• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7

Evan Park has always faced obstacles in getting his father's approval, but an actual obstacle race has some surprising results. A new middle-grade novel from the author of the critically acclaimed Peter Lee's Notes from the Field.

Unlike his dad, Evan Park does not like team sports — no matter how hard he tries. And when an accident causes Evan to break his wrist, he is determined that once he heals, he'll work on finding his thing. Alone.

Inspired by his athletic physiotherapist, Evan decides to compete in an upcoming Dominator Ninja: Junior Edition competition. It will be part rehab, part fun. If he trains hard enough, he'll finally have something to put on his empty shelf in the family trophy cabinet. Maybe that would make his dad proud of him for once.

But klutzy Evan strikes again, reinjuring his wrist. There's no way he can compete in Dominator Ninja now — he can't even hold chopsticks. When his sister encourages him to look beyond a solo competition, they discover a local family race that is more about the experience than the results. Can Evan shift his perspective to rally the whole family to do this event . . . together?

Angela Ahn is a former high school English and Social Studies teacher. She also taught English as a Second Language for two years in Hong Kong. She went back to school to earn a Master's of Library and Information Studies from UBC. Angela worked in all types of libraries, but only discovered the joy of children’s literature when she had her own children. She has been at home with her family for the last 10 years in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Angela Ahn's profile page

"A fun-filled romp grounded in love, family, and plenty of mud." —Kirkus Reviews
"With insight and compassion, Ahn's middle-grade novel addresses the countless hurdles that come with family, teamwork, and self-improvement." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Author Angela Ahn writes in a lively style, one that encourages turning the page to find out what happens next, while also delivering a few life lessons to middle grade readers without them realizing that they're learning something." —Story Monsters Ink