Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit

Description

Theo Tan doesn't want a spirit companion. He just wants to be a normal American kid, playing video games and using cirth pendants to cast his spells like everyone else. But, when his older brother dies, Theo ends up inheriting Jamie's fox spirit, Kai. Kai isn't happy about this either. Theo is nothing like Jamie, and the two of them have never gotten along. Yet, it soon becomes clear that something strange was going on with Jamie's internship at Reapling Corp, and the only way onto the campus is the highly competitive "Know Your Roots" summer camp program, a celebration of Chinese and Indian cultures designed to help connect students with their heritage. Can Theo and Kai put aside their differences long enough to honor Jamie's last wishes, or will the mystery he died for remain unsolved forever?

Jesse Q. Sutanto, author of Dial A for Aunties, grew up shuttling back and forth between Indonesia, Singapore, and England, and considers all three places her home. She has forty-two first cousins and thirty aunties and uncles, many of whom live just down the road. When she's not writing, she's playing games with her husband, or making a mess in the kitchen with her two daughters.

Heart-felt and heart-pounding, this book will have you cheering Theo on as he sets out to find the magic of his heritage! (Both figurative and literal!) -- Xiran Jay Zhao, author of the #1 NYT Bestseller Iron Widow Wildly imaginative, laugh-out-loud funny, and full of heart, Theo Tan is an absolute delight. I didn't want it to end! --Nicole Lesperance, author of The Nightmare Thief and The Wide Starlight Brimming with imagination, heart, and delicious humor, Theo Tan is utterly unputdownable. It deals with serious and meaningful lessons like overcoming grief and rediscovering one's roots, but ultimately, it's a story about how magic lives in all of us - if we only let it shine. A total must-read! (Also, if anyone has contacts for summoning a fox spirit companion, hook me up...) -- Graci Kim, author of The Last Fallen Star A page-turning story about a magical and daring quest full of sparkling humor! I especially loved Theo's sarcastic and funny fox spirit companion who isn't thrilled to be paired with Theo, but along the way, the two learn that teamwork is necessary to defeat evil. I was rooting for a reluctant Theo to connect to his Chinese heritage so that he could experience the full power of his magic! -- Debbi Michiko Florence, author of Just Be Cool, Jenna Sakai Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit is brimming with wonder, heart, adventure, and enchantment. I couldn't put it down! Theo's journey of self-discovery is full of spirit, hope, and important lessons for us all. Sutanto's unique magic system blends enchantment with modern technology, creating a fresh and vibrant version of our world that you'll never want to leave. This is middle grade fantasy at its finest. --Alex Aster, award-winning author of the Emblem Island series Sutanto blends Chinese culture and history to build a world of dragons, demons, spell casting, and code breaking.... This is a natural choice for kids who like Rick Riordan's brand of mythology-fueled fantasy adventures, and it will be an especially good read-alike for Laurence Yep's classic Tiger's Apprentice series. -- Booklist Kai, the wily fox spirit, is a star, all sass and blustery confidence covering up her shattered heart, bereft of her human companion. Her shapeshifting is a boon to their quest, and it carries them both as Theo slowly comes into his own as a smart, capable co-hero in their adventure. -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (BCCB) This action-packed fantasy should have wide appeal. Sutanto creates a sense of urgency from the first page .... And though Theo's story largely relies on Chinese gods and monsters, Sutanto deftly weaves in reminders that this is only one of a great many distinct cultures in Asia. -- School Library Journal