Mo Seto loves taekwondo. Her mom’s not quite happy about it. She’d rather Mo take ballet or something similar. But Mo’s dad introduced Mo to martial arts and she never looked back. But now she’s 12 and so much smaller than the classmates she’s practiced with for years. Especially Dax who has grown to giant proportions and who Mo keeps losing to in competition. All Mo wants is to be big. And to be as badass as her hero, movie star Cody Kwok. When she finds out about an audition to be in his next movie, she jumps at the opportunity. But that’s when things start to fall apart. Mo needs to dig deep inside herself or she may not come out alive.
This is a fantastic book! Ok, so I’m not hip to all the lying Mo does, but she’s like the Little Engine That Could. Nothing is going to stop her. But she’s not foolhardy or dumb. She can think on the fly and she’s had years of practice defending herself, so it’s exciting to see her actions in times of stress. She fails, she grows (unfortunately not taller lol), and, more importantly, she learns. The writing is great and the plot proceeds at a good clip. Mo is a wonderful character who is surrounded by other wonderful characters. Yes, even nemesis Dax. This book may be in the Middle Grade section, but I recommend it for everyone!
Why I wrote this book:
I started training in taekwondo when I was six and, growing up, I longed to read books about kick-butt girls doing kick-butt things, but there really weren't as many as I had hoped for. The idea for this book has been percolating in my head ever since. I wish to inspire kids not only to be brave and never give up, but also to be proud of who they are.
I was also inspired by martial arts movies—especially the stunt actors and body doubles, and the thugs in the background serving as punching bags for the protagonist. As an introvert, I never wanted to be the main character...but to get beat up by the main character? That seemed awesome. After achieving my black belt in Taekwondo, I explored other types of martial arts and came away with an appreciation for the similarities and differences in the different forms, and how each has a unique philosophy linking the physical to the mental (and spiritual). Martial arts is about discipline and practice, but it's also about respect (for oneself and for others) and integrity. And, of course, indomitable spirit, the all-encompassing light within us all that shines with determination and hope and an unshakable optimism for a brighter tomorrow.
A.Y.
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