, a telescope and a microscope, OR a heart and a head.”

You can purchase a copy of The Rock by Ann Bryant from Amazon.

To follow the rest of the tour please take a look at the schedule below:

I would like to thank Kelly from Love Book Tours for inviting me on this tour. Thank you.