An interview about The Legendary Mo Seto: Martial Arts Star by A. Y. Chan, presented in partnership with The Children’s Book Review.
Join us for an action-packed and thoughtful conversation with A. Y. Chan about friendship, martial arts, and the emotional heart behind The Legendary Mo Seto: Martial Arts Star.
Teen friendships can change in an instant. Families shift. People grow apart, reconnect, and figure out who they want to become. In this interview, A. Y. Chan discusses bringing those emotional realities into the fast-paced world of The Legendary Mo Seto: Martial Arts Star. From Mo’s passion for Tae Kwon Do to the story’s deeper themes of honesty, resilience, and change, Chan shares how the series balances martial arts action with meaningful emotional stakes—along with a few teasing hints about what’s ahead for Mo and her friends.
The most enjoyable thing about the Mo Seto books so far is the complex relationships between Mo and her friends. Are the characters based on real teens that you know, and their friendships?
A. Y. Chan (AYC): Absolutely not. And if anyone thinks they recognize themselves, that’s purely a coincidence. Purely. In all seriousness, they’re composites–bits of people I’ve known, bits of my own awkward younger self, and a generous helping of imagination. Teen friendships can go from “best friends forever” to “I’m never speaking to you again” in about twelve seconds. I wanted that energy in the books.
Mo sometimes struggles to balance her obsession with Tae Kwon Do with other aspects of her life. Do you think this is something young people should be wary of when getting involved in a sport or other extracurricular activity, or do you think it’s a good thing to have interests beyond family and school?
AYC: Passion is great–avoidance disguised as passion, less so. Mo learns the hard way that you can’t roundhouse kick your problems away, even though she tries her best to do just that! Having a driving interest is wonderful so long as you don’t use it as an excuse to dodge every uncomfortable conversation in your life.
In the story, Hong Kong is a presented as both mysterious and glamorous. Have you ever been to Hong Kong, and if so, were your first impressions similar to Mo’s?
AYC: Yes, and like Mo, my jaw was basically on the floor the entire time. It’s one of those cities that simply refuses to be summarized. Neon lights and temples and harbor views and the best food you’ve ever eaten–sometimes all on the same block. It was so much fun to put Mo into an interesting, lively setting like Hong Kong and let her run with it.
The adults seem to have as many relationship troubles as the kids in this story. Why did you feel it was important to include weighty topics like remarriage and relocation within the wider action-adventure plot?
AYC: Because life happens–to kids and adults. There’s no pause button for Mo, and there’s no pause button for the grown-ups either. Mixing it all together felt real and honest, and it raised the stakes. I wanted the emotional stakes to feel as real as the action scenes for everyone in the story.
One of the most important messages in the book is that the things that matter—like friendship—will survive the changes they endure. Was this a difficult message to craft when writing from the perspective of a teenaged protagonist?
AYC: The trick was making sure Mo doesn’t just hear that things work out–she has to actually discover it herself, kicking and doubting the whole way. Teenagers have excellent radar for adults telling them not to worry. So I let her worry. A lot. She ends up understanding that real friendships can survive change and even grow stronger in spite of–or because of–it.
Do you feel Mo offers a good role model for young readers struggling with their own life changes as they enter their teenage years?
AYC: She’s a real role model, which I think is more realistic. She messes up, jumps to conclusions, and occasionally makes things dramatically worse before they get better. But she keeps showing up. Young readers don’t need a perfect hero–they need one who reminds them that they can stumble and still be okay.
Cody is definitely the character who changes the most in this novel. What do you think readers can learn from his confessions at the end of the book?
AYC: Cody learns that trying to be someone he’s not is exhausting, and eventually the mask gets heavy. Cody’s bravest moment isn’t a fight scene–it’s finally just telling the truth. Turns out that takes way more courage than anything he has ever done before.
What advice do you have for readers who would like to get involved in martial arts for the first time?
AYC: Do it! It’s never too late to start something new. Find a school where respect matters as much as technique. Don’t worry about being “good” right away. Embrace looking ridiculous at the beginning because trust me, everyone does. And persevere! I don’t know who said it, but I love telling kids: “A black belt is a white belt who never gave up.”
What are your favorite childhood martial arts stories that you would recommend to readers who have enjoyed reading the Mo Seto books?
AYC: I was never able to find books about young martial artists–hence why I wrote one! But in terms of other media, I adored Disney’s Mulan and the original Karate Kid film. I have also been inspired by Bruce Lee’s writings. He was not only a brilliant martial artist, but a brilliant philosopher as well.
Can you give us a sneak peek into the next book in the series? What’s next for Mo and her friends?
AYC: Yes! Mo is about to face a problem no amount of training has prepared her for–and she is not happy about it. The next book raises the stakes for everyone. Mo faces tougher rivals, deeper mysteries, and bigger questions about who she wants to become, both as a martial artist and as a person. And that friendship everyone is curious about? Not finished. Not even close.
About the Book
The Legendary Mo Seto: Martial Arts Star
Written by A. Y. Chan
Ages: 12+ | 312 Pages
Publisher: Aladdin (2025) | ISBN: 978-1665937351
Publisher’s Summary: Mo travels to Hong Kong to shoot her movie and unexpectedly comes across another ancient book of martial arts secrets in this fast-paced, high-kicking sequel to The Legendary Mo Seto.
After rescuing her dad, along with martial arts film star Cody Kwok and the ancient Book of Joy from a big player in the notorious Five Claw crime organization, Mo is on to her next challenge: filming a movie with Cody! Mo and Dax are whisked away to Hong Kong to start work on The Protégés. It’s Mo’s first overseas trip, and she is awestruck by the glitz and glamour of the international film experience.
Soon after they arrive, they attend a party at Cody’s house, where Mo and Dax meet Cody’s younger sister, Fiona, who appears snobby and cold. Mo is shocked when Cody’s father gives Cody a familiar-looking book: the Book of Sorrow, a piece in the trilogy of books that holds ancient techniques that have been passed down for generations. She is even more shocked when a thief steals it while the party is in full swing and not even her martial arts skills can stop them!
With no leads on the identity of the mysterious thief, Mo recruits the help of a reluctant Fiona, dons her detective hat, and, in between filming, sets out on a mission to find her ancient ancestors’ Book of Sorrow. Can she find and protect the book and make her martial arts movie dreams come true?
Funny, exciting, and heartwarming, this sequel does not disappoint!
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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 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.
For more information, visit www.aychanwrites.com.
This interview—Interview with A. Y. Chan, Author of ‘The Legendary Mo Seto: Martial Arts Star’—was conducted between A. Y. Chan and Bianca Schulze.
