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Nate Yu’s Blast from the Past

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Book Synopsis

A bighearted tale of family, forgotten stories and the search for belonging, from award-winning author Maisie Chan. Perfect for fans of Benjamin Dean, Jenny Pearson and Helen Rutter.

Nate Yu Riley loves three things: his Switch, his ant farm (especially Betsy, queen of the colony) and his family.

He’s not so sure about some other things, like moving to a big city, starting a new school, and his parents making him do Chinese stuff. They’re always trying to get him to embrace his heritage, but Nate can’t speak Chinese, and he doesn’t know anything about Chinese customs.

But when Nate comes across an old shell casing engraved with a Chinese dragon, he can’t stop thinking about it. And when he touches the shell, someone extraordinary appears. A ghost from long ago. Someone who needs Nate’s help – and Nate might just need his, too …

Our Review Panel says...

There are many links in this complex, but simply written, story – links between: the present day and the past; Chinese and British culture; fantasy and reality. They all intermingle. Jirou the ghost’s search for peace over his betrayal of Ping An mirrors modern boy Nate’s behaviour towards former friend Leighton, being reconciled with and to Chinese family and heritage and the notion of secrets needing to be uncovered and understood rather than causing hurt.

The ant facts at the beginning of every chapter, which sometimes link very obviously to the story, are interesting. Chapter 19 is a good example: ants releasing a ‘death pheromone’ being like the job of Chinese Labour Corps service personnel in World War I, moving bodies away from the battlefield trenches. The book could link into the WWI curriculum topic, offering a different perspective – that of people from a Chinese background who signed up to help the British war effort.

KS2 readers of Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths will be pleased to see this latest addition on their bookshelves, and librarians to increase the diversity of their stock.

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Nate Yu's Blast From the Past: Teaching Resources

A resource pack provided by the author to accompany the book Nate Yu’s Blast From the Past.

Nate Yu’s Blast from the Past

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