The Rush and the Tangle

In this Thai-inspired fantasy, three students at the prestigious Rush Academy train in high-stakes magical competition. The Rush allows students to fuel their spellwork by drawing energy and power from crowds of cheering spectators. Sisters Kit and Luna navigate their disparate paths at the academy while preparing for an upcoming tournament. Between classes and training sessions, they encounter family secrets and uncover truths about the magic system that powers their world. The complex history between the Tangle, a source of raw magic, and the controlled power of the Rush drives the conflict in this young adult novel. Friendship, family bonds, and questions of tradition shape the choices the characters make as they confront challenges both inside and outside the academy. The novel explores themes of legacy, power dynamics, and what it means to forge one's own path while respecting tradition and history. Through its dual magic systems, it offers perspective on how different cultures can view and harness the same fundamental forces.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Christina Soontornvat's overall work: Readers highlight Soontornvat's ability to blend Thai culture and mythology with accessible storytelling for middle-grade audiences. Her non-fiction work "All Thirteen" receives recognition for making complex engineering and rescue operations understandable for young readers. Likes: - Clear, engaging writing style that respects young readers' intelligence - Authentic Thai cultural elements and representations - Strong character development in fantasy series - Integration of STEM concepts in accessible ways Dislikes: - Some readers find pacing slow in early chapters - A few note her fantasy works can be complex for the target age group Ratings: Goodreads averages: - All Thirteen: 4.4/5 (3,900+ ratings) - A Wish in the Dark: 4.3/5 (4,200+ ratings) - The Last Mapmaker: 4.2/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon averages 4.7/5 across titles with readers frequently noting the books work well for both children and adults. School Library Journal reviews consistently recommend her works for elementary and middle school collections.

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🌟 Christina Soontornvat grew up in a Thai restaurant in Texas and worked as a science educator before becoming a full-time writer. 🌟 The book explores Thai folklore and mythology while incorporating elements of science fiction, creating a unique genre blend rarely seen in middle-grade literature. 🌟 The story's themes of environmental conservation reflect real-world challenges in Thailand, where approximately 11% of native species are threatened with extinction. 🌟 Soontornvat has won two Newbery Honors for her other works, making her one of few Asian-American authors to receive multiple recognitions from this prestigious award. 🌟 The author conducted extensive research in Thailand, visiting night markets and interviewing local storytellers to authentically capture the cultural elements in the book.