TESSA MIYATA IS NO HERO

Thrown into a world of Japanese gods and spirits, Tessa must find the courage and strength to defeat an evil samurai spirit.

Tessa Miyata is cursed. At the beginning of sixth grade, she began seeing a masked woman who’s invisible to everyone else, leading to her being shunned socially. A year later, an incident gets her expelled from summer camp. Gram, the maternal grandmother who has cared for Tessa and her sisters since their parents died, sends her to spend the summer in Japan with Ojiichan and Obaachan, her paternal grandparents. But Tessa’s grand Tokyo vacation plans get shut down when she’s forced to hang out with neighbor boy Jin, who is clearly reluctant too. The kids finally get to run an errand for Ojiichan in Tokyo, but it turns disastrous when bullies break the precious heirloom daruma doll entrusted to them, releasing the spirit of legendary samurai Taira Masakado, who died over 1,000 years ago. With the help of a kitsune, or nine-tailed fox, Tessa and Jin must work together, train to battle monsters, and try to save Tokyo from Lord Taira. In this exciting, action-packed story, Tessa struggles with loneliness and feels like she doesn’t belong anywhere, but she discovers true strength, bravery, selflessness, and resilience. The magical world of Japanese spirits is beautifully crafted, with cultural elements seamlessly woven throughout. A glossary and interspersed black-and-white illustrations provide additional context.

A delightfully spirited Japanese mythology–inspired adventure that’s full of heart.