The Legendary Mo Seto is a fun middle grade novel by debut author A.Y. Chan. Mo Seto is twelve and she dreams of being a taekwondo champion, but her small size puts her at a disadvantage when competing against other kids. Mo’s upset after losing her last competition, and feels like her once supportive dad is now disappointed in her. When Mo finds out about an audition for a new movie starring her favourite martial artist and actor, Mo jumps at the chance to redeem herself and show everyone, including her dad, that she’s capable of competing against anyone regardless of her size. 

 

Mo is an endearing character and I loved following her journey! She’s determined, brave and fierce. Mo shows herself and everyone else that it’s okay to be short, and being small doesn’t make her any less of a taekwondo star. I love her supportive best friend and his lovable grandpa, and the new friends she makes while she auditions. While Mo’s dad distances himself, Mo’s relationship with her mom strengthens and it was wonderful to see them grow closer. 

 

There’s a big mystery surrounding Mo’s dad and his family which adds a lot of intriguing back story to the plot. This mystery is compelling, and it helps Mo learn about herself and her ancestors. If you’re interested in picking this up I suggest you avoid reading the publisher’s synopsis because it gives too much away. 

 

I wasn’t completely satisfied with the ending—as an adult reader, I was left with some questions and concerns about the implications of the ending. It felt heavy to me and I think that’s because it felt too real, or maybe because the ending took such a serious turn. There are some minor fantasy elements in this book but it’s mostly an adventurous contemporary story where the villains are real people, not fantasy monsters. That said, I’m sure kids will love Mo and her action-packed story. This is an enjoyable and refreshing debut and I look forward to reading more from A.Y. Chan. 

 

Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada & NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC to review.