Review by Booklist Review
Cacao's debut graphic novel tells the tale of orphaned siblings Elliot and Liza, who live in Kawumiti Kingdom. The brother and sister live on the streets in the outskirts of the kingdom, collecting people's trash just to get by. Liza has always dreamed of a better life and persuades her brother to try their luck in Capital City. However, when they arrive, they find its residents to be pretty terrible. While in the city, they make ends meet by taking on quests from ravens and being paid in return for their spoils. During a particularly dangerous quest, Liza is poisoned, and Elliot seeks out help, but in doing so, he becomes a pawn in a mage's quest for revenge from a war that took place hundreds of years ago. Cacao's sharp artwork blends fantasy with a vaguely historical aesthetic, which cultivates plenty of atmosphere, and the pacing nicely unspools the underlying mystery about magic users. Rich backstory and exquisite illustrations give this fantasy adventure lots of appeal.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Orphaned twins Elliot and Liza, who are portrayed with tan skin, scavenge and sell recyclables from a landfill to afford food, until they see a boy from their village trap a raven with magic and perform a quest in exchange for coins. After swiping a spellbook from a local shop, they teach themselves magic and follow the ravens' migration to the dazzling capital city of Kawumiti Kingdom. There, they meet Seb, a brown-skinned mage who offers them membership to the King's Royal Apprenticeship Program, where they can hone their magic and receive room and board. Elliot and Liza instead decide to keep pursuing ravens until Liza is hurt during a quest, forcing Elliot to team up with his crush Seb to save his sister. As the boys venture, they learn more about a century-old war between their kingdom and the land's Indigenous magical peoples, and, in the face of mounting danger, question everything they've been taught about their history. Through boldly outlined, heavily saturated digital artwork that renders sharp movement and detailed character expressions, Cacao (The Tryout) explores the kingdom's tumultuous past and introduces a new battle for its youngest citizens as they struggle to trust one another. Ages 8--12. (Nov.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4--8--Twins Elliot and Liza want what everyone else does: the security of home and health. But that is a farfetched dream for those without parents, living in a kingdom that doesn't care. With raven quests promising them wealth and magic at their disposal, they are prompted to take greater and greater risks until Liza gets hurt. With newfound help from a well-intentioned guard apprentice named Seb, Elliot races to gather the ingredients required by the raven's mage master. Like many fantasy graphic novels, this Filipino-inspired volume provides a safe window through which to critically analyze humanity. Specifically, Cacao paints an empathetic view of poverty through the twins' experiences. Readers can easily see how their status is not due to "laziness" but from misfortune and the failures of state and society to adequately assist its citizens. The thematic drivers of prejudice and inequality regularly push the adventure along by making the characters susceptible to manipulation and by pressuring them to try extreme solutions. While the topic is heavy, the popular middle grade--style illustrations and supportive characters infuse the tone with resilience and hope. VERDICT For those who enjoy adventures such as The Nameless City or NewsPrints, this is another illuminating graphic novel that wraps its social issues around the lives of heart-capturing characters.--Rachel Forbes
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Impoverished twins use magic to try to escape poverty. Orphaned twins Elliot and Liza sell trash to survive. When they discover Ravens' Unkindness, a magical way to complete quests and earn money, they jump at the chance. The siblings follow the ravens to the capital of Kawumiti Kingdom, where everything is expensive, and the king is trying to get rid of the poor. They meet a boy called Seb--a member of the king's Royal Apprenticeship program--who suggests they join him. Liza is in favor, but Elliot refuses to work for a king who doesn't care about his people. The twins continue to do quests until a Titan snake poisons Liza. Elliot brings Liza to a mage in the woods, who sends him on near-impossible tasks to retrieve items for an antidote. Elliot and Seb work together, but each task brings more danger, forcing Elliot to make big sacrifices to save his sister. This action-packed, full-color graphic novel is an exciting and moving Filipino-inspired fantasy. Cacao creates an immersive world and magic system; a spell glossary lists herbs and Tagalog words. Beyond central themes of siblinghood, trust, and friendship, the story addresses war, genocide, corrupt leadership, and prejudice against the impoverished. The characters in this world have brown skin and black hair. A page-turning adventure, full of heart and charm. (map, process notes, concept art, alternate covers) (Graphic fantasy. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
