
The Legendary Mo Seto
Aladdin · Paperback · May 6, 2025
“An exciting mystery-adventure story that packs a punch” (Kirkus Reviews) and is Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon meets Stand Up, Yumi Chung as a young Taekwondo artist uses an ancient book to help save her dreams—and her father.
We earn from qualifying purchases.
- Who it’s for
- A brisk martial arts adventure pairs underdog determination with family stakes and a dash of mystery.
- Genres
- Martial Arts, Action & Adventure, US: Asian American Stories
- Published
- Aladdin, May 6, 2025
Nearest books
Matched by what the books are about, then ordered by what their readers also loved.
Martial Arts StarA. Y. Chan77% matchShares Martial Arts and Action & Adventure
Learning to FallSally Engelfried53% match
DreamslingerGraci Kim55% matchShares US: Asian American Stories
The Spindle of FateAimee Lim57% match
CapriceCoe Booth52% match
Creatures of the in BetweenCindy Lin52% matchShares Action & Adventure
May the Best Player WinKyla Zhao58% matchShares US: Asian American Stories
On Thin IceJessica Kim52% match
For older readers: The Ping-pong Queen of Chinatown, Split the Sky (coretta Scott King Author Honor Title), Not Your Average Jo
Start with three books, and this one can be the first.
Members get a new edition every morning: a route out from their books to essays, research and talks, with the reason for each.
Start with this bookAbout this book
“An exciting mystery-adventure story that packs a punch” (Kirkus Reviews) and is Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon meets Stand Up, Yumi Chung as a young Taekwondo artist uses an ancient book to help save her dreams—and her father. Twelve-year-old Modesty “Mo” Seto dreams of being a Taekwondo champion. Even though her mom disapproves, Mo can always count on her dad, who is her number one fan and biggest supporter.
Continue reading
Lately, Mo has been on a losing streak, and it doesn’t help that she keeps losing to her archnemesis, Dax, who’s much bigger than her. If only she were faster, stronger, not so petite. Mo can’t even lean on her dad like usual with how distracted he’s been lately. When Mo learns about the chance to audition to star alongside her idol and legendary martial artist and movie star Cody Kwok, she knows this her chance to prove to her dad, to the world, and to herself that she can compete with anyone, no matter her size. Unfortunately, Dax is auditioning, too. As Mo and her nemesis progress to callbacks, someone attempts to sabotage the movie set and Mo’s dad disappears—and both events seem linked to a mysterious book, the Book of Joy. The book contains information on Xiaoxi Fu, a secret dance-like martial art developed by Mo’s ancestral grandmother. Armed with these secret moves and an unexpected ally, Mo embarks on a high-octane adventure to rescue her father, save the movie, and discover an unexpected joy in being small.
Small but Mighty
A brisk martial arts adventure pairs underdog determination with family stakes and a dash of mystery.
Come here for
- Taekwondo, movie-set intrigue, and a mysterious martial arts book
- A determined young hero facing a bigger rival and bigger stakes
Expect
- Action threaded with a young competitor’s struggle to prove herself
- A family-centered adventure where an ancient martial art matters
Where it sits
| Martial Arts | 95% |
|---|---|
| Action & Adventure | 64% |
| US: Asian American Stories | 63% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Action & Adventure
- Martial Arts
- Self-Esteem & Resilience
- Authors
- A. Y. Chan
- Publisher
- Aladdin
- Published
- May 6, 2025
- Format
- Paperback
- Reading lane
- Action & Adventure