Built on Japanese folklore and culture and reminiscent of action-packed manga, this is an emotionally resonant first installment in an exciting new series. With tangible stakes that never let up, this is a propulsive read that will hook you from the start.
A thrilling and charming middle grade fantasy steeped in Japanese lore and mythology, perfect for fans of the Zachary Ying series. Tessa Miyata has never fit in. When she and her two sisters are told they will be staying at their grandparents in Japan, Tessa is thrilled. A summer in Japan could be her chance to go on an adventure worthy of impressing her classmates back home. Her hopes are quickly dashed when, all too soon, she realizes that life in Japan is just like being in California: her sisters are old enough to go into Tokyo, while she can’t even go to the corner store by herself. Plus, her grandparents want her to stay home with the neighbor kid, thirteen-year-old Jin Uehara, who’s made it clear he’s too cool to spend time with a weirdo like her. When Tessa is finally allowed to go to Tokyo, it’s only to join her grandpa’s retiree aerobic class with none other than Jin. Their disastrous forced hang out comes crashing to a halt when Tessa and Jin break the Miyata family’s precious heirloom—accidentally releasing the malicious samurai god Taira Masakado and discovering a hidden part of the city where gods and mythological creatures walk among humans—including their new companion, a mythical nine-tailed fox who may be more trouble than he is help. Despite doing everything to avoid spending another minute together, Tessa and Jin must now work together to stop Taira Masakado before he traps them—and the rest of Tokyo—under his command, forever. Perfect for fans of Rick Riordan and Graci Kim, this brand new fantasy adventure will grip readers from the very first page and never let go.
Julie Abe has lived in Silicon Valley, spent many humid summers in Japan, and currently basks in the sunshine of Southern California (with never enough books or tea), where she creates stories about magical adventures. Of her debut novel, Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch, Kirkus said in a starred review, “Bewitching…a must-read for fantasy lovers.” It was listed as a Best Middle-Grade Book of the Year by Kirkus, the New York Public Library, Bank Street College of Education, and Book Riot. Julie is also the author of several other novels, including Eva Evergreen and the Cursed Witch; Alliana, Girl of Dragons; and Tessa Miyata Is No Hero. She invites you to visit her online at julieabebooks.com.
Sura Siu is a first-generation Asian American voiceover actress who has a passion for breathing life into characters, stories, and the printed word. When not performing, she enjoys playing video games, biking, and meditating.
