by Julie Abe
ASIN/ISBN: 9780316448529
Publication: August 22, 2023

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DESCRIPTiON

A thrilling and charming middle grade fantasy steeped in Japanese lore and mythology, perfect for fans of the Zachary Ying series.

Tessa Miyata has never fit in. When she and her two sisters are told they will be staying at their grandparents in Japan, Tessa is thrilled. A summer in Japan could be her chance to go on an adventure worthy of impressing her classmates back home.

Her hopes are quickly dashed when, all too soon, she realizes that life in Japan is just like being in California: her sisters are old enough to go into Tokyo, while she can’t even go to the corner store by herself. Plus, her grandparents want her to stay home with the neighbor kid, thirteen-year-old Jin Uehara, who’s made it clear he’s too cool to spend time with a weirdo like her.

When Tessa is finally allowed to go to Tokyo, it’s only to join her grandpa’s retiree aerobic class with none other than Jin. Their disastrous forced hang out comes crashing to a halt when Tessa and Jin break the Miyata family’s precious heirloom—accidentally releasing the malicious samurai god Taira Masakado and discovering a hidden part of the city where gods and mythological creatures walk among humans—including their new companion, a mythical nine-tailed fox who may be more trouble than he is help.

Despite doing everything to avoid spending another minute together, Tessa and Jin must now work together to stop Taira Masakado before he traps them—and the rest of Tokyo—under his command, forever.

Perfect for fans of Rick Riordan and Graci Kim, this brand new fantasy adventure will grip readers from the very first page and never let go.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Julie Abe is the author of the EVA EVERGREEN, SEMI-MAGICAL WITCH middle grade fantasy series; the middle grade fantasy ALLIANA, GIRL OF DRAGONS; and the young adult novel THE CHARMED LIST. She has lived in Silicon Valley, spent many humid summers in Japan, and currently basks in the sunshine of Southern California with never enough books or tea, where she creates stories about magical adventures.

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REVIEW

Abe pulls from history and mythology to provide a contemporary middle-grade fantasy that is full of heart and courage. Although I adore middle-grade reads, many are often fast-paced and plot-driven, jumping quickly from one point to the next. I found Tessa Miyata is No Hero to be well-paced and sufficiently establishes the background of the characters and provides character development while mixing in magic and history.

Tessa Miyata seems an unlikely hero at first. She does not fit in and has recently lost her only friend. Her sisters are her protectors, and yet she is the one who must save Tokyo from a samurai god. Her fighting prowess is lacking but her strength is in her character. Tessa is persistent and unwilling to allow the suffering of others. She (and her companions) might not believe she is a hero but her bravery throughout the story shows otherwise. Tessa is easy to like, and it’s always satisfying to read about an underdog’s rise to become more than people expect of them.

Pick up Tessa Miyata is No Hero if you’re a fan of middle-grade fantasy reads that incorporate East Asian history and mythology. Most of all be ready to cheer for the underdog. I am ready for the next book!

**Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tours for allowing me to be part of the tour. Remember to check out the schedule and visit more posts. Also, thank you to the publisher and author for providing me with access to the book. I voluntarily read and reviewed it. All opinions are my own.**