Virtual Book Tour: The Legendary Mo Seto by A.Y. Chan

Guest Post

5 musts every story in your genre should have

Writing middle grade is super fun but also tricky. It needs to contain the right balance of excitement and emotion without being too scary or sad, and it should always end on a high note. Here are five “musts” I apply to my own stories, though some can be swapped out, like a strong friendship for a parent-child relationship.

1. An Uplifting Ending: Middle grade stories should leave readers feeling hopeful and happy. Kids need to see that even after challenges, things can turn out well. This doesn’t mean everything has to be perfect, but there should be a sense of resolution and optimism.

2. An Important Relationship with a Parent or Guardian: A significant adult relationship adds depth and grounding to the story. This could also be a grandparent, or mentor. These relationships provide support and wisdom, helping the protagonist grow. If a parent-child relationship doesn’t fit, a strong friendship can also serve this role, offering companionship and loyalty, and someone to bounce around thoughts with.

3. A Middle-Grade Voice: The narrative voice should be relatable and engaging for kids in this age group. Capturing their perspective, full of curiosity and wonder, is key. The voice should reflect how kids see the world, with a mix of innocence and budding maturity, and sprinkled with a bit of humor.

4. A Moral or Lesson: Every good middle-grade story has a takeaway. It’s not about being preachy but subtly weaving a lesson into the narrative. Themes like kindness, bravery, and friendship resonate well. The moral should emerge naturally from the characters’ experiences and growth.

5. Clear Character Growth/Arc: The protagonist should undergo significant development. They might start the story shy and unsure but end up feeling more confident and brave. This growth makes the journey rewarding. It’s crucial to show how the protagonist overcomes obstacles and learns from their experiences, making them relatable and inspiring to readers.

Mo Seto, martial arts movie star! Has a nice ring to it doesn’t it? Too bad there's a height restriction to audition. But 12-year-old Modesty (Mo) Seto has never let her height get in the way before, not when she became a black belt, or when she fought the meanest boy in her class, and she’s not going to let it stop her this time! Now if only she can figure out a way to grow five inches and fool everyone at the auditions…and find time to search for her missing father (who just might be harboring a dangerous secret of his own). Join Mo on an adventure (and audition) of a lifetime and find out if powerful things really do come in small packages!

Publishers Weekly calls THE LEGENDARY MO SETO “Adrenaline pumping”, Kirkus Reviews says it “Packs a punch”, and Booklist calls it “Remarkably relatable.” Leap in and join the fun!

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3X28CJ4

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-legendary-mo-seto-a-y-chan/1144226905

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-legendary-mo-seto-ay-chan/20699961

Excerpt

I may be small, but I am fierce. At least that’s what I keep telling myself. Over and over again. Fierce.

“Charyeot,” the taekwondo tournament referee says in Korean. Attention.

I snap my arms to my sides.

“Kyeong-nae,” the ref says. Bow.

I turn to face my opponent, Dax Washington. His dark skin glistens with sweat. We dip our heads.

I look up to see Dax towering over me, his eyes stormy.

It suddenly occurs to me how much “fierce” sounds like “fears.” Not that I’m scared or anything. I’m not.

“Sijak!” The ref throws up his hand. Begin! Immediately Dax’s large fists hammer down like a hailstorm.

Well, maybe I’m a little worried.

Dax lunges. I block his front kick with my forearm. I flinch and reel back. The ref blows his whistle, but Dax doesn’t stop. I barely have time to move before—oof—another kick nails me in the elbow.

Okay, fine. I’m totally panicking.

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.

A.Y. Chan Social Links:

Twitter/X: https://x.com/AYChanWrites

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aychanwrites/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aychanwrites/

About Book Links:

Website: aychanwrites.com

Simon & Schuster Author Page: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Legendary-Mo-Seto/A-Y-Chan/The-Legendary-Mo-Seto/9781665937320

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