About this item
An exciting new middle reader series from a debut author.All twelve-year-old Jaden wants to do is be the best at Cross Ups, the video game he and his friends can't stop playing. He knows he could be -- if only he didn't have to hide his gaming from his mom, who's convinced it will make him violent. After an epic match leads to an invitation to play in a top tournament, Jaden and his friends Devesh and Hugh hatch a plan to get him there. But Jaden's strict parents and annoying siblings, not to mention a couple of bullies and his confusing feelings for his next-door neighbor Cali, keep getting in the way!Tournament Trouble marks the first book in a planned series by Sylv Chiang, a captivating new voice in middle reader fiction. With sharp dialogue and relatable characters, it chronicles the ups and downs of middle school with a relevant, contemporary twist. Accompanied by Connie Choi's lively illustrations, Tournament Trouble invites readers into Jaden's world, and will leave them eagerly awaiting his next adventure. Look for Book 2, coming in Fall 2018!
About the Author
Sylv Chiang grew up in Toronto. As an only child, she had a lot of quiet time to read. Her favorite series was Trixie Belden, but she also loved books by Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary. In grade one, she wanted to be an author when she grew up. Besides reading, young Sylv loved playing outside, swimming, and doing gymnastics. As a teenager, she coached gymnastics and worked at a local museum giving tours to school groups. She also did tour guiding for class trips to Montreal and Quebec City. Sylv studied French at the University of Toronto, and since all her past jobs had involved teaching kids, the obvious path was to become a French teacher. She has taught French Immersion, Extended French, and Core French in the Toronto District School Board. When her second daughter was born, Sylv remembered her childhood dream of becoming an author. She enrolled in a Writing for Children class and soon began her middle grade fiction series, Cross Ups, to appeal to the students in her grade five class who are more interested in video games than books. The three books in the Cross Ups series - Tournament Trouble (2018) , Anyone's Game (2018) , and Rising Star (Fall 2019) - chronicle the ups and downs of middle school with a relevant, contemporary twist.Sylv's favorite part of being an author is when her characters surprise her by doing something she wasn't expecting. She loves the cast of characters in Cross Ups and looks forward to spending time with them while writing further books in the series. When she's not writing, you can find Sylv on her yoga mat or at the library helping her daughters discover great books.
