Sutanto builds an intriguing fantasy world of spirits, spells, and mythologies… the book takes readers on a well-paced journey that explores themes of identity, courage, connection, and especially grief and life after loss. …An animated adventure centering family and friendships.” — Kirkus
Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit:
"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
"Sutanto blends Chinese culture and history to build a world of dragons, demons, spell casting, and code breaking.... This is a natural choice for kids who like Rick Riordan's brand of mythology-fueled fantasy adventures, and it will be an especially good read-alike for Laurence Yep’s classic Tiger’s Apprentice series." — Booklist
"In Theo and Kai’s alternating perspectives, Sutanto weaves the duo’s shared grief and path to healing with Theo’s journey toward embracing his Chinese heritage in this rewarding fantasy adventure." — Publishers Weekly
2023-04-12
Can young Theo Tan and his friends infiltrate hell and save his brother, Jamie?
In this follow-up to Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit (2022), Theo and Kai, his newly minted spirit companion, seek a way to retrieve Theo’s brother’s soul; Jamie was also Kai’s original human master. Their quest takes them away from San Francisco on a dangerous adventure into Diyu, or “hell’s waiting room,” according to Chinese mythology, with the desperate—and very likely naïve—hope that Jamie can be brought back to life. Getting to Diyu is one difficult task, and getting out of there is even more complicated. They’ll have to navigate the dangerous courts of Diyu and the kings who rule them as well as formidable Princess Iron Fan. It’ll take lots of ingenuity and teamwork to pull it off without ending up permanently stuck in Diyu. Sutanto builds an intriguing fantasy world of spirits, spells, and mythologies. With dual narration from the first-person perspectives of Chinese American Theo and his shape-shifting fox spirit, Kai, the book takes readers on a well-paced journey that explores themes of identity, courage, connection, and especially grief and life after loss. Some comedic levity in the precarious situations the characters find themselves in balances the emotional themes. Kai is especially expressive, and her chapters frequently feature footnotes highlighting her feistiness and snark. A supportive friend group in Namita Singh, Danny Chang, and Xiaohua, Danny’s divine dragon companion, bring additional heart.
An animated adventure centering family and friendships. (Fantasy. 8-12)
