06/01/2022
Gr 4–7—Twelve-year-old Theo is crushed when his beloved older brother, Jamie, suddenly dies in a tragic accident. To make matters worse, the spirit companion summoned for him shortly afterward turns out to be Kai, the duplicitous, self-important fox spirit who was formerly Jamie's companion. Soon Theo discovers clues from Jamie suggesting something's not quite right at Reapling Corp, the company where Jamie was interning when he died (Reapling has monetized magical energy; think of them as the Google or Apple of spellcasting). To investigate, Theo will have to earn a spot in Reapling's competitive summer program by leaning in to his Chinese-American heritage and relying on some help and trickery from Kai. This action-packed fantasy should have wide appeal. Sutanto creates a sense of urgency from the first page, when Theo is dragged out of bed to a meat locker in Chinatown for a sketchy conversation with Jamie just before he dies. Alternating viewpoints between Theo and Kai fully flesh out the characters' overlapping (and sometimes deviating) desires. Moments of comic relief are scattered throughout, as when Theo's spells go awry due to his mispronunciation of Mandarin. And though Theo's story largely relies on Chinese gods and monsters, Sutanto deftly weaves in reminders that this is only one of a great many distinct cultures in Asia. VERDICT A welcome addition to fantasy shelves, hand this off to readers who can't get enough of "Percy Jackson" or the Rick Riordan Presents series.—Lindsay Loup
"Heart-felt and heart-pounding, this book will have you cheering Theo on as he sets out to find the magic of his heritage! (Both figurative and literal!)" — Xiran Jay Zhao, author of the #1 NYT Bestseller Iron Widow
"Wildly imaginative, laugh-out-loud funny, and full of heart, Theo Tan is an absolute delight. I didn't want it to end!" —Nicole Lesperance, author of The Nightmare Thief and The Wide Starlight
"Brimming with imagination, heart, and delicious humor, Theo Tan is utterly unputdownable. It deals with serious and meaningful lessons like overcoming grief and rediscovering one's roots, but ultimately, it's a story about how magic lives in all of us - if we only let it shine. A total must-read! (Also, if anyone has contacts for summoning a fox spirit companion, hook me up...)" — Graci Kim, author of The Last Fallen Star
"A page-turning story about a magical and daring quest full of sparkling humor! I especially loved Theo’s sarcastic and funny fox spirit companion who isn’t thrilled to be paired with Theo, but along the way, the two learn that teamwork is necessary to defeat evil. I was rooting for a reluctant Theo to connect to his Chinese heritage so that he could experience the full power of his magic!" — Debbi Michiko Florence, author of Just Be Cool, Jenna Sakai
"Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit is brimming with wonder, heart, adventure, and enchantment. I couldn’t put it down! Theo’s journey of self-discovery is full of spirit, hope, and important lessons for us all. Sutanto’s unique magic system blends enchantment with modern technology, creating a fresh and vibrant version of our world that you’ll never want to leave. This is middle grade fantasy at its finest." —Alex Aster, award-winning author of the Emblem Island series
