Team Chu and the Wild Ghost Chase

Team Chu #3

by Julie C. Dao

In this Team Chu adventure, Vietnamese-American siblings Clip and Sadie Chu—and friends—must unearth the mystery behind a haunted Halloween carnival.

When Iggy Morales's stylish cat, Tuba, becomes famous on social media, he scores an invite to a star-studded pet fashion show at Spooky World. The family-friendly, Halloween-themed indoor carnival is the place to be on the last weekend in October, so of course Iggy brings all of his friends, including Clip and Sadie. The kids expect to ride thrilling rollercoasters, play games in the midway, and eat fried dough and candy apples, but they encounter a different kind of excitement a ghost called the Weeping Lady, who has haunted Spooky World for decades, appears and asks for their help.

The Weeping Lady sends Iggy and his friends on a mysterious, action-packed scavenger hunt all over the sprawling theme park, giving them cryptic clues and communicating with Iggy’s seemingly clairvoyant cat, Tuba. If the kids can piece the story together and complete this wild ghost chase, they might just uncover the truth behind what really happened to Spooky World’s most infamous spirit.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Mystery, Paranormal, Adventure, Contemporary

314 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 10, 2024

About the author

Julie C. Dao is the award-winning author of many books from Disney, Macmillan, Penguin Random House, and more. Her novels have earned starred reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly, and her "Rise of the Empress" books are being made into a major television series at Amazon MGM Studios.

A proud Vietnamese-American who was born in upstate New York, she now lives in New England.

Pronunciation: JOOL-lee DOW
Pronouns: She/Her

Reviews

[Julie]

Author's Note : The Team Chu series has three books featuring middle school-aged siblings Clip and Sadie Chu and their group of friends going off on fun, supernatural-tinged adventures! Each book stands alone as a separate, complete adventure, so they can be read in any order you like!

TEAM CHU AND THE WILD GHOST CHASE is a spooky tale about the kids solving a mystery at a haunted Halloween carnival.

Clip's best friend, Iggy, has a stylish cat named Tuba who gets famous on social media! Tuba is invited to walk the runway at the Pet Gala fashion show, which takes place at an enormous indoor Halloween carnival called Spooky World. Iggy invites Clip, Sadie, and friends along for the fun.

But instead of just riding rollercoasters, playing games in the midway, and eating fried dough and candy apples, the kids discover a different type of excitement: Spooky World's most notorious ghost, the Weeping Lady, appears and asks them for help! She sends them on a mysterious, action-packed scavenger hunt throughout the sprawling theme park. If the kids can complete this wild ghost chase, they might just find out exactly what happened to her.

This book is an ode to Goosebumps and all of the spooky stories I loved as a kid! It's told from three of the kids' POVs: Clip, Sadie, and Iggy, and there are full-page illustrations from the talented Chi Ngo in this book!

I'm really excited to share this in October 2024!


The Team Chu series :

- THE BATTLE OF BLACKWOOD ARENA: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

- THE EPIC HERO QUEST: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

- THE WILD GHOST CHASE: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...


Cover art and interior illustrations: Chi Ngo
Cover design: Aurora Parlagreco

[Dusty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julie C. Dao has created another fun middle grade adventure book with her latest installment in the Team Chu series, Team Chu and the Wild Ghost Chase. Tuba the Cat’s influencer status (courtesy of siblings Marta and Iggy Morales) has landed him a coveted invitation to the Spooky World Pet Gala, so they invite all their friends to join them for the weekend. Once there, they get involved in another mystery and have to find out what happened to the legendary “Weeping Lady” before it’s too late.

The author does a great job in bringing in problems the average middle schooler would face to these books. Sadie is struggling in school, but doesn’t want to tell her parents becuase of how proud they were that she tested into the higher classes. Her older brother Clip is desperate for recognition for his talents on the soccer field, but that causes a lot of conflict with his lifelong best friend (and fellow co-captain) Derek. Their other friends do their best to help with each situation, but can’t really get in the middle. Overall, I think the author did a great job making the problems feel authentic and relatable, especially for the intended audience of these books.

The other highlight of this book for me was worldbuilding. Ms. Dao did such a great job creating the amusement park that is Spooky World. Even for a scaredy cat like me (who won’t go anywhere near places like Universal Halloween Horror Nights), I could definitely see myself wanting to visit Spooky World. There’s something for everyone at this place - she designed cool new rides, museums, spooky treats and even haunted houses. The way she wove in the legend of the Weeping Lady was great, and I really enjoyed the way the mystery unfolded at the ending of the book.

Narrators Angela Tran, Richard Nguyen, and Andrew Joseph Perez did an excellent job with bringing the kid’s perspectives to life. While this is the current projected end of the series, I would really love to see more books set in this world. I recommend the Team Chu series to those who would enjoy middle grade adventure books filled with friendship, mystery, and just a touch of the fantastical/supernatural.

[belle ☆ﾐ (thisbellereadstoo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

rep: vietnamese, puerto rican

sadie has always excelled in school, but now, as a sixth grader taking advanced seventh-grade classes, her grades are beginning to slip. afraid of disappointing her parents, she puts all the pressure on herself, determined to push harder and make things right. meanwhile, clip is wrestling with his own insecurities. though he’s co-captain of his soccer team, his anxiety and jealousy threaten not only his confidence but also one of his closest friendships.

the chu siblings and their friends head to spooky world, where tuba—iggy’s beloved cat and newly minted tiktok star—has been invited to a pet gala. iggy, acting as the cat’s film director, and his sister marta, the fashion designer behind tuba’s looks, both hope to prove to their parents that their creative pursuits are more than just hobbies.

i really loved the contrast between sadie and clip’s parents, who are endlessly supportive and encouraging, and tess’ father, who embodies harsher expectations. the chu parents, especially father chu, who grew up under strict demands himself, simply want their children to thrive and be happy.

i wasn’t expecting the spooky theme of this installment, but it worked perfectly. the group teams up to solve the mystery of the weeping lady, following a trail of clues that leads to a story both bittersweet and heartbreaking. while tuba’s adorable presence definitely stole the show, the kids each contributed their unique strengths, making the mystery-solving both fun and heartwarming.

as the trilogy wraps up, i really appreciated how much sadie and clip grew as individuals while also strengthening their bond as siblings. team chu and the wild ghost chase was a satisfying conclusion to a series full of friendship, family, and teamwork.

[Kylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
This book was just so fun. We had several POV's, I think like 4 or 5. The main story line is that Iggy and Marta have a cat named Tuba. Tuba is extremely Tik Tok famous. He gets invited to the Pet Gala at Spooky World, an indoor amusement park. Clip and Sadie, and Derek and Jeremy go as well. Once they get there, they meet Tess who's dad works there and she helps out sometimes (she's the same age as the kids, 12 or 13). They learn of the Weeping Lady, a ghost that is said to be seen around the amusement park. The ghost seems to be trying to get the kids to understand something and they have to figure out what.
The kids all have a fun relationship, though there was a sub plot of Clip and Derek fighting because of how competitive Clip is. I have to say, that wasn't my favorite part of the book, it seemed to not connect in with the rest of the book. 2 of the parents (Iggy's mom who is their Tik Tok account manager/helper and Clip and Sadie's dad) go along and they stay at Iggy's mom's sister's house. I love when parents are portrayed as happy and heathy and there for their kids especially in middle grade books.
The atmosphere of this book was great. I could clearly picture this amusement park. It had like 8 floors which is insane to me. I've never seen an indoor amusement park, but I could see it in my head. The rides were described so vividly that I felt like I was there along with the kids.
The plot was so engaging. I really loved the ghost storyline. I love how it played out and how it ended. I also did like Tuba's involvement. It wasn't only the pet gala he was involved in. The ending was really powerful and I loved it.
This is the third book in the series, but I have not read the second. These books can all be read as standalones and I will confirm that. There were a couple extremely vague references to the other 2 books, but nothing that had to do with the actual plot and it actually really made me want to go and read the second one.
I definitely recommend if you like middle grade ghost stories!
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Children for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

In TEAM CHU AND THE WILD GHOST CHASE, when Iggy and Marla’s TikTok famous cat Tuba is invited to a swanky Pet Gala at the Spooky World amusement park, the Team Chu crew embarks on a trip to enjoy the park and the festivities. Soon after their arrival at the park, the friends meet Tess, whose father works at the park. She tells the group about the Weeping Lady, a ghost who haunts the park, then joins them as they become wrapped up in a scavenger hunt that they hope will solve the mystery behind the ghost once and for all.

With its multiple levels and array of attractions from rides to restaurants to museum exhibits, the amusement park setting provides the perfect backdrop for the friends’ adventures as they try to unravel the mystery. The relationships between the different kids and between the kids and their parents are relatable and realistic. While this is the third installment in a series, like the first two books, this one also works as a standalone read. Fast paced and action-filled with age-appropriate spooky elements that readers crave, this was a great read from start to finish and perfect for fall or Halloween reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of the book to read.

[Gumiho Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 star

Dream big, be creative, and you might find what’s haunting a place.

Team Chu and the Wild Ghost Chase by Julie C. Dao is the third book in the Team Chu Series and is a creative and fun experience.

I freaking love Tuba! I may or may not be a little obsessed with this cat and may or may not want to actually watch its videos. Between the cat costumes and the supermodel, what’s not to love?

It’s so fun how Iggy wants to become a director, it’s not his dream, it’s his destiny! 😉 That combined with the competition, Tuba, and the overall ghost chase, there’s so much to explore in this story and so much to have fun with. Plus, there’s several different cultures within the story which brings out a lot more diversity.

This is fantastic for children aged 8-12 and assisted reading with younger readers. It’s great for diverse reads in the classroom, parents reading with kids, kids reading on their own. If you’re looking for some mystery and adventure, then this is for you!

Other books in the series: Book 1- Team Chu and the Battle of Blackwood Arena, Book 2- Team Chu and the Epic Hero Quest

*This was an honest review for a complimentary copy of Team Chu and the Wild Ghost Chase from Julie C. Dao via NetGalley

[Amy Wolford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Team Chu is back for a new adventure. This time they are headed to Spooky World for a Pet Gala for Iggy's cat Tuba. While there they come across a mystery involving a ghost.

These books are just so fun. I love all the characters even the side ones. The parents are also super supportive of their children which is refreshing considering a lot of the middle grade books have awful parents. Iggy definitely stole the show in this one for good reason. He is just such a easy going character what's not to love. I wish Spooky World was real. This is a theme park I would love to go to.

The only thing i did not like about the book was the jealousy/competition between Chip and Derek. In every book Chip has issues with being shown up. I thought they were resolved in the last book but I guess I was wrong. I don't know this while part didn't jive with the rest of the book.

I really hope there is a book 4. I am thoroughly enjoying this series. They are fast paced, well written, imaginative works. Any age would enjoy them.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan children for an eARC of Team Chu and the Wild Ghost Chase.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Team Chu has a mystery to solve and they get to do it at a haunted amusement park! Iggy and his sister have a cat named Tuba that has become an internet sensation, thanks to their combined talents. They have been invited to bring Tuba to a pet fashion show at Spooky World, an indoor carnival. The Team Chu families all decide to go along for the experience. Once they get there, a ghost known as The Weeping Lady starts interacting with them, including Tuba. She seems to be sending them on a scavenger hunt around the park to help her somehow. Can they figure out what she wants before the fashion show at the end of the weekend?
Savvy readers will quickly figure out what is happening with the Weeping Lady but that will not spoil the enjoyment of the book. The characters are authentic in their interactions with each other and their family members which is part of what makes it such a good read.
Not necessary to read #2 but helps to read #1 to know who everyone is

[Jeni Enjaian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This third book spans a much tighter time frame - a single weekend - than the first two with around a hundred less pages as well. Dao continues to expand the point of view and representation by including one of Clip's best friends, Iggy (Ignacio), who manages to pick up a supernaturally connected cat in book 2 who has now become a TikTok sensation. This installment leans much more into the fantastical while remaining rooted in the real world. This narrative did not break any new ground but I found the structure and overall arc of the plot enjoyable. Team Chu adds yet another member which worked in this installment but made me wonder how Dao will be able to continue this type of expansion if she plans to. That being said, I think that this book makes for an engaging read that many middle school students could enjoy.

[Glenna Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Team Chu is back in another adventure, this time with a ghost at the center. Iggy's cat Tuba, now a media sensation wearing his sister's amazing fashion creations, is due to compete in a pet show at Spooky World, a family-friendly Halloween theme park. Events quickly spiral out of control as Tuba takes every opportunity to follow the local ghost, the Weeping Lady. Iggy, along with his friends Clip and Sadie Chu and others meet Tess, daughter of the park's manager. Together, they solve the mystery of the Weeping Lady and work out friendship issues along the way. This is the third book in the series. All of them have been enjoyable reads.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

The Battle of Blackwood Arena had laser tag, The Epic Hero Quest had a fantasy video game, and this newest installment has an amusement park! Dao knows her way around a fun setting, and I liked that she herself has said that these can be read in any order, since they are all separate adventures. This had more of the fantasy elements of the second book, but plenty of action and adventure like the first. Fun characters, an enticing cover, and the added appeal of both ghosts AND cats!

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Iggy and Marta's TikTok star cat gets invited to a Pet Gala award show at a haunt-themed indoor amusement park, all of their friends come with, and they have to solve a decades long murder mystery. I hadn't read the first two, but this stands alone brilliantly. I love these characters, who are flawed and loved, and the ghost story was SO GOOD. I would have been obsessed with this as a kid--and honestly, I kind of still am. It hit every one of my favorite things. I can't wait to add this to our scary stories and mysteries bibs.

[Sophy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun and spooky story for the younger readers, we have a group of young kids with their issues they are struggling with. The story shows each character from their point of view so you can get to know each character at a deeper level. They go to a spooky theme park for compassion for their pet cat, strange haunted things happening, and a mystery they have to solve together. It's a great spooky season read for the older elementary to junior high kids.

[Bookish2theMax · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun and spooky book! I loved the first two in the series and this newest instalment did not disappoint! A perfect October read.