Mabuhay!

Tween siblings team up to save their family when childhood tales from Filipino folklore come to life in this adventuresome graphic novel by Sterling (Punch Up!). Middle schoolers JJ and Althea Bulan crave acceptance; JJ fervently tries to fit in, especially when it comes to impressing his crush, while Althea harbors frustrations about how no one seems to appreciate her for who she is. Constantly having their last name mispronounced, enduring the dreaded "lunchbox moment" at school, and working at their family food truck--which involves JJ donning a pig costume and Althea handing out free samples--don't help their endeavors. Their immigrant mother's seemingly never-ending repertoire of lessons from Filipino folktales adds to the tweens' ire, until the folkloric figures suddenly appear and threaten their family. Mom reveals a long-held secret: their family has magical roots, and they must now work together to keep the powerful entities at bay. In this quickly paced adventure, Sterling crafts an animated look into one immigrant family's experience navigating fantastical and real-life challenges via brightly hued, cartoon panels and plenty of upbeat humor. An adobo recipe, author's note, and glossary conclude. Ages 8-12. (Oct.)

Gr 4 Up--JJ and Althea can't forget their Filipino heritage, no matter how hard they try. There are constant reminders that they don't fit in as "regular" American kids, like when they have to help out at their family's food truck by handing out samples dressed up in a pig costume, or they have to listen to their mother's Filipino folklore stories AGAIN, or the other kids in school complain about the way their lunches smell. But when strange things start happening around them and they discover that both good and evil characters from their mother's stories really exist, JJ and Althea realize that everyone in their family is in danger. The challenge will be to see if they can do their jobs at The Beautiful Pig food truck while also saving their family, and even the world! This book features lots of colorful panels that sometimes jump out at diagonal angles, adding extra energy and drama to an already exciting story. The background colors and designs also change at certain moments, which lets readers know that something unusual is happening, as when the story switches from modern day into a folktale. VERDICT Have this on hand for readers who enjoy captivating adventures, food, and folklore!--Andrea Lipinski

An engaging tribute to family, food, and finding yourself.

"Full of Filipino folklore and mythology, this humorous coming-of-age graphic novel is an exciting combination of fantasy and relatable middle school issues. The fun, heartwarming story with its bright, expressive illustrations celebrates family, food, and culture... An engaging tribute to family, food, and finding yourself." — Kirkus Reviews