Cross Ups

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!

What's up with Cali? Why does she keep changing her gamer tag? It's summertime, and even though his good friend Cali moved to another city, Jaden can connect with her online almost every day to play their favorite game, Cross Ups. His mom has loosened her rules on how often he can play, and he has an amazing new controller that will make him even better at tournaments. But then he gets roped into a dorky summer camp with his buddy Hugh, and Cali starts acting really weird . . . So when a last-minute tournament spot opens up in Cali's city, Jaden jumps at the chance to go. But things go badly from the start. Jaden loses his controller on the train, and his reunion with Cali is awkward. She's unhappy, and Jaden can't figure out why, especially when she's getting better and better at Cross Ups-and may even win the tournament. With its sharp dialogue and relatable characters, Anyone's Game, the second book in the Cross Ups series, chronicles the ups and downs of middle school with a relevant, contemporary twist.

The continuing adventures of Jaden, Cali, and the Cross Ups crew. When Jaden gets a call inviting him to Comicon to test out a new version of his favorite game, Cross Ups, he is thrilled . . . sort of. He'll get to go with his best friend, Cali, they'll be in New York City, and best of all, he'll meet his idol and the greatest gamer of all time, Yuudai Sato. But he's got no time to practice, and worse, his signature moves no longer work. His trip starts to feel less and less exciting, and more and more like one big problem. Jaden has to come up with some solutions-fast. He looks to some older gamers for guidance, but is JStar willing to change who he is for the sake of a game? With its sharp dialogue and relatable characters, Rising Star, the third book in the Cross Ups series, chronicles the ups and downs of middle school with a relevant, contemporary twist.