Caster

by Elsie Chapman Narrated by Emily Woo Zeller

Overview

Avatar: The Last Airbender meets Fight Club in this action-packed fantasy about a secret, underground magic fighting tournament.

If the magic doesn't kill her, the truth just might.Aza Wu knows that real magic is dangerous and illegal. After all, casting killed her sister, Shire. As with all magic, everything comes at a price. For Aza, it feels like everything in her life has some kind of cost attached to it. Her sister had been casting for money to pay off Saint Willow, the gang leader that oversees her sector of Lotusland. If you want to operate a business there, you have to pay your tribute. And now with Shire dead, Aza must step in to save the legacy of Wu Teas, the teahouse that has been in her family for centuries.When Aza comes across a secret invitation, she decides she doesn't have much else to lose. She quickly realizes that she's entered herself into an underground casting tournament, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Real magic, real consequences. As she competes, Aza fights for her life against some very strong and devious competitors.When the facts about Shire's death don't add up, the police start to investigate. When the tributes to Saint Willow aren't paid, the gang comes to collect. When Aza is caught sneaking around with fresh casting wounds, her parents are alarmed. As Aza's dangerous web of lies continues to grow, she is caught between trying to find a way out and trapping herself permanently.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

* "Chapman's constructed magic is a complex, balanced system that limits the characters to keep the narrative unpredictable; the battle scenes are creative and fast paced, and the high stakes that Aza faces in her personal life and during the tournament are anxiety-inducing in their believability. Information Aza uncovers about the secrets in her life are parsed out so that the plot never drags; readers will have a hard time putting this one down." — The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review* "Chapman has created compelling young adult novels before, but this is a cut above; the fully realized and atmospheric dystopia is crafted at a level not seen often. This stunning fantasy will fly off the shelves." — Booklist, starred review"A dark and, at times, vicious and violent story of will and questionable honor." — Kirkus Reviews

School Library Journal

07/26/2019

Gr 6 Up-This stand-alone novel explores the dangerous and illegal nature of real magic. Aza Wu is aware of the threat, especially since casting killed her older sister, Shire, nearly a year ago. Now solely responsible for earning the money to pay off quasi-gangster Saint Willow, Aza must creatively earn marks and pay tribute so her family can keep its teahouse business in Lotusland. Two intertwined plots ensue. Soon Aza finds a secret invitation to an underground casting tournament, seemingly a fix for her financial woes, but it turns out not to be an easy answer. As the rules of this world dictate: real magic, real consequences. As Aza competes, she finds herself fighting for her life against some strong and dishonest opponents. Furthermore, Aza has questions about her sister's death and facts that just don't add up. When the police start to investigate, when tributes aren't paid, and when Aza is caught with fresh casting wounds, her deceit continues to grow, alarming her family and putting her whole future in jeopardy. The novel features uniquely detailed world-building with a compelling protagonist. VERDICT Readers are in for a spellbinding adventure with themes of duty, justice, revenge, and sacrifice. A magic-filled page-turner.-Linsey Milillo, Lane Public Library, Fairfield, OH

Kirkus Reviews

2019-06-05
In a dystopian world broken apart by magic, Aza Wu struggles to unravel the mystery of her sister's death while fending off gangsters and dodging Scouts who hunt full-magic casters like herself.

The rules of magic set up by Chapman (Hungry Hearts, 2019, etc.) come down to this: The more magic you use, the more magic you pull from the Earth, leaving behind a scar ranging from a buckled road to an earthquake that levels buildings. A full caster is limited by their level of control and the physical pain that follows a spell. Despite the dangers and the guilt she feels for damaging the world around her, Aza desperately casts magic for marks to pay off the family debt. This leads her to the underground Tournament of Casters, where she will risk her life for marks and answers. The main character identifies as Chinese, and though some racial and cultural discrimination is discussed, the story focuses more heavily on the haves and have-nots of magic and power. The pacing is fast and furious, upheld by the deadline Aza faces of a single week, which almost becomes a running joke. Some characters are ham-handed in their villainy, but most are genuine in their struggle to do what it takes to survive.

A dark and, at times, vicious and violent story of will and questionable honor. (Dystopian fantasy. 13-17)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940173935410
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	09/03/2019
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	10 - 13 Years

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