• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

Key Selling Points

• Shy thirteen-year-old Bree steps out of her comfort zone to investigate a theft at an anime convention.
• This story explores themes of friendship, overcoming fears and following one’s passions.
• The main character’s best friend identifies as female and nonbinary, but this is incidental to the storyline.
• In recent years, anime and cosplay have exploded in global popularity and have become part of mainstream culture. This book will appeal to both devoted fans and newcomers curious about this community.
• This is another fun, heartfelt story by Marty Chan with great comedic elements.
• Enhanced features (dyslexia-friendly font, cream paper, larger trim size) to increase reading accessibility for dyslexic and other striving readers.

Raised in Morinville—a small town north of Edmonton, Alberta—Marty Chan is a playwright, radio writer, television story editor, and young adult author. Marty graduated from the University of Alberta in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree (English major/drama minor). He fell into improv comedy when he joined Edmonton Theatresports, but his paralyzing stage fright resulted in ”penguin arm“ acting, forcing him to abandon performing and take up writing. His signature play, Mom, Dad, I’m Living With A White Girl, has been produced across Canada, published three times, and broadcast as a radio drama. The stage play won an Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for Best New Work and the Adams Chinese Theatre Award at Harvard University. In October 2004, the play had a successful Off Broadway run in New York. Marty was a regular contributor to CBC Radio Edmonton from 1994 to 2000. His weekly commentary series, ”The Dim Sum Diaries,“ recounted his misadventures as the only Chinese kid in a small prairie town. These weekly commentaries were adapted into a half-hour television program (The Orange Seed Myth) which won a Gold Medal for Best Television Pilot at the Charleston World Film and Television Festival, and earned Marty a Gemini nomination for best writing in a children’s program. In 2004, Thistledown Press launched Marty’s first young adult novel, The Mystery of the Frozen Brains, which has become a hit with young readers across Canada. Resource Links magazine rated listed it as one of the Best Books of 2004 for grades 3 to 6. Marty was the first playwright in residence at the Citadel Theatre. He also served as the chair of the Edmonton Arts Council and taught playwriting at the U of A. He received an Arts Achievement Award and a Performance Award from the City of Edmonton. He also earned a Horizon Award from the university for his contributions to theatre. Currently, Marty resides in Edmonton with his wife Michelle and their two cats, Buddy and Max.

Marty Chan's profile page

“Simple vocabulary and quick pacing make the story a good fit for struggling readers. Rife with references to anime and fan culture, a mystery sure to entice readers.”

Kirkus Reviews

“Chan touches upon many societal issues, such as anxiety and gender identity, as well as friendship and acceptance...A good read, one hard to put down. Highly recommended.”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

“This book can be used in small group discussions on social anxiety and how to maintain individuality amid adversity. English teachers will enjoy the imagery of the gamers room. Furthermore, the short text will suit reluctant or striving readers…Anime and manga fans will appreciate the references to popular stories combined with sweet friendship and realistic mystery.”

School Library Journal (SLJ)