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.)