Praise for The Scroll of Chaos:
"Chapman mixes an empowering adventure story . . . with unflinching, age-appropriate depictions of the ways depression can affect a family . . . A mythological romp that also tackles issues of mental health." — Kirkus Reviews
"[An] imaginative middle grade novel about changing familial bonds and finding one's strength." Publishers Weekly
"Elsie Chapman does it again with The Scroll of Chaos — a thrilling, lushly imagined, emotionally resonant fantasy that will make young readers feel like they're riding their own magical couds across the sky." — Mike Jung, author of Unidentified Suburban Object
"Like magic, author Elsie Chapman paints a vivid picture, bringing to life the stories and characters of Chinese mythology. In this thrilling heroine's quest, Astrid Xu must overcome her own fears and battle Chaos to save the realm of Zhen and return home to her family. Readers will be immersed in this magical realm as they root for Astrid!" — Debbi Michiko Florence, author of Keep It Together, Keiko Carter
"An awesome journey in a gorgeous, epic world that readers won't want to leave! Equal parts sister drama, high-stakes adventure, and intriguing Chinese mythology, this amazing tale reminds us that there are things we can't change, but anything is possible when we believe in ourselves." — Gail D. Villanueva, author of My Fate According to the Butterfly
Praise for Caster:
A 2019 Junior Library Guild Selection
* "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
Praise for Spell Starter:
A 2020 Junior Library Guild Selection
"A thoughtful look at people’s breaking points." — Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Caster
A 2019 Junior Library Guild Selection
* "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
Praise for Spell Starter:
A 2020 Junior Library Guild Selection
"A thoughtful look at people’s breaking points." — Kirkus Reviews
2023-01-12
It’s up to one Vancouver, British Columbia, girl to save a realm of Chinese gods and immortals from Chaos.
Twelve-year-old Chinese Canadian Astrid Xu has two things on her mind: her upcoming concert (managing her asthma while she plays clarinet adds to her nerves) and her mother’s depression (which isn’t getting better). When she finds an old book about Chinese mythology, Astrid hopes to use it to connect with her mother and younger sister, Marilla. Unbeknownst to Astrid, the book also contains an ancient scroll that unleashes a demon bent on destroying everything. Astrid and Marilla learn the truth behind the stories their mother shared as they come face to face with the demigod Erlang Shen and Sae, one of the Eight Immortals. Astrid agrees to help them defeat the demon—but in return, she wants a magical peach that she hopes will cure her mother. As Astrid, Marilla, and the immortals race through a world quickly succumbing to Chaos, they must face their fears and their conflicts with one another before they can make a final stand. Chapman mixes an empowering adventure story, in which Astrid uses skills she has already learned in fantastic new ways, with unflinching, age-appropriate depictions of the ways depression can affect a family. Summaries of myths interspersed throughout the narrative add extra context for readers new to Chinese mythology.
A mythological romp that also tackles issues of mental health. (Fantasy. 9-12)
