The Scroll of Chaos

A Chinese American tween traverses an alternate realm to stop a grim prophecy in this mythology-driven adventure from Chapman (All the Ways Home). In Vancouver, asthmatic 12-year-old Astrid Xu plays the clarinet to help her control her breathing, and she hopes her upcoming solo will encourage her depressed mother, who's taken to bed, to "get better enough to come watch." When she finds an old volume of Chinese mythology, she thinks she might be able to bond with her mother over the tales. But upon encountering a scroll inside and breaking its wax seal, Astrid and younger sister Marilla are transported into Zhen, or mythological China, home to fabled figures they've only read about. There, they learn that Astrid has unwittingly released the demon Chaos, who plans to bring about a realm-ending flood. Agreeing to help defeat Chaos in exchange for obtaining an immortal peach to help their mom, Astrid, along with Marilla and two legendary allies, set off to save Zhen from a dark fate. Interstitials from A Handbook of Ancient Chinese Myth aid in the plot progression of this imaginative middle grade novel about changing familial bonds and finding one's strength. An author's note includes mental health resources. Agent: Victoria Marini, Irene Goodman Literary. (Mar.)

Chapman's latest book takes readers on a fast-paced adventure starring gods and demigods from Chinese mythology. Astrid Xu is a 12-year-old with long black hair and a lingering confidence problem. She has an upcoming clarinet solo, but she's afraid that her asthma will ruin her performance. Worse yet, she fears that playing poorly will cause her mother to slip further into a depressive fog. Astrid must learn to trust herself and her family after she accidentally opens a cursed scroll and plunges into Zhen, a world where all the Chinese myths from her childhood are real. This title is broad in a scope comparable to epic fantasies like The Chronicles of Narnia, exploring Chinese traditions and mythologies. The world of Zhen has many vibrant corners for Astrid and her sister Marilla to explore. There they find warm and likable mentors who gently guide their understanding of complex issues like codependency and mental illness. Chapman's book strikes a balance between humor, action, and insight as Astrid is shown finding her way from Zhen back to her everyday life. VERDICT Recommended for fans of jam-packed crossover fantasy with elements of adventure and surrealism.—Talea Anderson

Praise for The Scroll of Chaos:

"Elsie Chapman does it again with The Scroll of Chaos — a thrilling, lushly imagined, emotionally resonant fantasy that will make young readers feel like they're riding their own magical couds across the sky." — Mike Jung, author of Unidentified Suburban Object

"Like magic, author Elsie Chapman paints a vivid picture, bringing to life the stories and characters of Chinese mythology. In this thrilling heroine's quest, Astrid Xu must overcome her own fears and battle Chaos to save the realm of Zhen and return home to her family. Readers will be immersed in this magical realm as they root for Astrid!" — Debbi Michiko Florence, author of Keep It Together, Keiko Carter

"An awesome journey in a gorgeous, epic world that readers won't want to leave! Equal parts sister drama, high-stakes adventure, and intriguing Chinese mythology, this amazing tale reminds us that there are things we can't change, but anything is possible when we believe in ourselves." — Gail D. Villanueva, author of My Fate According to the Butterfly