Mabuhay!

August 28, 2023
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.

September 1, 2023
Two siblings are thrown headfirst into Filipino magic, mythology, and folklore. JJ and Althea Bulan, the children of Filipino immigrants, are trying to figure out where they fit in. Self-conscious JJ cares how others see him, while Althea won't change for anyone and wants people to accept that. At school, people mispronounce their surname, JJ gets bullied for being unathletic, and kids make racist comments about Althea's Filipino lunches. Fitting in is even harder when they spend their free time helping out at the Beautiful Pig, the family food truck--JJ has to dress up in a pig costume while Althea hands out samples. Then Tito Arvin, their dad's flaky younger brother, unexpectedly shows up with a warning that the family is in danger. After sharing the same creepy nightmare and being attacked by witches and a monster, the siblings uncover secrets their parents have been hiding: Their mother has magical powers, and the witches who raised her are pursuing them. To save the day, JJ and Althea must learn to embrace who they are and the culture they come from. 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. Tagalog words are woven into the dialogue, with pronunciations and definitions provided in the footnotes. An engaging tribute to family, food, and finding yourself. (recipe, author's note, glossary) (Graphic adventure. 8-12)

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