Book Review of The Legendary Mo Seto
Sponsored* | All opinions are our own
The Children’s Book Review
The Legendary Mo Seto
Written by A. Y. Chan
Ages 8-12 | 320 Pages
Publisher: Aladdin (2024) | ISBN-13: 9781665937320
What to Expect: Tae kwon do, competition, family, friendship.
The Legendary Mo Seto is a profoundly emotive exploration of heritage, self-worth, and ambition centered on Chinese and martial arts culture.
Mo (short for Modesty) feels like a disappointment. She’s not the dainty, talented daughter her mother would like, and she just can’t seem to win the Taekwondo gold medal her father wants her to win, either. Then, the opportunity comes along for Mo to audition for a place in an upcoming film alongside her all-time celebrity martial arts hero, Cody Kwok. Is this finally the break she’s been waiting for—the one that will make her father proud?
Mo has found a secret weapon—a book of ancient martial arts written by her fifteenth-century ancestor. Why has her father never mentioned it before? Mo has no idea because her father has left town, and his only comment on the audition has been encouraging her not to try out. But Mo is determined. This time, she’s not going to fail…
The story is told from the perspective of the vivacious and determined main character, Mo, whose growth from idol worship and self-doubt to confidence is juxtaposed with the mystery of her father’s unexpected departure. As readers watch both plots unravel, they will also learn a great deal about Chinese culture from the perspective of a second-generation immigrant struggling to straddle both worlds. The story is fast-paced and riveting, with descriptions of Taekwondo that are so well-written they seem to leap off the page.
The Legendary Mo Seto is a touching but action-packed coming-of-age tale, perfect for readers who love action, mystery, and immersion in a good fight scene.
Buy the Book
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.
Read Our Exclusive Interview with A. Y. Chan, Creator of ‘The Legendary Mo Seto’
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. This is a sponsored*, non-biased review of The Legendary Mo Seto. Learn more about getting a book review …
2 Comments
i would love to win
Thanks. Great interview.