Team Chu and the Battle of Blackwood Arena [Paperback]

A rollicking, action-packed adventure of laser tag and fierce sibling rivalries,Team Chu and the Battle of Blackwood Arenais the first book in a commercial middle grade fantasy series by Julie C. Dao.

Clip and Sadie Chu couldnt be more different. Popular, athletic Clip wants to become his schools 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,reallylove it.

When the Blackwood Gaming Arena comes to town, bringing virtual reality headsets and state-of-the-art courses, they couldnt be more excitedor 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 theyre far better off working together than competing for the ultimate victory?

A 2023 CBC Teacher and Librarians Favorite

Julie C. Daois the critically acclaimed author of many books for teens and children includingForest of a Thousand LanternsandBroken Wish. Her novels have earned starred reviews fromBooklist,School Library Journal, andPublishers Weekly, won recognition as Junior Library Guild Selections and Kids' Indie Next List picks, and landed on multiple best-of-year lists including YALSA and the American Library Association. A proud Vietnamese-American who was born in upstate New York, she now lives in New England.

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 l#"