Mabuhay! by Zachary Sterling

 

Yesterday, I finished reading Mabuhay! by Zachary Sterling. This adventurous and fantastical graphic novel is about JJ and Althea, first generation Filipino siblings who are struggling to fit in at school. While JJ has a crush on Haley P, one of the most popular girls in school, Althea's group of friends ditched her because they thought she was too weird. It doesn't make matters any easier that they have to help their parents run the the family food truck and listen to their mom's lessons from Filipino folklore. After their uncle, Tito Arvin, shows up at their home to warn them that they are in danger, an ogre, witches, and other creatures from their mom's stories come after JJ, Althea, and their family. With the witches planning a treacherous ritual that will take place during an eclipse, JJ and Althea must embrace their heritage and save their family and the world.

This story was such a joy to read because it was humorous and felt like a celebration of Filipino culture. JJ and Althea's experiences at school were relatable and I could totally understood how embarrassing it was for them to have to help their parents with the family food truck, The Beautiful Pig. I definitely felt bad that JJ was the one who would have to actually wear the Beautiful Pig costume, especially because his family and the food truck had a gig at his crush's end-of-the-year party...so mortifying. As a fan of horror movies, I thought it was really cool that Althea enjoyed them and it made me sad when I learned that her friends chose boys over seeing one with her after her mom had already bought tickets. What I loved the most, though, was when the fantasy elements started kicking in. It was absolutely fascinating how the characters and creatures in their mom's Filipino stories turned out to be actually real and I was so excited when their mom revealed that she has magical powers. It was even more thrilling when JJ and Althea discovered that they could use magic, too. I adored the final battle towards the end because it had a twist that was as surprising as it was satisfying. The backmatter of Mabuhay! includes a recipe for chicken adobo, an author's note, and a glossary of Filipino words used throughout the story. Anyone who likes fantasy, action, and adventure should read this graphic novel.