The Legendary Mo Seto (1)

I received a complimentary copy of "The Legendary Mo Seto" direct from the author A.Y. Chan in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

I love the voice of Mo. She freely speaks about her insecurities and regularly has these self-talks to herself to encourage her to find her inner courage and the bravery she needs to do what her heart wants but her mind hesitates to realise she can handle. In those moments, you recognise a part of yourself in Mo. Especially in the years of your own life where your confidence in self wasn't fully realised and when you were still sorting it all out. Your own strength, life in general and how to handle your peers and classmates. Life is show more muddling at times but especially so whilst growing up - because you're still understanding the world at large whilst sorting out who you want to be as you grow, too. Mo has a distinctively relatable voice because as she experiences what she's going through it is something that you can look back and reflect upon through your own memories. The circumstances might be different naturally but who hasn't felt like Mo? Where you dare yourself to do something that challenges you but you're not sure you have the ability to accomplish it?

Every girl should have a friend like Nacho in her life - the guy who is as equally bemused by his friend as he is intrigued. Mo challenges Nacho as much as she inspires him. The friendship is a beautiful one as their on the cusp of growing up but their growing together which is what makes the friendship work so wickedly. I love how she can go to Nacho no matter how late at night and he's always ready to provide assistance or aide and do whatever he can to help Mo. You gather a sense there is a budding connection between them that moves past friendship, too, as they have such a close friendship, I could see in time that they might want to consider something else past it. Their still young yet in the story but sometimes that is how it goes in life - close childhood friends mature into a relationship by the time they reach high school.

There is an EPIC conclusion to this story, and I loved how Chan opened the door for this to become a trilogy! At least, that is the liberty I took in concluding this particular story. There are three different windows into the past which can interconnect to the future and those particular windows are hidden. It would be brilliant if each installment focused on how to find and protect those windows of knowledge for future generations. On a personal note, it was a wicked riveting adventure start to finish, and I was overjoyed by how much action was inclusive to the ending! At one point you're not even sure how Mo is going to get through the scenes because of how intensive the action became and how dramatic everything shifted to become a fight to live scenario! My favourite part of the ending, too, was how Mo realised that she had everyone she needed in her life - from family to friends to even the possibility of something more as well.

The Ledendary Mo Seto is a new Middle Grade heroine to celebrate because she reaffirms what we all know to be true of ourselves: our strength is our courage, and our courage is our confidence. We each have something unique to contribute to the world and just by being ourselves we give ourselves the freedom to live daringly fierce!

// This is a quotation of my full review originally shared via jorielovesastory.com show less

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 show more 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! show less

A. Y. Chan’s "The Legendary Mo Seto" is a compelling tale that deftly combines martial arts, family dynamics, and cultural heritage into a gripping narrative. At its heart is Mo Seto, a strong and determined female protagonist who learns that true strength lies not in size but in mastering strategies tailored for her smaller frame—a powerful message for anyone navigating a world that often underestimates them.

The story dives deep into the rich cultural heritage of its characters, offering a thoughtful exploration of identity and tradition. Mo’s journey is enriched by her family dynamics, including secrets and relatable parent-child relationships, which add emotional depth to the narrative. The insight into the movie auditioning show more process is both entertaining and revealing, providing a unique backdrop for Mo’s challenges and triumphs.

Chan’s characters are well-rounded and in-depth, with each individual contributing meaningfully to the story. The rivalry within the plot is handled with nuance, revealing the deeper motivations and needs that drive competition. However, the book also highlights the persistent gender divide in martial arts, as Mo stands out as one of the few female contestants in a male-dominated field. While this divide is stark, the story’s diverse cast brings a refreshing breadth to the narrative.

The action sequences, especially when Mo faces off against the bad guys, are thrilling and well-paced, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. These moments of excitement are balanced by quieter, introspective scenes that ground the story in authenticity.

Overall, "The Legendary Mo Seto" is an inspiring and entertaining read that champions resilience, strategy, and the importance of staying true to oneself. It’s a must-read for fans of martial arts stories and those who appreciate strong female leads breaking barriers. show less

Action mixes with determination and heart to form an exciting adventure from beginning to end. And yes, this one is hitting my possible favorites of the year list.
Mo loves taekwondo, and while she's always excelled, she can't seem to beat one person, Dax. While she once out-did him, he's grown and become so much larger than her puny 4'6". Gosh, she hates being short. Add that her mother is constantly badgering her to try something else, and she's more than frustrated. Her biggest supporter, her dad, isn't there for her either, especially when he takes off for a company emergency and doesn't even respond when she informs him that she's trying out for a movie role to play alongside the most amazing action star ever! Mom doesn't know show more anything about this, but Mo is determined and pretty good at being sneaky. Until she learns that they only want people over 5 feet tall...and Dax is there, too. Somehow, she's going to seal this role, even if it's basically impossible.

This is such a fun read! It surrounds Mo, who is at odds with her height and doesn't seem to get support from almost anyone. The feeling of inadequacy and not being satisfied with ones' own appearance is something which will ring true with almost every reader in some way. Luckily, this struggle, while propelling the plot, doesn't overburden it, either. Mo is amazing character with a heroine heart, and that brings her from one tense scene to the next. It never talks down to readers, but lets them sink into an exciting tale with danger, amazing fight scenes, and high stakes. It is hard to put down and promises unexpected twists and turns the entire way through. Action fans and martial art enjoyers are going to like this one. show less

I had about as much fun as is permitted by law while reading this.

Sure, it's an MG book, so I'm a few decades older than the target audience. I guessed almost all of the big reveals (I think attentive MG readers will get most of them, too), I'm pretty sure I know how the next two books are going to go, and I rolled my eyes at some of the sillier aspects of the book. That's not a problem with Chan's writing—I think it means she hit her target. The fact that she was able to write for them while keeping an old guy like me entertained is to be commended.

This is a fast, engaging read that will entice readers from the jump and keep them turning pages (likely with a grin) almost as fast as Mo can dash around. Older readers will want to adopt show more Mo and Nacho as kid siblings (or false grandparents), and younger readers will want to be like Mo—and hang out with her friends. As good as the story and the writing are (and Chan's subtle prose is deceptively easy)—readers are going to walk away from this book thinking primarily of this determined and brave girl, who will muster up whatever she has to in order to get a shot at her dreams.

I'm leaving things out that I should be saying, I know I am—but I can't think of what they are at the moment. So be sure to see what other people on the Tour are saying. So let me just wrap up by saying that for the young or young-at-heart reader, this is a sure-fire win. show less

SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!! Chills on chills on chills!!!! This book. Oh my god. The flow, pull, sparkle, twists, turns, bright fire, and unexpected wisdom of this story had me wrapped up in Mo’s experience from the first page. This is one of those books where I know I’ll carry the characters and the story with me for the rest of my life. New permanent residents for my mind palace. I’d recommend this book to any person, young or adult, who needs a boost of self-belief and a chiropractic adjustment for their point of view. Absolutely fantastic. I hope to god there will be sequels upon sequels. Mo, Nacho, Dax, Gramps, Mo’s parents, Jun, Cody - I am deeply invested in all the characters introduced in this book, and I could feel the magic of show more their burgeoning storylines almost immediately. A truly surprising, beautiful, action-packed, openhearted book. show less

In a Nutshell A power-packed adventurous ride for middle-graders. Loved the characters, the martial arts, and the focus on Chinese culture. An excellent OwnVoices debut. Much recommended!

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Plot Preview:

Modesty Seto, aka Mo, is a highly competitive twelve-year-old taekwondo champ who always seeks the gold medal. Her mother isn’t happy with her passion for martial arts, but her dad is her biggest supporter. Lately though, her dad seems to have other priorities, and this hampers Mo’s confidence, as does her losing streak against her archnemesis Dax, who has grown much bigger than her. Oh, why does she have to be so petite?
When Mo hears of a chance to audition for the latest movie of Cody Kwok, her favourite

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actor and a mind-blowing martial artist, she is willing to do whatever it takes to star in the movie, even if it means going against some explicit instructions. Her plan is aided by a mysterious book, though it soon becomes clear that the book comes with its share of dangers as well.
The story comes to us in Mo’s first person perspective.

Bookish Yays: show less