"Narrator Nancy Wu expertly conveys Peasprout's hilarious snarkiness and spunk...Wu's varied voices and accents help distinguish the characters, reflecting the friendships, sibling relationships, and rivalries, but it's Wu's eager and vulnerably sincere Peasprout who gives the story heart."— AudioFile Magazine *Winner of a Parents' Choice Silver Award* This program includes original songs written and recorded by Henry Lien. “It’s Hermione Granger meets Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon meets the Ice Capades meets Mean Girls." —The New York Times Now in her Second Year at Pearl Famous Academy of Skate and Sword, Peasprout Chen strives to reclaim her place as a champion of wu liu, the sport of martial arts figure skating. But, with the new year comes new competition, and Peasprout’s dreams are thwarted by an impressive transfer student. Yinmei is the heir to the Shinian throne and has fled her country for Pearl. When she excels both academically and socially, Peasprout begins to suspect that Yinmei is not a refugee at all but a spy. When the Empress of Shin threatens to invade the city of Pearl, Peasprout makes a bold decision. To keep her enemy close, Peasprout joins Yinmei's “battleband," a team that executes elaborate skating configurations that are part musical spectacle, part defensive attack. In Henry Lien's Peasprout Chen: Battle of Champions, Peasprout guides her battleband on a mission to save Pearl, and learns what it truly means to be a leader. Songs and lyrics copyright 2019 Henry Lien Recording (p) copyright 2019 Henry Lien Praise for Nancy Wu as Peasprout Chen: "The narrator, Nancy Wu, finds just the right blade edge between girlish naïveté and brashness for our protagonist" — New York Times "Takes on weighty and relevant questions of gender, ability, leadership, immigration... with intelligence, deftness and precision." —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review "Wu glides deftly through the narration with distinct characterizations...This unique heroine will skate into the hearts of middle-grade listeners." — Booklist
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"With dazzling versatility, narrator Nancy Wu immerses listeners in this complex East Asian-inspired fantasy about a martial arts legend in the making. ...Wu's narration captures Peasprout's every nuance--hubristic yet vulnerable, snarky yet sincere--alongside character voices that range from subtly accented to all-out caricature. Peppered with breathless wu liu action and bookended by original music, this memorable performance will leave listeners hoping for a sequel.
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AudioFile, Earphones Award Winner