Daybreaker

Gr 4 Up--Mika is holding on to a lot of secrets. She can see things that no one else can see and believes in the legendary beings from her grandmother's stories. For Mika, the gods and goddesses of the Philippines are real, and some moths are the spirits of lost loved ones. Her behavior makes it hard for her to fit in with other kids, who think that she's weird and unlucky. When Mika and her classmates, Halle and Teo, are all sent to detention, Mika accidentally casts a spell that binds the three of them together. When she tries to break the curse, she accidentally releases a legendary creature that wants to devour the sun. And that's when things get really complicated. Simultaneously filled with action and emotion, this story interweaves Mika's grief for her lost grandmother, the unlikely friendship among the three kids, and magical battles that could save or destroy the world. The illustrations use a palette of natural browns, greens, and blue earth tones, with more colors emerging as the story becomes increasingly magical. Readers who were captivated by the Filipino folklore in Zachary Sterling's Mabuhay! will enjoy this book. VERDICT For fans of Percy Jackson folklore, magic, secrets, and strong, underestimated heroines.--Andrea Lipinski

A girl who's attuned to ancient Filipino spirits must work together with classmates to break a curse. Mahika "Mika" Marisol grew up listening to stories about spirits from Lola, her recently deceased grandmother. Now in junior high and still believing in those stories, she's known at her boarding school as "Mika-tastrophe," someone who brings chaos and bad luck wherever she goes. With no friends, family, or home to return to, Mika plans to stay on campus over summer break, but a clumsy mistake gets her thrown into a weeklong detention with varsity sipa team vice-captain Halle Santos and choir soloist Mateo Madrigal. When Mika hears her grandmother's voice speaking to her from a moth, she discovers she has the ability to communicate with spirits. After Mika accidentally casts magic that binds her to Halle and Mateo, the trio must find a way to break free. They encounter good and evil spirits along the way, and Mika awakens unimaginable powers, discovering she's more involved with the spirit world than she knew. During her adventure-filled journey, Mika experiences new friendships, loss, and betrayal and develops a deeper understanding of family. Tadiar's expressive illustrations, enhanced by Sousa's rich, luminous colors, beautifully showcase the Philippines' diverse landscapes as well as various cultural elements. Inspired by Filipino mythology and folklore, Tadiar incorporates Baybayin, a centuries-old Filipino script, and the culture of the Indigenous peoples who live in the mountains. A bright beginning to a new graphic fantasy series.(Graphic fantasy. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.