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Team Chu #1
Team Chu and the Battle of Blackwood Arena
A rollicking, action-packed adventure of laser tag and fierce sibling rivalries, Team Chu and the Battle of Blackwood Arena is the first book in a commerical middle grade fantasy series by Julie C. Dao.
Clip and Sadie Chu couldn’t be more different. Popular, athletic Clip wants to become his school’s 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, really love it.
When the Blackwood Gaming Arena comes to town, bringing virtual reality headsets and state-of-the-art courses, they couldn’t be more excited—or 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 they’re far better off working together than competing for the ultimate victory?
Clip and Sadie Chu couldn’t be more different. Popular, athletic Clip wants to become his school’s 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, really love it.
When the Blackwood Gaming Arena comes to town, bringing virtual reality headsets and state-of-the-art courses, they couldn’t be more excited—or 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 they’re far better off working together than competing for the ultimate victory?
320 pages, Hardcover
First published July 26, 2022
17 people are currently reading
402 people want to read
About the author
Julie C. Dao
16 books1,324 followersJulie 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
A proud Vietnamese-American who was born in upstate New York, she now lives in New England.
Pronunciation: JOOL-lee DOW
Pronouns: She/Her
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October 30, 2023
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!
The first book, TEAM CHU AND THE BATTLE OF BLACKWOOD ARENA, is sci-fi and should appeal to kids who love video games, laser tag, or fast-paced adventure stories!
When a mysterious gaming arena opens up in town, each of the fiercely competitive Chu siblings is determined to see their name at the top of the leaderboard. But when they discover a sinister force that's trying to lure them inside the simulation, Sadie and Clip must learn to team up if they want to escape the game.
The book has many inspirations, including Legends of the Hidden Temple and Stranger Things. And as with anything I write, it has fairy tale roots: it started out as a very loose Hansel and Gretel reimagining!
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: Trisha Previte
The first book, TEAM CHU AND THE BATTLE OF BLACKWOOD ARENA, is sci-fi and should appeal to kids who love video games, laser tag, or fast-paced adventure stories!
When a mysterious gaming arena opens up in town, each of the fiercely competitive Chu siblings is determined to see their name at the top of the leaderboard. But when they discover a sinister force that's trying to lure them inside the simulation, Sadie and Clip must learn to team up if they want to escape the game.
The book has many inspirations, including Legends of the Hidden Temple and Stranger Things. And as with anything I write, it has fairy tale roots: it started out as a very loose Hansel and Gretel reimagining!
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: Trisha Previte
June 25, 2022
Sibling rivalry, an epic VR laser tag arena, and a mysterious boy all come together in this great action/adventure story with a bit of sci-fi thrown in!
Loosely inspired by Hansel and Gretel, this follows Vietnamese-American siblings Clip and Sadie Chu who are constantly fighting and trying to one-up each other. When a brand new, high-tech laser tag arena opens in their town, they and their friends are sucked into an unexpected adventure.
This was fun, fast-paced, and has a great story arc for these siblings who fight, but also really love each other. And it ties in a lot of their Vietnamese heritage and confronts how their more traditional grandparents have treated them differently because of their genders. Overall, this was a really fantastic middle-grade story with plenty of action and cool virtual reality simulations! Clearly some of the challenges were inspired by things like Legends of the Hidden Temple, and there are lots of different pop culture and media references tucked in here. I had a good time with it and think kids will as well. (I also noticed a fun cameo referencing another author I'm a fan of- at one point the top of the leaderboard is claimed by "Tochi O." so if you like gritty adult sci-fi, you should go check out his excellent books Riot Baby and Goliath)
The audio narration was also great on this! They did a good job with kids voices and energy. I received an audio review copy of this book from NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
Loosely inspired by Hansel and Gretel, this follows Vietnamese-American siblings Clip and Sadie Chu who are constantly fighting and trying to one-up each other. When a brand new, high-tech laser tag arena opens in their town, they and their friends are sucked into an unexpected adventure.
This was fun, fast-paced, and has a great story arc for these siblings who fight, but also really love each other. And it ties in a lot of their Vietnamese heritage and confronts how their more traditional grandparents have treated them differently because of their genders. Overall, this was a really fantastic middle-grade story with plenty of action and cool virtual reality simulations! Clearly some of the challenges were inspired by things like Legends of the Hidden Temple, and there are lots of different pop culture and media references tucked in here. I had a good time with it and think kids will as well. (I also noticed a fun cameo referencing another author I'm a fan of- at one point the top of the leaderboard is claimed by "Tochi O." so if you like gritty adult sci-fi, you should go check out his excellent books Riot Baby and Goliath)
The audio narration was also great on this! They did a good job with kids voices and energy. I received an audio review copy of this book from NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
September 23, 2022
I loved this book! This story was SO much fun, emotional, educational, and everything all in one. I love all stories with VR or VR like gaming, laser tag, and gaming in general, and sibling and family stories are the best too.
This story is about Clip and Sadie - brother and sister and how they're both very competitive and want to prove themselves to each other and prove that they can do anything the other can do or that they want to do. They both have an extreme love of laser tag, so they both get super excited when the Blackwood Gaming Arena comes to their town.
When both of them and their group of friends go to the new gaming place with the VR headsets and laser tag they see a mysterious figure in the game that claims to be part of it, but they find themselves suspicious of this figure at first and then they find themselves on a quest in the game. They have to find and figure things out relating to/with this mysterious figure and discover if they can work together to figure things out or not. This is a super fun story that teaches about teamwork, friends, family, and figuring things out. I would recommend this to anyone who loves Middle-Grade fantasy, gaming fiction, or the like. I'm excited for the next book in this series and to see what happens with Clip, Sadie, and their friends next.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for letting me read and review this awesome story. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This story is about Clip and Sadie - brother and sister and how they're both very competitive and want to prove themselves to each other and prove that they can do anything the other can do or that they want to do. They both have an extreme love of laser tag, so they both get super excited when the Blackwood Gaming Arena comes to their town.
When both of them and their group of friends go to the new gaming place with the VR headsets and laser tag they see a mysterious figure in the game that claims to be part of it, but they find themselves suspicious of this figure at first and then they find themselves on a quest in the game. They have to find and figure things out relating to/with this mysterious figure and discover if they can work together to figure things out or not. This is a super fun story that teaches about teamwork, friends, family, and figuring things out. I would recommend this to anyone who loves Middle-Grade fantasy, gaming fiction, or the like. I'm excited for the next book in this series and to see what happens with Clip, Sadie, and their friends next.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for letting me read and review this awesome story. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 28, 2023
rep: vietnamese
thoroughly enjoyed team chu and the battle of blackwood arena as it surrounds the chu siblings, namely clip and sadie. even though their age gap isn't that big, sadie and clip don't always get along very well and the rivalry between the siblings worsened when their competitiveness in laser tag heightened. this rivalry was also propagated with the actions made by the adults in their home. the sibling's mom always praised sadie for her academic results and applauded for clip's athleticism. meanwhile, grandma has always nagged at sadie to do things around the house while clip can do nothing.
for sadie, all she wanted was to be recognised that she's good at laser tag by her older brother while clip just want to good at one more thing than his sister. during the book, this dynamic is continuously evolving as clip and sadie realized that their competitiveness is reaching an unhealthy level and that they need to work together in this simulation game they just started playing. the sibling relationship was fleshed out very well and it truly felt like a real life sibling rivalry.
for the virtual reality laser tag setting, i absolutely loved it as the author is brilliant at describing the different arenas and bringing me into that world. through each simulation, each of the characters showed their individual skillsets while helping one another to each their end goal.
an adventurous book you won't want to miss! i'm so excited for the next book.
thoroughly enjoyed team chu and the battle of blackwood arena as it surrounds the chu siblings, namely clip and sadie. even though their age gap isn't that big, sadie and clip don't always get along very well and the rivalry between the siblings worsened when their competitiveness in laser tag heightened. this rivalry was also propagated with the actions made by the adults in their home. the sibling's mom always praised sadie for her academic results and applauded for clip's athleticism. meanwhile, grandma has always nagged at sadie to do things around the house while clip can do nothing.
for sadie, all she wanted was to be recognised that she's good at laser tag by her older brother while clip just want to good at one more thing than his sister. during the book, this dynamic is continuously evolving as clip and sadie realized that their competitiveness is reaching an unhealthy level and that they need to work together in this simulation game they just started playing. the sibling relationship was fleshed out very well and it truly felt like a real life sibling rivalry.
for the virtual reality laser tag setting, i absolutely loved it as the author is brilliant at describing the different arenas and bringing me into that world. through each simulation, each of the characters showed their individual skillsets while helping one another to each their end goal.
an adventurous book you won't want to miss! i'm so excited for the next book.
August 1, 2025
Great book for kids that love video games, teamwork, and adventure. Teaches the importance of appreciating your friends and family and celebrating everyone’s strengths.
jumped-ship
August 7, 2023The summer reading list this year has been such a disappointment. So much unnecessary and unchecked conflict between parents and siblings, so much sadness, so much romance between elementary-aged children. Gus and I jumped ship after the first chapter of this one, which seems to combine all three at once.
November 8, 2022
E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus
Sadie and Clarence "Clip" Chu LOVE to play laser tag and get very competitive when they and their friends play games at the local Lase-Zone. Clip is a bit older and a little better at the game that Sadie is, and he loves to rub it in her face when she loses. Sadie excels at school and Clip doesn't, so he's jealous and a little miffed that she is trying to best him at the one area where he feels successful. Sadie often bristles at the way her Vietnamese grandparents fawn over Clip just because he's a boy, so there is a very realistic undercurrent of sibling rivalry that impacts their laser tag games. When a new gaming center is built in their town, the kids are very excited. The night before the opening, the go to the site to have a look and meet the owner, Mardella Blackwood. She is kind enough to show them around, and even gives them a few tickets. The most exciting thing about Blackwood Arena is the Virtual Reality aspect of the laser tag courts, and the fact that the winners on the leader boards for the complex will have the opportunity to participate in a reality survival type show run by Blackwood's parent company, JCD Universal, a multimedia conglomerate that produces many of the games Clip loves. This intensifies the rivalry, and as summer vacation begins, Clip decides to sneak off and play a few rounds to help rack up points. Unfortunately, he runs into Tom, a boy whom both he and Sadie have seen before in the game. Tom claims that he is stuck in the video game and needs help to get out. When Clip goes missing, Sadie is able to pinpoint the last place he was seen as Blackwood. Will she and her friends be able to rescue clip and manage to free Tom from his captivity as well? This is one of those books where I don't want to give too many details and spoil some of the plot twists!
Strengths: I guess that technically, laser tag is not a computer/video game, but this certainly going to have huge appeal for young readers who love technological games! There are plenty of details about what the children are doing, and, like with football books, I figure if I don't quite understand everything in the play-by-plays, it will go over well with the target demographic who WILL understand everything. My favorite part was the supportive but busy parents, and the grandparents who step in to take care of the children. The grandmother being called on the carpet by Sadie for how she treated Clip preferentially was fantastic, and I loved that the grandmother understood what she did and took steps to treat her grandchildren more equally. There is even some nasty anti-Asian bullying against Clip that Sadie stands up to, and it's good to see that other kids who are around stick up for the Chus as well. The Blackwood Arena setting is pure wish fulfillment, as is its ties with JCD Universal. Clip and Sadie could definitely have another book where they compete in the reality show.
Weaknesses: While the whole reason Tom is trapped in the game, and the sadness this causes, is well developed, Blackwood Arena was so cool that I didn't get as invested in that part of the story as I should have. I appreciated that the issue of how expensive it would be to play all the time is addressed briefly, but it would probably be more of a road block to actual tweens than it is in the book, but that's just a guess, since I haven't been to a similar venue in years.
What I really think: This will be hugely popular with readers who like Anderson's Insert Coin to Continue, Zhao's Last Gamer Standing, Mancusi's Dragon Ops, and Hansen's My Video Game Ate My Homework. I'm going to buy two copies of this, since I think it will be every bit as popular as Game Over, Pete Watson, and I've never regretted buying two copies of that. I predict that this will be a number one choice for book projects!
Sadie and Clarence "Clip" Chu LOVE to play laser tag and get very competitive when they and their friends play games at the local Lase-Zone. Clip is a bit older and a little better at the game that Sadie is, and he loves to rub it in her face when she loses. Sadie excels at school and Clip doesn't, so he's jealous and a little miffed that she is trying to best him at the one area where he feels successful. Sadie often bristles at the way her Vietnamese grandparents fawn over Clip just because he's a boy, so there is a very realistic undercurrent of sibling rivalry that impacts their laser tag games. When a new gaming center is built in their town, the kids are very excited. The night before the opening, the go to the site to have a look and meet the owner, Mardella Blackwood. She is kind enough to show them around, and even gives them a few tickets. The most exciting thing about Blackwood Arena is the Virtual Reality aspect of the laser tag courts, and the fact that the winners on the leader boards for the complex will have the opportunity to participate in a reality survival type show run by Blackwood's parent company, JCD Universal, a multimedia conglomerate that produces many of the games Clip loves. This intensifies the rivalry, and as summer vacation begins, Clip decides to sneak off and play a few rounds to help rack up points. Unfortunately, he runs into Tom, a boy whom both he and Sadie have seen before in the game. Tom claims that he is stuck in the video game and needs help to get out. When Clip goes missing, Sadie is able to pinpoint the last place he was seen as Blackwood. Will she and her friends be able to rescue clip and manage to free Tom from his captivity as well? This is one of those books where I don't want to give too many details and spoil some of the plot twists!
Strengths: I guess that technically, laser tag is not a computer/video game, but this certainly going to have huge appeal for young readers who love technological games! There are plenty of details about what the children are doing, and, like with football books, I figure if I don't quite understand everything in the play-by-plays, it will go over well with the target demographic who WILL understand everything. My favorite part was the supportive but busy parents, and the grandparents who step in to take care of the children. The grandmother being called on the carpet by Sadie for how she treated Clip preferentially was fantastic, and I loved that the grandmother understood what she did and took steps to treat her grandchildren more equally. There is even some nasty anti-Asian bullying against Clip that Sadie stands up to, and it's good to see that other kids who are around stick up for the Chus as well. The Blackwood Arena setting is pure wish fulfillment, as is its ties with JCD Universal. Clip and Sadie could definitely have another book where they compete in the reality show.
Weaknesses: While the whole reason Tom is trapped in the game, and the sadness this causes, is well developed, Blackwood Arena was so cool that I didn't get as invested in that part of the story as I should have. I appreciated that the issue of how expensive it would be to play all the time is addressed briefly, but it would probably be more of a road block to actual tweens than it is in the book, but that's just a guess, since I haven't been to a similar venue in years.
What I really think: This will be hugely popular with readers who like Anderson's Insert Coin to Continue, Zhao's Last Gamer Standing, Mancusi's Dragon Ops, and Hansen's My Video Game Ate My Homework. I'm going to buy two copies of this, since I think it will be every bit as popular as Game Over, Pete Watson, and I've never regretted buying two copies of that. I predict that this will be a number one choice for book projects!
February 27, 2023
🏆⌛🏙️𝔗𝔢𝔞𝔪 ℭ𝔥𝔲 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔅𝔞𝔱𝔱𝔩𝔢 𝔬𝔣 𝔅𝔩𝔞𝔠𝓀𝔴𝔬𝔬𝔡 𝔄𝔯𝔢𝔫𝔞🏙️⌛🏆
Siblings Clip and Sadie Chu have had a tense rivalry since both found their passion for laser tag. When Blackwood Arena, a new high-tech laser tag place, opens, the siblings are excited to test their skills. As their rivalry ups a notch, Clip is desperate for the number one spot and enters the arena by himself. Little does he know the danger that exists in this virtual reality laser-tag sport. When Clip goes missing, Sadie and her friends go on a journey to find him. Soon they find that the simulation is holding secrets within and that everything is as real as their reality.
Julie C. Dao writes an intriguing story that mixes laser tag, simulations, reality, and sibling rivalry into a quick read. I tried playing laser tag once, and it did not go well. It turns out I didn't press the right button to shoot the gun and ended up completely failing. So it was quite an interesting experience to read a book about Clip and Sadie, who were talented at laser tag. I loved how this story focused on the relationship between Clip and Sadie. They both had a rivalry for a reason, one that was important and personal to each of them, making their characters more complex.
I enjoyed this story, but I did find the characters to be a bit young and immature at times. It felt a lot like, despite Sadie being in grade 5 and Clip being in grade 6, their one-year age gap wasn't noticeable at all. However, it does depend on the person's maturity level, so I can see why this would differ depending on the character. The concept was interesting, and the mixture of sci-fi and realistic situations made for a good story.
The cast of characters was interesting, but they weren't necessarily ones that I would love with my whole heart. I loved Jeremy's LOTR references. The focus on relationships in this story was necessary to the plot. Learning about Sadie's relationship with her grandparents was interesting. I overall liked how this story focused on something that both siblings were passionate about, creating an adventurous tale with that in mind.
✅PLOT
🆗CHARACTERS
🆗PLOT TWISTS
Siblings Clip and Sadie Chu have had a tense rivalry since both found their passion for laser tag. When Blackwood Arena, a new high-tech laser tag place, opens, the siblings are excited to test their skills. As their rivalry ups a notch, Clip is desperate for the number one spot and enters the arena by himself. Little does he know the danger that exists in this virtual reality laser-tag sport. When Clip goes missing, Sadie and her friends go on a journey to find him. Soon they find that the simulation is holding secrets within and that everything is as real as their reality.
Julie C. Dao writes an intriguing story that mixes laser tag, simulations, reality, and sibling rivalry into a quick read. I tried playing laser tag once, and it did not go well. It turns out I didn't press the right button to shoot the gun and ended up completely failing. So it was quite an interesting experience to read a book about Clip and Sadie, who were talented at laser tag. I loved how this story focused on the relationship between Clip and Sadie. They both had a rivalry for a reason, one that was important and personal to each of them, making their characters more complex.
I enjoyed this story, but I did find the characters to be a bit young and immature at times. It felt a lot like, despite Sadie being in grade 5 and Clip being in grade 6, their one-year age gap wasn't noticeable at all. However, it does depend on the person's maturity level, so I can see why this would differ depending on the character. The concept was interesting, and the mixture of sci-fi and realistic situations made for a good story.
The cast of characters was interesting, but they weren't necessarily ones that I would love with my whole heart. I loved Jeremy's LOTR references. The focus on relationships in this story was necessary to the plot. Learning about Sadie's relationship with her grandparents was interesting. I overall liked how this story focused on something that both siblings were passionate about, creating an adventurous tale with that in mind.
✅PLOT
🆗CHARACTERS
🆗PLOT TWISTS
August 13, 2022
RATING:
4 STARS
Julie C. Dao’s Team Chu and the Battle of Blackwood Arena is an epic middle-grade debut complete with fierce sibling rivalries, fairytale-inspired elements, and a mysterious laser tag arena all in one.
Chu siblings Sadie and Clip have a stereotypical sibling rivalry; they excel in different areas, argue over who gets to pick where the family eats, and love getting to one-up each other. The one area they share an interest in is laser tag, and when the new Blackwood Gaming Arena opens in town it promises loads of fun and adventure. When the new virtual reality experience presents some unexpected challenges, they must overcome their differences and work together before it's too late.
Julie captured the essence of sibling rivalry in this book. I saw a lot of myself and my relationship with my sister in Sadie and Clip’s interactions. Being the youngest sibling, I definitely connected with Sadie the most. One of my favorite quotes from the book is this, “When you have siblings, no one else in the world knows what it’s like to be one of you….Siblings grow up together. They have inside jokes, secret languages, and codes only they understand. It’s different from any other bond in the world.”
I'm so happy I picked up a print copy of the book because I loved the little illustrations interspersed throughout the chapters (i.e. older brother Clip triumphantly pointing his laser tag blaster down at little sister Sadie). I also received a giveaway copy of the audiobook (thank you to the author) and narrators Angela Tran and Richard Nguyen did a fantastic job with their performance. They really captured the youthful nature of the characters, the exuberance kids have when they get excited, and even the smug satisfaction of beating your sibling at something.
A loose reimagining of the story of Hansel and Gretel, it was reminiscent of a kid-friendly version of Jumanji or Legends of the Hidden Temple. The ending was super fun, and I’m so excited to see what’s next for Sadie and Clip since this will be a trilogy.
Julie C. Dao’s Team Chu and the Battle of Blackwood Arena is an epic middle-grade debut complete with fierce sibling rivalries, fairytale-inspired elements, and a mysterious laser tag arena all in one.
Chu siblings Sadie and Clip have a stereotypical sibling rivalry; they excel in different areas, argue over who gets to pick where the family eats, and love getting to one-up each other. The one area they share an interest in is laser tag, and when the new Blackwood Gaming Arena opens in town it promises loads of fun and adventure. When the new virtual reality experience presents some unexpected challenges, they must overcome their differences and work together before it's too late.
Julie captured the essence of sibling rivalry in this book. I saw a lot of myself and my relationship with my sister in Sadie and Clip’s interactions. Being the youngest sibling, I definitely connected with Sadie the most. One of my favorite quotes from the book is this, “When you have siblings, no one else in the world knows what it’s like to be one of you….Siblings grow up together. They have inside jokes, secret languages, and codes only they understand. It’s different from any other bond in the world.”
I'm so happy I picked up a print copy of the book because I loved the little illustrations interspersed throughout the chapters (i.e. older brother Clip triumphantly pointing his laser tag blaster down at little sister Sadie). I also received a giveaway copy of the audiobook (thank you to the author) and narrators Angela Tran and Richard Nguyen did a fantastic job with their performance. They really captured the youthful nature of the characters, the exuberance kids have when they get excited, and even the smug satisfaction of beating your sibling at something.
A loose reimagining of the story of Hansel and Gretel, it was reminiscent of a kid-friendly version of Jumanji or Legends of the Hidden Temple. The ending was super fun, and I’m so excited to see what’s next for Sadie and Clip since this will be a trilogy.
September 23, 2022
I love Julie C Dao's YA books, so when I heard she was writing a middle grade speculative fiction with sibling rivalries, Vietnamese MCs, and a hint of Hansel & Gretel...I couldn't wait.
And TEAM CHU & THE BATTLE OF BLACKWOOD ARENA did not disappoint!
I tore through this fast-paced, super sweet book.
I love the two MCs, Clip and Sadie. They have such distinctive voices and personalities, and were super engaging characters. And the comradery they built with their friends was so sweet it warmed my heart.
The setting for this book, a virtual reality arena with six different sets was very creative. Each set was so different than each other, and had all of the wonderful, immersive imagery I expect from Dao's books! And each had so many little details that made them come alive. I can tell Dao put a lot of thought into them. And best of all, they were all ones many kids would die to play!
I also thought the plot was unique . And it was great to see Vietnamese culture worked into the story - and all the food made me hungry!
The only things holding the book back from being 5 stars are that I would have preferred a bit more fantasy elements over sci-fi, and the ending kind of took away from the character's achievements. But I will still definitely pick up the sequel!
Recommend for MG readers who live sci-fi, action-adventure, diverse stories and laser tag!
And TEAM CHU & THE BATTLE OF BLACKWOOD ARENA did not disappoint!
I tore through this fast-paced, super sweet book.
I love the two MCs, Clip and Sadie. They have such distinctive voices and personalities, and were super engaging characters. And the comradery they built with their friends was so sweet it warmed my heart.
The setting for this book, a virtual reality arena with six different sets was very creative. Each set was so different than each other, and had all of the wonderful, immersive imagery I expect from Dao's books! And each had so many little details that made them come alive. I can tell Dao put a lot of thought into them. And best of all, they were all ones many kids would die to play!
I also thought the plot was unique . And it was great to see Vietnamese culture worked into the story - and all the food made me hungry!
The only things holding the book back from being 5 stars are that I would have preferred a bit more fantasy elements over sci-fi, and the ending kind of took away from the character's achievements. But I will still definitely pick up the sequel!
Recommend for MG readers who live sci-fi, action-adventure, diverse stories and laser tag!
September 23, 2022
I loved this book! This story was SO much fun, emotional, educational, and everything all in one. I love all stories with VR or VR like gaming, laser tag, and gaming in general, and sibling and family stories are the best too.
This story is about Clip and Sadie - brother and sister and how they're both very competitive and want to prove themselves to each other and prove that they can do anything the other can do or that they want to do. They both have an extreme love of laser tag, so they both get super excited when the Blackwood Gaming Arena comes to their town.
When both of them and their group of friends go to the new gaming place with the VR headsets and laser tag they see a mysterious figure in the game that claims to be part of it, but they find themselves suspicious of this figure at first and then they find themselves on a quest in the game. They have to find and figure things out relating to/with this mysterious figure and discover if they can work together to figure things out or not. This is a super fun story that teaches about teamwork, friends, family, and figuring things out. I would recommend this to anyone who loves Middle-Grade fantasy, gaming fiction, or the like. I'm excited for the next book in this series and to see what happens with Clip, Sadie, and their friends next.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for letting me read and review this awesome story. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This story is about Clip and Sadie - brother and sister and how they're both very competitive and want to prove themselves to each other and prove that they can do anything the other can do or that they want to do. They both have an extreme love of laser tag, so they both get super excited when the Blackwood Gaming Arena comes to their town.
When both of them and their group of friends go to the new gaming place with the VR headsets and laser tag they see a mysterious figure in the game that claims to be part of it, but they find themselves suspicious of this figure at first and then they find themselves on a quest in the game. They have to find and figure things out relating to/with this mysterious figure and discover if they can work together to figure things out or not. This is a super fun story that teaches about teamwork, friends, family, and figuring things out. I would recommend this to anyone who loves Middle-Grade fantasy, gaming fiction, or the like. I'm excited for the next book in this series and to see what happens with Clip, Sadie, and their friends next.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for letting me read and review this awesome story. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 25, 2022
This book was really fun!
We have 2 main characters, siblings Sadie and Clip. They are typical siblings who bicker and squabble all the time. A new laser tag arena opens up in their town with a prize for whoever can get the highest score. Of course, Sadie and Clip have to compete to get a higher score than one another. When both Sadie and Clip see a mysterious boy in the laser tag game asking for help, they think he's just part of the game. When Clip goes in to the game by himself, he realizes that might not be true. He gets stuck in the game and needs his sister and friends to help him get out.
The characters were wonderful, they were written as middle grade characters really well. I loved the friendship these characters had and the lesson Sadie and Clip learned from another pair of siblings in the book.
The actual plot was so fun. I was immersed into the audiobook and it was so easy to listen to. All the levels of the laser tag games were so fun when they were actual laser tag games and they were just as fun when the characters got stuck in the game but the stakes were higher which made it more exciting. The ending wrapped things up really well.
My favorite part of this book was the absolutely hilarious nod to Legends of the Hidden Temple.
Thank you to Netgalley and Orange Sky Audio for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
We have 2 main characters, siblings Sadie and Clip. They are typical siblings who bicker and squabble all the time. A new laser tag arena opens up in their town with a prize for whoever can get the highest score. Of course, Sadie and Clip have to compete to get a higher score than one another. When both Sadie and Clip see a mysterious boy in the laser tag game asking for help, they think he's just part of the game. When Clip goes in to the game by himself, he realizes that might not be true. He gets stuck in the game and needs his sister and friends to help him get out.
The characters were wonderful, they were written as middle grade characters really well. I loved the friendship these characters had and the lesson Sadie and Clip learned from another pair of siblings in the book.
The actual plot was so fun. I was immersed into the audiobook and it was so easy to listen to. All the levels of the laser tag games were so fun when they were actual laser tag games and they were just as fun when the characters got stuck in the game but the stakes were higher which made it more exciting. The ending wrapped things up really well.
My favorite part of this book was the absolutely hilarious nod to Legends of the Hidden Temple.
Thank you to Netgalley and Orange Sky Audio for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
June 9, 2022
Team Chu is a must have for middle grade readers with a love of gaming, whether that be online or laser tag, and those who enjoy action/adventure with a touch of science fiction. Highly competitive siblings Sadie and Clip are becoming more and more antagonistic towards one another as they compete and their friends and family cannot find a way to help them resolve their conflict. But when they are all sucked into a virtual reality laser tag simulation in which there is only one, highly difficult way to escape, the pair may be forced to work together for a common good.
Author Julie C. Dao creates a vivid world of VR simulation and a common family theme with clearly defined main and secondary characters and a setting that will thrill the reading heart of many in grades 4-7. While the last chapter may get a little sappy when Sadie and Clip finally realize how lucky they are to have one another, this is likely to be a highly circulated book among the target audience. The text is free of profanity and sexual content. The violence is strictly in-game and with lasers against virtually simulated foes.
Thanks for the print arc, Farrah Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers/Macmillan Publishing. Your Texas Library Association special edition arc is much appreciated.
Author Julie C. Dao creates a vivid world of VR simulation and a common family theme with clearly defined main and secondary characters and a setting that will thrill the reading heart of many in grades 4-7. While the last chapter may get a little sappy when Sadie and Clip finally realize how lucky they are to have one another, this is likely to be a highly circulated book among the target audience. The text is free of profanity and sexual content. The violence is strictly in-game and with lasers against virtually simulated foes.
Thanks for the print arc, Farrah Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers/Macmillan Publishing. Your Texas Library Association special edition arc is much appreciated.
August 6, 2022
Clip and Sadie Chu are siblings just eighteen months apart. They are different as can be, with Clip excelling at athletics and Sadie starring at academics, and they bicker all the time. The one interest they do share is laser tag. When the new Blackwood Gaming Arena opens complete with state of the art laser tag courses, their rivalry steps up a notch as the pair compete for the opportunity to compete on a reality game show on the network run by Blackwood’s parent company. Things take an unexpected turn when Clip and Sadie encounter Tom, a mysterious figure who claims to be stuck in the game and asks for their help escaping it. The pair soon find themselves pulled into the game along with their friends. The Chus will need to figure out a way to work together if they want to find their way back out of the game. Readers who are game fans will love the twists and turns of this action packed story. The sibling rivalry tones ring true and will be relatable for many readers. With chapters told from the alternating perspectives of Clip and Sadie, readers are able to see both of their points of view as the action progresses. This is a creative and engaging story that will be a big hit with middle grade gaming and adventure fans.
June 26, 2022
Thank you to #NetGalley, Julie C. Dao, and the publisher for the eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Brother and sister, Clip and Sadie both love laser tag, but that's as similar as they get. Clip is popular and a star on the soccer field while Sadie is a star in the classroom and is trying to prove that she can do anything her big brother can do. So when a new laser tag arena comes to town, Sadie is ready to prove she is just as good as Clip. As they begin playing laser tag though, a mysterious figure appears in the game asking for help. Soon Clip, Sadie, and their friends are fighting their way through tough battle grounds. Can Sadie and Clip put their sibling rivalry to the side and learn to work together to beat the game?
This middle grade book was FANTASTIC! I not only loved the diversity of the book, but I also loved how it focused on the importance of teamwork. While laser tag isn't really a video game, I think kids will love the aspect of Clip and Sadie doing something "virtual". I will be buying a copy of this book for my classroom!
Brother and sister, Clip and Sadie both love laser tag, but that's as similar as they get. Clip is popular and a star on the soccer field while Sadie is a star in the classroom and is trying to prove that she can do anything her big brother can do. So when a new laser tag arena comes to town, Sadie is ready to prove she is just as good as Clip. As they begin playing laser tag though, a mysterious figure appears in the game asking for help. Soon Clip, Sadie, and their friends are fighting their way through tough battle grounds. Can Sadie and Clip put their sibling rivalry to the side and learn to work together to beat the game?
This middle grade book was FANTASTIC! I not only loved the diversity of the book, but I also loved how it focused on the importance of teamwork. While laser tag isn't really a video game, I think kids will love the aspect of Clip and Sadie doing something "virtual". I will be buying a copy of this book for my classroom!
July 27, 2022
The only thing Sadie and Clip Chu seem to agree on is that laser tag is the best game ever, so when a new arena opens nearby, they are excited to play. When they get pulled into the game, they have to work together to find their way out.
Perfect for middle grade readers with its heavy gaming influence and sibling rivalry, but I had fun as an older reader with the homages to adventure shows and games like Legends of the Hidden Temple and Pitfall. The pacing was perfect for the story, it never felt like it dragged on, but didn't whip by in a flash either. The characters are all realistic middle schoolish children, with the conflict resolutions to match, but it never grated on me like it does with other characters. Their jealousy and rivalry is perfectly kept at a child level, and when they need to step up, it's not as if an adult suddenly starts speaking. Writing children can be difficult but Dao executed it perfectly to make a fun and approachable novel about how strong a sibling bond can be.
Thank you Netgalley for access to the e-ARC.
Perfect for middle grade readers with its heavy gaming influence and sibling rivalry, but I had fun as an older reader with the homages to adventure shows and games like Legends of the Hidden Temple and Pitfall. The pacing was perfect for the story, it never felt like it dragged on, but didn't whip by in a flash either. The characters are all realistic middle schoolish children, with the conflict resolutions to match, but it never grated on me like it does with other characters. Their jealousy and rivalry is perfectly kept at a child level, and when they need to step up, it's not as if an adult suddenly starts speaking. Writing children can be difficult but Dao executed it perfectly to make a fun and approachable novel about how strong a sibling bond can be.
Thank you Netgalley for access to the e-ARC.
December 21, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This was a great story about the adventures of the Chu siblings who are big fans of laser tag but it is more a story about rivalry and competitiveness between brothers and sisters which is fed and caused most of the time by their own family.
Sadie and Clip are always fighting and each one tries to prove to be better than the other in everything, so can you imagine their excitement to find a new opportunity to challenge each other and to prove their superiority when the Blackwood Gaming Arena comes to town, but the siblings and their friends find themselves trapped in the game they love with a mysterious boy. Will the siblings be able to put their rivalry aside in order to escape from this dangerous situation and become the Team Chu and win the game?
It was an entertaining audiobook to listen to in one day for the story was so fast-paced and so fun and the characters were smart. Who haven't dreamt about living adventures in their favorite video game or movie?!
This was a great story about the adventures of the Chu siblings who are big fans of laser tag but it is more a story about rivalry and competitiveness between brothers and sisters which is fed and caused most of the time by their own family.
Sadie and Clip are always fighting and each one tries to prove to be better than the other in everything, so can you imagine their excitement to find a new opportunity to challenge each other and to prove their superiority when the Blackwood Gaming Arena comes to town, but the siblings and their friends find themselves trapped in the game they love with a mysterious boy. Will the siblings be able to put their rivalry aside in order to escape from this dangerous situation and become the Team Chu and win the game?
It was an entertaining audiobook to listen to in one day for the story was so fast-paced and so fun and the characters were smart. Who haven't dreamt about living adventures in their favorite video game or movie?!
June 27, 2022
Team Chu is a story of two siblings who are constantly competing for the affection of their family and each other. When they encounter some extraordinary trials in their new local laser tag arena, they learn that working as a team will get them further than any solo mission.
This is my first book from Dao, and I found it to be a fun and exciting read. Being Vietnamese myself, I'm always open to trying out Vietnamese authors, and I'm glad they chose to use Viet narrators as well. I love how she uses the Asian family dynamic to show growth between the siblings. I did find that although I enjoy pop culture references, there may have been one too many in the book. And although this isn't too relevant, it annoyed me that they referred to their maternal grandparents as bà nội and ông nội, when it should be ngoại. Maybe I misheard because it was an audiobook, but I'm fairly certain that's what they said.
Overall, great book for kids!
This is my first book from Dao, and I found it to be a fun and exciting read. Being Vietnamese myself, I'm always open to trying out Vietnamese authors, and I'm glad they chose to use Viet narrators as well. I love how she uses the Asian family dynamic to show growth between the siblings. I did find that although I enjoy pop culture references, there may have been one too many in the book. And although this isn't too relevant, it annoyed me that they referred to their maternal grandparents as bà nội and ông nội, when it should be ngoại. Maybe I misheard because it was an audiobook, but I'm fairly certain that's what they said.
Overall, great book for kids!
August 2, 2022
Thank you to Farrar, Straus, & Giroux and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Clip and Sadie are brother and sister, eighteen months apart in age but miles apart in interests. Like most siblings, they constantly squabble. Clip excels in soccer and Sadie does very well in school but both kids LOVE laser tag and are super competitive! When the new Blackwood Arena opened, the siblings and their friends were there opening night. But during one of the games, Sadie sees and talks to a boy, Tom, who offers to help her in exchange for helping him. Sadie isn’t sure if he is real or an NPC (non-player character). Clip sees Tom another time and accepts his help so that he can beat his sister at the game. But Tom isn’t an NPC and Clip finds himself in a predicament from which he isn’t sure he can escape.
These types of books are becoming more and more popular. This book reminded me a lot of the movie version of Jumanji, especially the Dwayne Johnson version. It is fast-paced, has relatively short chapters, and is told in alternating point-of-view. I think this book will be very popular. According to the author, this isn’t the last we’ll see of Team Chu! I highly recommend this title for grades 4 and up.
#TeamChuAndTheBattleOfBlackwoodArena #NetGalley
Clip and Sadie are brother and sister, eighteen months apart in age but miles apart in interests. Like most siblings, they constantly squabble. Clip excels in soccer and Sadie does very well in school but both kids LOVE laser tag and are super competitive! When the new Blackwood Arena opened, the siblings and their friends were there opening night. But during one of the games, Sadie sees and talks to a boy, Tom, who offers to help her in exchange for helping him. Sadie isn’t sure if he is real or an NPC (non-player character). Clip sees Tom another time and accepts his help so that he can beat his sister at the game. But Tom isn’t an NPC and Clip finds himself in a predicament from which he isn’t sure he can escape.
These types of books are becoming more and more popular. This book reminded me a lot of the movie version of Jumanji, especially the Dwayne Johnson version. It is fast-paced, has relatively short chapters, and is told in alternating point-of-view. I think this book will be very popular. According to the author, this isn’t the last we’ll see of Team Chu! I highly recommend this title for grades 4 and up.
#TeamChuAndTheBattleOfBlackwoodArena #NetGalley
January 20, 2023
Sadie Chu and her older brother Clip had gotten along pretty well for siblings, until Clip seems to need to prove that he is the best at everything. This is especially true when it comes to laser tag, which they both love. When a new laser tag arena comes to town, the competition gets especially fierce but takes a turn for the unexpected when a competition at the arena reveals a mysterious figure. This figure was trapped in the game and needs the help of Sadie and Clip plus their friends in order to figure out how to get free.
There is definitely a message in here about collaboration and getting along with your siblings but it isn't shoved down your throat. There is lots of action and some humor as well. Looks like there will be a sequel.
There is definitely a message in here about collaboration and getting along with your siblings but it isn't shoved down your throat. There is lots of action and some humor as well. Looks like there will be a sequel.
July 26, 2023
Competitive siblings gather their friends to create winning teams at the new laser tag arena, but the mysterious boy that keeps showing up in their games has a different goal for them. The adventures they have in the simulations are really creative and at times suspenseful, especially when they become part of the game in hopes of saving Tom. The teamwork and selflessness required to reach their goal increase as the difficulty and surprises in the games keep adapting to become more challenging. Both the children and the adults learn from each other in this clever story about friendship and victory.
April 20, 2022
So. Much. Fun. Readers are going to want to put down their books (gasp!) and head to the nearest laser tag arena. Siblings Sadie and Chip have that vibe down and have that competitive relationship. They do share the love of laser tag where they both excel but it brings out the worst in both of them. But, when push comes to shove, they have each other's backs and fully realize how powerful a sibling bond is.
Also, I loved the Easter egg shout out to other authors.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
Also, I loved the Easter egg shout out to other authors.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
July 12, 2022
I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. It was so much fun! And it was SUCH a refreshing take on the “teamwork is more important than being headstrong and doing everything yourself because you think you can do it better than everyone else” trope. And sibling rivalry! And showing that your weaknesses are not BAD, they can be improved upon if you are willing to hear people out and work TOGETHER.
Oh, I just loved this one.
Oh, I just loved this one.
July 20, 2022
This was a cute sci-fi story. Great book for those young readers who are into science and sci-fi stories. And just like a middle grade book everything wraps up nicely with a happy ending. The sibling interaction was well done and a little mushy but in middle grade they do tend to promote the themes of love, family and togetherness and they spell it out instead of infuring it. But I'm not mad at it.
January 22, 2023
Sadie and her big brother Clip are constantly bickering much to the annoyance of their friends. They are both obsessed with laser tag and Clip just wishes Sadie would find another activity. When a new laser tag complex opens, the Chus and their friends are determined to land on top of the leaderboard to win the grand prize. In playing, they soon discover something sinister inside the game and it will take all their skills and teamwork to win the game.
February 4, 2023
The world building regarding the lazer tag system (prices, how the VR works, why they wouldn't look for a missing unaccompanied minor, how it is possible for physical bodies being turned into code, why they wouldn't just shut down an arena for "fixing") is very wonky and underdeveloped for a contemporary title, but most readers wouldn't mind too much. However, I found it would have solved a lot of problems to make it a far flung sci-fi title instead.
December 11, 2023
23-24 Battle of the Books title. I could see gamers liking this one. Definitely skews more towards the 6th grade end of the middle school spectrum. Liked the representation for Vietnamese American students and that it showed how in some families, girls have more chores and responsibilities than boys. I also liked that this unfairness, along with some racist teasing on the school bus, was confronted by the characters.
June 19, 2024
Kids love video games, but Julie C. Dao has raised the bar. This diverse cast of kids face challenges while wearing virtual reality headsets in a gaming arena. They also encounter crazy challenges on the battlegrounds. However, they also learn that banding together when facing dangers allows them to accentuate their strengths, share in leadership, and accomplish the impossible when they focus on teamwork.
September 7, 2024
Not my favorite read, but definitely a compelling one, with a gaming theme and twists and turns to keep kids interested. It had moments of creepiness and dark intensity, but no more than other books for this age range. Realistic, relatable characters, good messages about working together, each person having their strengths, and generational bias that can affect relationships. A good read, particularly for gamers.
December 9, 2024
Give this to avid gamers or to fantasy fans. Non-stop action in several fantasy-like game worlds, with chapters from the alternating voices of 2 siblings undergoing extreme sibling rivalry. Can they put aside their differences long enough to escape the game they're trapped in? I did like that they weren't friends, exactly, at the end, but did respect each other more. I also like that the grandma was trying to grow and change and not treat her grandson more leniently than her granddaughter.
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