A rollicking, action-packed adventure of laser tag and fierce sibling rivalries, this is the first book in a commerical middle grade fantasy series by Julie C. Dao.

TEAM CHU AND THE BATTLE OF BLACKWOOD ARENA
by Julie C. Dao
Farrar, Straus & Giroux/Macmillan, July 2022
(via Context Literary Agency)

Clip and Sadie Chu couldn’t be more different. Popular, athletic Clip wants to become his school’s first seventh-grade soccer captain, while brainy star student Sadie is determined to prove that she can do anything her boastful brother can.
They have just one thing in common: they love laser tag. Like, really love it.
When the Blackwood Gaming Arena comes to town, bringing virtual reality headsets and state-of-the-art courses, they couldn’t be more excited—or competitive. But then a mysterious figure appears and claims to be a part of the game, forcing the Chus and their friends to save themselves from a sinister force lurking inside the simulation. Together, they must fight their way through epic battlegrounds that will test their speed, skills, and smarts . . . but will Clip and Sadie learn that they’re far better off working together than competing for the ultimate victory?

Julie C. Dao is the acclaimed author of Forest of a Thousand Lanterns, Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix, and, Song of the Crimson Flower (Penguin Random House/ Philomel) as well as the upcoming Broken Wish (Disney/Hyperion). She leads many workshops, for places like the Highlights Foundation, and is a master of school visits. She lives in New England.