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Nate Yu's Blast from the Past: boy meets ghost in a tale of unlikely friendship
A bighearted tale of family, forgotten stories and the search for belonging, from award-winning author Maisie Chan. Perfect for fans of Benjamin Dean, Jenny Pearson and Helen Rutter.
'A firecracker of a book - packed with sparks and surprises' - Frank Cottrell-Boyce
'Truly captivating' - Jen Carney
'An absolute delight' - Clare Weze
'Tender, funny and heartfelt' - Nazima Pathan
Nate Yu Riley loves three his Switch, his ant farm (especially Betsy, queen of the colony) and his family.
He's not so sure about some other things, like moving to a big city, starting a new school, and his parents making him do Chinese stuff. They're always trying to get him to embrace his heritage, but Nate can't speak Chinese, and he doesn't know anything about Chinese customs.
But when Nate comes across an old shell casing engraved with a Chinese dragon, he can't stop thinking about it. And when he touches the shell, someone extraordinary appears. A ghost from long ago. Someone who needs Nate's help - and Nate might just need his, too ...
'A firecracker of a book - packed with sparks and surprises' - Frank Cottrell-Boyce
'Truly captivating' - Jen Carney
'An absolute delight' - Clare Weze
'Tender, funny and heartfelt' - Nazima Pathan
Nate Yu Riley loves three his Switch, his ant farm (especially Betsy, queen of the colony) and his family.
He's not so sure about some other things, like moving to a big city, starting a new school, and his parents making him do Chinese stuff. They're always trying to get him to embrace his heritage, but Nate can't speak Chinese, and he doesn't know anything about Chinese customs.
But when Nate comes across an old shell casing engraved with a Chinese dragon, he can't stop thinking about it. And when he touches the shell, someone extraordinary appears. A ghost from long ago. Someone who needs Nate's help - and Nate might just need his, too ...
- GenresMiddle Grade
211 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 12, 2025
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 20, 2025
Nate Yu Riley is a marvellous protagonist, balancing his thirst for knowledge and understanding (massive shout out to his journal and ant-monitoring subplot) with the emotional complexity of navigating his identity. Maisie Chan has captured the beauty of the various types of relationship he engages with too. His friendships with Missy and Ryan, his brotherly relationship with ghost Jirou, and his familial relationships with his parents, are all explored so deeply but without any sacrifice from the plot. Every dynamic is natural and enjoyable, and this cast of characters is one to savour.
Jirou’s storyline is absolutely heartbreaking and taught me so much I never had a clue about surrounding the war and the glory the British took that should’ve also been showered down onto various other countries and their people. The fact Maisie Chan mentions about the history we’re taught often being a one-sided thing is so true, and I’m grateful for what this book taught me. I cried at the relationship between Jirou and Nate, Jirou and Ping An, and Jirou and his army superiors. He’s one of those characters you leave a book and think about often.
The plot is driven by discovery and transformation, blending mystery with personal growth, and it works sensationally. Nate’s move to the city, his resistance to embracing his heritage, his hesitance about life in general, and then the added appearance of the ghost all intertwines seamlessly, creating a story has you turning from page to page without realising how fast you’re devouring Maisie Chan’s marvellous words. There’s always a concern for me in historical fiction for it to feel like a history lesson and come across as being lectured too, but Maisie Chan has found that magical balance and woven that thread throughout.
I also have to give the obvious shoutout to Maisie for bringing Liverpool to life on the page! As a scouser, I can be a tad biased, but Liverpool really is the most amazing place, but unfortunately in children’s fiction, it, like a lot of Northern cities, doesn’t get much of a look in. And when it does, it’s often non-descript and evident the author has never visited the city nor understands the place they’re writing about. Maisie Chan has translated Liverpool to page perfectly. I’ve spent a lot of time in Liverpool’s Chinatown, my former office of 3 years located within it, and I can say Maisie has done a tremendous job of getting that heart into her novel and I can’t wait for kids in Liverpool to see themselves in this adventure!
Side Note – The inclusion of Atomic Kitten’s Whole Again made my heart burst as I’ve sang that exact song in the very karaoke booth depicted in the novel and have had multiple connections/interactions with Atomic Kitten over the years, so this meant SO much to me. This is where I say a personal, heartfelt thanks to Maisie Chan for creating this heartwarming energy in your writing.
Whilst I head off to belt out Whole Again into a hairbrush like I’m Lizzie McGuire in the opening of the movie, I highly recommend this book of absolute Middle Grade perfection from Maisie Chan…
Jirou’s storyline is absolutely heartbreaking and taught me so much I never had a clue about surrounding the war and the glory the British took that should’ve also been showered down onto various other countries and their people. The fact Maisie Chan mentions about the history we’re taught often being a one-sided thing is so true, and I’m grateful for what this book taught me. I cried at the relationship between Jirou and Nate, Jirou and Ping An, and Jirou and his army superiors. He’s one of those characters you leave a book and think about often.
The plot is driven by discovery and transformation, blending mystery with personal growth, and it works sensationally. Nate’s move to the city, his resistance to embracing his heritage, his hesitance about life in general, and then the added appearance of the ghost all intertwines seamlessly, creating a story has you turning from page to page without realising how fast you’re devouring Maisie Chan’s marvellous words. There’s always a concern for me in historical fiction for it to feel like a history lesson and come across as being lectured too, but Maisie Chan has found that magical balance and woven that thread throughout.
I also have to give the obvious shoutout to Maisie for bringing Liverpool to life on the page! As a scouser, I can be a tad biased, but Liverpool really is the most amazing place, but unfortunately in children’s fiction, it, like a lot of Northern cities, doesn’t get much of a look in. And when it does, it’s often non-descript and evident the author has never visited the city nor understands the place they’re writing about. Maisie Chan has translated Liverpool to page perfectly. I’ve spent a lot of time in Liverpool’s Chinatown, my former office of 3 years located within it, and I can say Maisie has done a tremendous job of getting that heart into her novel and I can’t wait for kids in Liverpool to see themselves in this adventure!
Side Note – The inclusion of Atomic Kitten’s Whole Again made my heart burst as I’ve sang that exact song in the very karaoke booth depicted in the novel and have had multiple connections/interactions with Atomic Kitten over the years, so this meant SO much to me. This is where I say a personal, heartfelt thanks to Maisie Chan for creating this heartwarming energy in your writing.
Whilst I head off to belt out Whole Again into a hairbrush like I’m Lizzie McGuire in the opening of the movie, I highly recommend this book of absolute Middle Grade perfection from Maisie Chan…
August 3, 2025
4.5 stars
It has been hard to find a minute to read recently but I’ve squeezed in Maisie Chan’s new book ‘Nate Yu’s Blast from the Past’.
This is the first novel I’ve read by the author - I vowed to read something feature-length after reading (& loving) her short story in The Super Sunny Murder Club collection.
This is a story about identity, belonging and friendship. About storytelling and whose stories are told. And about the hidden world of ants. The themes are heavy but Chan approaches it with a lightness of touch and there is humour woven throughout. As well as some very touching moments.
Nate Yu Riley fled his last school (for reasons which later become apparent) where he was pretty sad and lonely and he’s having a new start in Liverpool- far removed from the small, rural life he was used to.
Nate lives with his adoptive mums and a colony of ants, who he considers friends. There is so much love in the family unit and his parents are always trying to find ways for Nate to connect with his Chinese heritage but Nate is struggling with his identity.
When a scholar visiting school brings in aretfacts from WW1, there is a paranormal disturbance and Nate finds himself with one more problem on his hands: a restless ghost with a story to tell and a score to settle.
Maisie Chan does a great job of showing how Nate is feeling. He’s dealing with the normal issues of growing up. But he’s also stuck between his own self-perception and other people’s varied expectations of him based on his ethnicity.
Along with Nate and his new friends, readers will learn about the Chinese Labour Corps and their massive contibution to Britain’s war effort, only for them to be mistreated by the establishment and largely written out of history. Learning about this time through the story of Ping An & Aiguo (Jirou) helps the reader connect and feel the injustice of their forgotten lives strongly.
A fun read which made me reflect lots. I can see how powerful this would be for children who see themselves in it.
It has been hard to find a minute to read recently but I’ve squeezed in Maisie Chan’s new book ‘Nate Yu’s Blast from the Past’.
This is the first novel I’ve read by the author - I vowed to read something feature-length after reading (& loving) her short story in The Super Sunny Murder Club collection.
This is a story about identity, belonging and friendship. About storytelling and whose stories are told. And about the hidden world of ants. The themes are heavy but Chan approaches it with a lightness of touch and there is humour woven throughout. As well as some very touching moments.
Nate Yu Riley fled his last school (for reasons which later become apparent) where he was pretty sad and lonely and he’s having a new start in Liverpool- far removed from the small, rural life he was used to.
Nate lives with his adoptive mums and a colony of ants, who he considers friends. There is so much love in the family unit and his parents are always trying to find ways for Nate to connect with his Chinese heritage but Nate is struggling with his identity.
When a scholar visiting school brings in aretfacts from WW1, there is a paranormal disturbance and Nate finds himself with one more problem on his hands: a restless ghost with a story to tell and a score to settle.
Maisie Chan does a great job of showing how Nate is feeling. He’s dealing with the normal issues of growing up. But he’s also stuck between his own self-perception and other people’s varied expectations of him based on his ethnicity.
Along with Nate and his new friends, readers will learn about the Chinese Labour Corps and their massive contibution to Britain’s war effort, only for them to be mistreated by the establishment and largely written out of history. Learning about this time through the story of Ping An & Aiguo (Jirou) helps the reader connect and feel the injustice of their forgotten lives strongly.
A fun read which made me reflect lots. I can see how powerful this would be for children who see themselves in it.
August 2, 2025
Definitely my favourite of Maisie’s books - although they’re all good TBF
This is so clever. Really well researched and the most amazing way to learn about a part of British Chinese history I knew nothing about, along with traditions and culture.
The friendship between the 3 kids is fab, the ghost is done well and all the details with the ants and weaving the storytelling together was clever.
Fab, fab book. Well done Maisie!
This is so clever. Really well researched and the most amazing way to learn about a part of British Chinese history I knew nothing about, along with traditions and culture.
The friendship between the 3 kids is fab, the ghost is done well and all the details with the ants and weaving the storytelling together was clever.
Fab, fab book. Well done Maisie!
May 25, 2025
This is a real gem. Very relatable, and one of the characters is so beautiful and heart-rending – I can’t say which for fear of spoiling, but this book is really worthwhile.
It’s pacy and romps along, yet interweaves the emotion skilfully. I laughed, and yes – I cried. (I learned a lot, too.)
It’s pacy and romps along, yet interweaves the emotion skilfully. I laughed, and yes – I cried. (I learned a lot, too.)
September 6, 2025
Fabulous middle grade novel which combines contemporary and supernatural elements. I listened to the audio version via BorrowBox. You can read my review here: http://vsviewfromthebookshelves.home....
July 23, 2025
3.6
Pretty immersive for a middle grade! Love the ant facts :)
Pretty immersive for a middle grade! Love the ant facts :)
December 30, 2025
This middle-grade is about an adopted British boy who struggles with his Chinese identity.
Nate was given a Chinese middle name by his adoptive Caucasian mothers. They are so keen to keep him connected to his roots that they've uprooted themselves from a quiet village to the big city of Liverpool, so they could have more access to the Chinese community. At his new school, a local historian brings in a few artefacts. An old shell casing catches Nate's eye. When he touches it, he discovers it is more than a piece of metal.
Before delving into this book, I never thought about the Chinese population in UK, nor their role in WW1. I enjoyed learning about the Chinese Labour Corps and how they came to Liverpool. I am very glad this book is written; not just from the historical point of view, but the author has also highlighted the struggles with identity of UK-born Chinese children. I have read books about children of ESEA immigrants eg A Brush with Magic, Loveboat, Taipei and Songs for Ghosts, but they are about American children. This book needed to be written.
Nate was given a Chinese middle name by his adoptive Caucasian mothers. They are so keen to keep him connected to his roots that they've uprooted themselves from a quiet village to the big city of Liverpool, so they could have more access to the Chinese community. At his new school, a local historian brings in a few artefacts. An old shell casing catches Nate's eye. When he touches it, he discovers it is more than a piece of metal.
Before delving into this book, I never thought about the Chinese population in UK, nor their role in WW1. I enjoyed learning about the Chinese Labour Corps and how they came to Liverpool. I am very glad this book is written; not just from the historical point of view, but the author has also highlighted the struggles with identity of UK-born Chinese children. I have read books about children of ESEA immigrants eg A Brush with Magic, Loveboat, Taipei and Songs for Ghosts, but they are about American children. This book needed to be written.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews