Mabuhay!

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

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Physical Properties

Description

Can two kids save the world and work their family food truck First-generation Filipino siblings JJ and Althea struggle to belong at school. JJ wants to fit in with the crowd, while Althea wants to be accepted as she is. But that hope seems like a long shot, for both of them. To make matters worse, they have to help their parents run the family food truck by dressing up as a dancing pig and passing out samples. Ugh! And their mum is always pointing out lessons from Filipino folklore -- annoying tales they've heard again and again. But when witches, ogres and other creatures from those same stories threaten their family, JJ and Althea realise that the folklore may be more real than they'd suspected. Can they embrace who they really are and save their family

Reviews

A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

"Sterling presents a vibrant, nonstop adventure, infusing his electrifying full-color panels with mythic origins and onerous quests. What could have been just another adolescent coming-of-age gets dynamically enhanced with witches, portals, and newfound superpowers... Hand this empowering title to kids needing a boost of confidence." -- Booklist, starred review

"This book features lots of colorful panels that sometimes jump out at diagonal angles, adding extra energy and drama to an already exciting story... Have this on hand for readers who enjoy captivating adventures, food, and folklore!" -- School Library Journal, starred review

"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

"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." -- Publishers Weekly

Author Bio

Zachary Sterling is a Filipino-American illustrator, sequential artist, writer, and animation designer. Over the past several years, Zachary has worked on comics and graphic novels for young adult readers as well as animation designs for Frederator Studios and Netflix. He was born in Torrance, California, but raised in the suburbs of Portland, Oregon -- the place he proudly calls home.