Tournament Trouble (Cross Ups, Book 1)
Description
An exciting new middle reader series.
All twelve-year-old Jaden wants to do is be the best at Cross Ups, the video game he and his friends can’t stop playing. He knows he could be—if only he didn’t have to hide his gaming from his mom, who’s convinced it will make him violent. After an epic match leads to an invitation to play in a top tournament, Jaden and his friends Devesh and Hugh hatch a plan to get him there. But Jaden’s strict parents and annoying siblings, not to mention a couple of bullies and his confusing feelings for his next-door neighbor Cali, keep getting in the way!
Tournament Trouble marks the first book in a planned series by Sylv Chiang, a captivating new voice in middle reader fiction. With sharp dialogue and relatable characters, it chronicles the ups and downs of middle school with a relevant, contemporary twist. Accompanied by Connie Choi’s lively illustrations, Tournament Trouble invites readers into Jaden’s world, and will leave them eagerly awaiting his next adventure.
Reviews
“Realistic and relatable.”
- School Library Journal, 01/18
“A fast-paced escapade that draws real-life parallels to gaming culture.”
- Kirkus Reviews, 02/03/18
“A very approachable chapter book for struggling readers.”
- CM Reviews, 04/12/19
“Choi’s manga-like drawings were the proper aesthetic accompaniment to this plot.”
- Asian American Literature Fans, 09/17/18
“An arcade smash of a novel with a likeable lead in Jaden and a charming, believable cast of NPCs, more heart than an unlimited life meter, and laughs for the older gamers and button-mashers alike . . . a near flawless victory for author Sylv Chiang!”
- Evan Munday, author of The Dead Kid Detective Agency