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Team Chu and the Battle of Blackwood Arena (Team Chu, 1) Hardcover – July 26, 2022

5.0 5.0 out of 5 stars 9 ratings

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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 commercial 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?

A 2023 CBC Teacher and Librarians Favorite

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From the Publisher

Team Chu Header

Adrianna Cuevas Review

Akemi Dawn Bowman Review

E. L. Shen Review

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 4–8—Clip and Sadie Chu may be siblings, but they have nothing in common—nothing, save for laser tag. But what their friends see as a fun game, Clip and Sadie view as a way to prove who is the best Chu. When the Blackwood Gaming Arena opens, promising the most epic virtual reality laser tag games ever, the siblings compete fiercely to reach the top of the leaderboard first. When they start seeing a strange boy in the laser tag arenas, they slowly realize he's not just part of the game: this boy is trapped in the game, and it's up to Clip, Sadie, and their friends to get him out—if they can get out themselves. Dao is a bright voice in middle grade fiction, crafting characters and plot in a way that feels effortless. The supporting cast is as well developed as Sadie and Clip, and the different laser tag games create vivid, immersive settings throughout. Clip, Sadie, and the dynamics of their Vietnamese American family work are just as engaging as the dramatic laser tag scenes, and the combination of these elements creates a well-paced story where readers are equally invested in the emotional growth of the characters and the action-packed plot. VERDICT A fresh title that weaves elements of sports stories and sci-fi with realism and beautifully developed characters, in a way that makes this story irresistible.—Kristin Brynsvold

Review

"Dao is a bright voice in middle grade fiction, crafting characters and plot in a way that feels effortless...A fresh title that weaves elements of sports stories and sci-fi with realism and beautifully developed characters, in a way that makes this story irresistible." School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

"Through the siblings’ alternating perspectives and respective internal struggle... Dao (
Song of the Crimson Flower) delves into the Chu’s intergenerational dynamics, pressures, and expectations. A rousing adventure and heartwarming series opener." Publishers Weekly

"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." ―
Booklist

“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

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (July 26, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 037438875X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0374388751
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8 - 12 years
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 4 - 6
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 1.3 x 8.55 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    5.0 5.0 out of 5 stars 9 ratings

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Julie C. Dao
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Julie C. Dao is the critically acclaimed author of many books. Her novels have earned starred reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly, and won recognition from the Junior Library Guild, YALSA, and the American Library Association. A proud Vietnamese-American who was born in upstate New York, she now lives in New England.

Customer reviews

5 out of 5 stars
9 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2022
    I loved this book! This story was SO much fun, emotional, educational, and everything all in one. I love all stories with VR or VR like gaming, laser tag, and gaming in general, and sibling and family stories are the best too.
    This story is about Clip and Sadie - brother and sister and how they're both very competitive and want to prove themselves to each other and prove that they can do anything the other can do or that they want to do. They both have an extreme love of laser tag, so they both get super excited when the Blackwood Gaming Arena comes to their town.
    When both of them and their group of friends go to the new gaming place with the VR headsets and laser tag they see a mysterious figure in the game that claims to be part of it, but they find themselves suspicious of this figure at first and then they find themselves on a quest in the game. They have to find and figure things out relating to/with this mysterious figure and discover if they can work together to figure things out or not. This is a super fun story that teaches about teamwork, friends, family, and figuring things out. I would recommend this to anyone who loves Middle-Grade fantasy, gaming fiction, or the like. I'm excited for the next book in this series and to see what happens with Clip, Sadie, and their friends next.
    Thanks so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for letting me read and review this awesome story. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2022
    What a page-turning fun-tastic adventure with characters I was rooting for the entire way! Highly recommend this book for readers who love gaming, adventure, and stories about siblings and friends!
    One person found this helpful
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