A girl tries to cheer up her grieving, forgetful grandfather by taking him on a rollicking road-trip adventure in Keep Dancing, Lizzie Chu, a charming and poignant middle-grade novel from award-winning author Maisie Chan.
Twelve-year-old Lizzie Chu has lived with her wai gong (grandfather) in Glasgow since her parents died when she was a baby. But Wai Gong has been acting different lately. He spends a lot of time talking to his Guan Yin statue-the Chinese goddess of compassion, kindness, and mercy-at his altar and seems to be becoming more forgetful. Even the shared passion he and Lizzie have for their favorite show, Strictly Come Dancing, seems to be tailing off.
Then one day Lizzie's friend Chi visits dressed as Princess Leia for Comic Con, and Wai Gong mistakes her for Guan Yin. He's delighted-and Lizzie gets an idea. She and Chi (dressed as the goddess) can take Wai Gong to a ballroom dance at the Tower Ballroom, where he'd always dreamed of going with his late wife. If only she can get her granddad there, she thinks, he'll find some peace, and perhaps things will be OK at home again. After all, one of the myths around Guan Yin is that she brings order and harmony, so it's got to work out-right?
'Keep Dancing, Lizzie Chu is brimming with kindness, humour and lovable characters. The story of Lizzie and the obstacles she overcomes to help her grandfather had me laughing out loud on one page and welling up on the next. Maisie Chan is a wonderful storyteller.' -- Kate Gilby-Smith, author of The Astonishing Future of Alex Nobody
Praise for Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths;
'Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths is both heart-warming and hilarious, filled with characters you'll instantly love.' -- Jamie Smart, author of Bunny Vs Monkey
'Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths is heart-warming and packed with fascinating snippets of Chinese culture. I loved reading about the intergenerational relationship between Danny and his grandmother. We all need a Nai Nai in our lives.' -- Jen Carney, author of The Accidental Diary of B.U.G.
Author
About Maisie Chan
Maisie Chan is a British-born Chinese author. She has written early reader books for Hachette and a collection of fairy tales, myths and legends in Stories From Around the World for Scholastic, as well as many stories for The Big Think: a well-being curriculum based around stories for primary school children. She also started the group Bubble Tea Writers to support and encourage new British East Asian writers in the UK. Originally from Birmingham, Maisie now lives with her family in Glasgow.
