Team Chu and the Battle of Blackwood Arena (Team Chu #1)

by Julie C Dao (Author)

Team Chu and the Battle of Blackwood Arena (Team Chu #1)
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade
Series: Team Chu

A rollicking, action-packed adventure of laser tag and fierce sibling rivalries, Team Chu and the Battle of Blackwood Arena is the first book in a commerical middle grade fantasy series by Julie C. Dao.

Clip and Sadie Chu couldn't be more different. Popular, athletic Clip wants to become his school's first seventh-grade soccer captain, while brainy star student Sadie is determined to prove that she can do anything her boastful brother can.

They have just one thing in common: they love laser tag. Like, really love it.

When the Blackwood Gaming Arena comes to town, bringing virtual reality headsets and state-of-the-art courses, they couldn't be more excited--or competitive. But then a mysterious figure appears and claims to be a part of the game, forcing the Chus and their friends to save themselves from a sinister force lurking inside the simulation. Together, they must fight their way through epic battlegrounds that will test their speed, skills, and smarts . . . but will Clip and Sadie learn that they're far better off working together than competing for the ultimate victory?

Select format:
Paperback
$8.99

More books in the series - See All

ALA/Booklist

Chapters alternate between sports-loving Clip's voice and academically inclined Sadie's point of view as the siblings unravel the mystery in the most challenging--and imaginative--game of laser tag they've ever played. Young gamers, and readers who enjoy rooting for a strong sibling relationship full of competition and support, will revel in this fun, fast-paced adventure

Publishers Weekly

Vietnamese American siblings Clip, 12, and Sadie Chu, 11, have always been competitive with each other. Avid laser tag players, they're thrilled when the state-of-the-art Blackwood Gaming Arena opens near them. It offers virtual reality-enhanced scenarios with a leaderboard that promises great prizes, such as a month of free games--and it ramps up the siblings' rivalry. While in the game, the two encounter white-cued Tom, a boy who's trapped within the arena's ever-evolving code. After Clip becomes trapped as well, Sadie and their friends must work together to successfully play through all six courses and win their way out. Through the siblings' alternating perspectives and respective internal struggles, such as Clip's jealousy of Sadie's laser tag prowess and Sadie's frustrations with heteronormative gender roles at home, Dao (Song of the Crimson Flower) delves into the Chu's intergenerational dynamics, pressures, and expectations. The spirited narrative explores how Clip and Sadie relate to each other and their passions via virtual reality escapades, clever puzzles, and friendly sibling rivalry. A rousing adventure and heartwarming series opener. Ages 8-12. Agent: Tamar Rydzinski, Context Literary Agency. (July)

Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"An action-packed tale of sibling rivalry where thrills and challenges highlight the importance of family and teamwork. This book will delight readers with its fast pace and captivating worlds. Dao has once again crafted a must-read story full of immersive adventure." —Adrianna Cuevas, author of Pura Belpré Honor book The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez and Cuba in My Pocket

"Laser tag has never been cooler! Both a wild, rollicking adventure and a sweet and nuanced sibling story, Julie C. Dao's middle-grade debut is first on the leaderboard for me." —E.L. Shen, author of The Comeback

"Julie Dao delivers a thrilling, pulse pounding joy ride of an adventure brimming over with humor and heart. Readers will love following bickering siblings Sadie and Clip into their wildly imaginative and sinister game of laser tag that will test their skills, their nerve and their love for each other. Team Chu forever!" —New York Times bestselling author Samira Ahmed

"An epically cool adventure that combines fantasy, virtual reality, and competitive sibling rivalry. Team Chu and the Battle of Blackwood Arena is fast-paced and bursting with richly designed gaming worlds that you'll wish were real. It's vivid, thrilling, and so much fun." —Akemi Dawn Bowman, author of the William C. Morris Award Finalist Starfish and The Infinity Courts series

"The perfect balance of heart and action that will have young readers racing to that last page—and then screaming for the next book." —Scott Reintgen, Indie Bestselling author of the Nyxia series

Julie C Dao
Nafiza Azad is a self-identified island girl. She has hurricanes in her blood and dreams of a time she can exist solely on mangoes and pineapple. Born in Lautoka, Fiji, she currently resides in British Columbia, Canada, where she reads too many books, watches too many K-dramas, and writes stories about girls taking over the world. Nafiza is the coeditor of the young adult anthology Writing in Color and author of The Candle and the Flame, which was nominated for the William C. Morris Award, The Wild Ones, and Road of the Lost. Learn more at NafizaAzad.com.

Melody Simpson is the founder of Melanin in YA, a database for all things Black in traditional young adult publishing. Her short story, "The Guardrail Disappears" can be seen in the feminist horror anthology Betty Bites Back: Stories to Scare the Patriarchy edited by Mindy McGinnis, Demetria Lunetta, and Kate Karyus Quinn. Melody is also the coeditor of the young adult anthology Writing in Color. She's from New Jersey and currently resides in Los Angeles, California. Visit her at MelodyLSimpson.com.

Chloe Gong is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Secret Shanghai novels, as well as the Flesh and False Gods trilogy. Her books have been published in over twenty countries and have been featured in The New York Times, People, Forbes, and more. She is a recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where she double majored in English and international relations. Born in Shanghai and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, Chloe is now located in New York City, pretending to be a real adult.

Cindy Pon is the author of Silver Phoenix, which was named one of the Top Ten Fantasy and Science Fiction Books for Youth by Booklist, and one of 2009's Best Fantasy, Science Fiction and Horror by VOYA. Serpentine and Sacrifice were both Junior Library Guild selections and received starred reviews from School Library Journal and Kirkus Reviews, respectively. She also wrote Want, which is a Freeman Book Award Honorable Mention and Ruse. She is the cofounder of Diversity in YA with Malinda Lo and on the advisory board of We Need Diverse Books. Cindy is also a Chinese brush painting student of over a decade. Learn more about her books and art at CindyPon.com.

Karuna Riazi is a born and raised New Yorker, with a loving, large extended family and the rather trying experience of being the eldest sibling in her particular clan. Besides pursuing a BA in English literature from Hofstra University, she is an online diversity advocate, blogger, and publishing intern. Karuna is fond of tea, baking new delectable treats for friends and family to relish, Korean dramas, and writing about tough girls forging their own paths toward their destinies. She is the author of The Gauntlet and The Battle.

Kat Zhang loves traveling to places both real and fictional--the former have better souvenirs, but the latter allow for dragons, so it's a tough choice. A writer of books for teens and children, she spends her free time scribbling poetry, taking photographs, and climbing atop things she shouldn't. You can learn more about her at KatZhang.com.
Classification
-
ISBN-13
9780374388751
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Byr)
Publication date
July 26, 2022
Series
Team Chu
BISAC categories
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
JUV011020 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | United States - Asian American
Library of Congress categories
Brothers and sisters
Science fiction
Competition (Psychology)
Cooperativeness
Virtual reality

Subscribe to our delicious e-newsletter!