Gerda is on the magical quest of a lifetime. Her best friend Kai has disappeared with the mysterious Snow Queen, and if Gerda doesn’t rescue him soon, he’ll be trapped in an endless winter forever. The creative team will be led by director Emily Ling Williams (recent winner of Best Director at the 2023 Stage Debut Awards for ‘A Playlist for the Revolution’, Bush Theatre) and writer Julie Tsang. Sam Wu and friends are about to become a HUGE hit with young readers across the UK (and hopefully the world!). I have to say I didn't expect the bully to be so tiny. When we first read about the bully I had expected some bulky rich dude, but instead it is just a tiny little rich kid spoiled to death. I didn't like the guy at all, but I could see that he is also not as tough as he wants people to think he is. :P

Sam, Zoe and Bernard--with some help from Sam's little sister, Lucy--set out to do just that. What follows is a rambunctious story of trial and error before they are able to solve both problems. Both problems (Fang and the ghost) are resolved in absolutely believable ways, when applying the logic of 8-10 year-olds. I started out reading this book to both of my boys (the 4-year-old and the 9-year-old together). The 9-year-old got too excited to wait on just one chapter a night, so he read ahead on his own and finished it almost immediately with huge delight - but then he asked me to keep on reading it out loud anyway. The 4-year-old got a bit too scared by the ghost-hunting in the climax of the book and asked for us to stop, so I wouldn't recommend this book for the really young end of chapter book readers - but I finally got the chance tonight to read the last four chapters out loud to my 9-year-old tonight, and we both absolutely loved them. (It was his second read, my first.) It took me a couple of chapters to really get into the characters, but once I did the story really took off. It's silly without feeling ludicrous because the plot stays true to its main character: Sam. I continue to believe that characters can do outlandish things in believable ways as long as they always seem to grow organically out of who the character is. This is absolutely true in the case of Sam Wu. Um . . . OK, I'm not sure where to start with this review, but when I first got this ARC in my mailbox, the first thing I thought was, "Hasn't this book already been published, like, 10 years ago?" Then my husband, always eager to find new Asian authors, who write about Asian characters, skimmed the book, and said, "I swear to god that I've already read this book, but I liked it better the first time." I dug around in my files and found a book I had almost forgotten about called Alvin Ho Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look. Sam Wu authors Kevin and Katie Tsang said, “We are so thrilled that Polka Theatre is adapting Sam Wu Is NOT Afraid of Ghosts for the stage! Polka Theatre creates incredible shows for children and young people - and we love their commitment to making theatre accessible for all children. It is a privilege to be working with such a wonderful theatre, and to have such a fantastic creative team behind the adaptation. We often take our own children to shows at Polka - and we can't wait to see Sam Wu on stage!”

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This was my chance to prove that I wasn't Scaredy-Cat Sam. My chance to prove I was even braver than Ralph. Sam Wu has the perfect plan to prove that he’s brave: embark on a bold adventure, get a “trusty companion,” and defeat the ghost in his home!

Helen Matravers continues, “Polka’s relationship with Irish theatre makers, Branar, also has a rich history, so it is a joy to have them with us all summer with Oliver Jeffers’ mesmerising story, so carefully told through beautiful puppetry. It’s a gorgeous piece for little ones and their adults alike!”Katie and Kevin met in in 2008 while studying at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Since then they have lived on three different continents and travelled to over 40 countries together. They currently live in London. As well as the brilliant SAM WU series, Katie and Kevin also write magical middle grade fantasy series, DRAGON REALM. De drie beroemde Billy Bones woorden op de achterkant zijn: humor, overwinnen en leesgemak. Het boek is zeer grappig. Niet alleen de situaties, maar juist vooral de personages. Het zusje van Sam vond ik eigenlijk het grappigste personage, ik kon me goed met haar identificeren haha. Sam is een beetje een buitenbeentje, maar hij heeft wel twee hele goede vrienden. Sam Wu is NOT Afraid of Ghosts is an absolute blast ( excuse the pun) from beginning to end. Filled to the brim with gorgeous illustrations from the super talented Nathan Reed, this witty children’s book will entertain people of all ages and Sam will surely give our younger readers a new hero to aspire to. I couldn’t stop laughing from the very beginning of this book and loved the adventure that Sam, Zoe and Bernard find themselves on. It is so reminiscent of childhood and all of our childhood fears that even I as a *cough* 27 year old *cough* couldn’t help but relate to Sam! Visually stunning production that offers a thought-provoking twist on a classic fairy story... well worth a winter trip to Wimbledon." Disclaimer: Many thanks to Sterling Publishing for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.