Marikit and the Ocean of Stars

Nine-year-old Marikit was raised in a home filled with laughter until her father and brother were lost at sea. Now, the Lakandulas’ little house is “painfully quiet,” and Marikit’s sought-after seamstress mother, Nanay, can only provide hand-me-downs for her to wear. For her 10th birthday, Marikit requests “A dress. A new dress. A dress unlike any other”—a blue frock with fluttery sleeves, ruffles, and a big bow. Instead, she receives a patchwork gown, and a promise: “This dress is what you need. This dress will keep you safe.” When she refuses to wear the gift, and a shadow creature attempts to steal her away, Marikit discovers that Nanay is a powerful Diwata—a fairy—and that Marikit is a Diwata with half the power—a Halfling. The other half can be found in the land of the Engkantos, a magical realm where creatures and deities reside. With the help of Nanay’s magical dress, which has a beguiling spirit of its own, Marikit must attempt to save herself from the shadow god and return to the mortal world. Rooting this intricately built debut in Filipino culture and folklore, Avendaño Cruz conjures a smartly pitched fairy tale quest for fans of Catherynne M. Valente’s Fairyland series. Ages 8–12. Agent: Melanie Castillo, Root Literary. (Oct.)