Freddie has always had bad luck. No matter what he does to try and counter it bad luck follows him every where. And why wouldn't it his family is cursed! There is nothing he can do to stop it but always having to say no to doing things and never trying something new is getting exhausting. One day he finds a family heirloom that just might change everything. Could Freddie finally turn the luck around or will the spirits who cause his bad luck make it impossible?

This is just a fun title. I love how Sharky supports Freddie and doesn't question when he explains about the sprits who are causing a lot of the bad luck. I also love how she drives Freddie to try new thing and not let his fear of the bad luck stand in his way. She embraces who he is and supports him. Which is just lovely to see from family.

Thank you so very much Clarion Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

Freddie Ruiz has always had bad luck; it's why he is called "Faceplant Freddie". He keeps his head down, moves carefully, and limits his interests to RoboWarriors gaming cards. His great grandmother, Apong Rosing, tells him it is because of a family curse that occurred back during World War II, when she lived in the Philippines and her older brother, Ramon, became a soldier and was killed in battle. His cousin, Sharkey, lives next door, and since she is a Mendoza, she has perfectly fine luck, and is an excellent break dancer who works with the Wyld Beats dance crew at their school. When Freddie finds an amulet in the garage while looking for glue for a school project (he's run out; that's how his luck goes!), he is surprised when it comes to life and holds the spirit of his great uncle Ramon! He finds out that Ramon stole the amulet for luck from his best friend, Ingo Agustin, before going on the mission during which he was killed, and that the family has suffered under Agustin's curse. Freddie has 13 days to find Ingo and have him remove the curse or the spirits will kill him! He and Sharkey try to research, but it's hard to find a 97 year old former soldier who may or may not have survived the war! Luckily, they track him down in Nevada, which is a bit too far from their San Diego home to take an Uber when he refuses to talk to them. Sharkey is supposed to compete in a break dancing competition in Las Vegas, but when she sprains her ankle due to Freddie's bad luck, the two decide that Freddie will take her place so they can travel there and stay in a hotel thanks to Wyld Beats sponsorship. The leader of the team, Dale, is very apprehensive, but Freddie works hard and doesn't do too badly, and challenges Dale to a RoboWarriors match to seal his place on the team. Apong Rosing decides she wants to go to the competition as well, and they are soon on their way. Time is of the essence, since the evil spirits are closing in, and the children manage to make it by bus to the Oasis nursing home where Ingo lives. They must create a distraction when the staff won't let them see Ingo, and this involves breakdancing which actually sets a few things on fire! Will they be able to find Ingo and discover the true nature of the curse, and get him to remove it?
Strengths: This was the perfect balance of a lot of things. It had some social issues, since Freddie has some anxiety about his constant embarrassment. There's the cultural connection with a rich background of Filipino history and family traditions. There's even a little WWII history with the Bataan Death March. The inclusion of breakdancing was absolutely perfect, since break dancing is going to be included as a sport in the 2024 Olympics. Combine all of these things with funny scenes, a road trip, and a thread of self acceptance and personal growth, and this is an absolute winner. The short length helps, and the cover looks fun. There are a huge number of students to whom I can hand this. Definitely worthy of a Kirkus starred review.
Weaknesses: The trip to Las Vegas, and Freddie's very quick inclusion in it, seemed a bit unlikely, but then I'm an adult worried about permission slips and logistics. Children are not going to worry about this, and the spirit deadline doesn't give Freddie much choice!
What I really think: This was such a huge relief to read after ingesting a large number of lyrical, socially relevant, timely stories. It's possible to address these needs and include cultural content while still having a book that is a bit more light hearted and positive. After all, the information about the Filipino involvement in World War II is pretty dire, but it's handled in such an interesting and (dare I say it?) sweet way that what I took away from this was Ingo's spirit of forgiveness and the Ruiz's determination to move on after tragedy. Definitely my favorite book this month.

Superstitions have existed for centuries, and even though they vary from culture to culture, their effects remain constant. Twelve-year-old Freddie Ruiz is the unfortunate sufferer of a curse that has plagued his family for generations. When he discovers a long-lost anting-anting in his garage and accidentally activates it one day, Freddie is introduced to the spirit of his great-granduncle Ramon whose spirit has been trapped in a coin since his untimely death decades before. But now that the anting-anting is active, Freddie only has thirteen days to resolve the curse before he joins Ramon in his metal prison—as long as he can outrun the spirits on his tail.

This intriguing middle grade novel introduces readers to many of the thoughts and beliefs of Filipino culture through an approachable young boy who is so afraid of his family’s curse that he has chosen to distance himself from any potential danger. Of course, this means that Freddie does not participate in soccer or dancing or anything that he might enjoy, and it means that friendship is rare. As the story unfolds, Freddie finds that, though his concerns are legitimate, there is a difference between luck and life. The timeline the anting-anting provides keeps the stakes high throughout the novel, leading Freddie to make bold decisions that he might not otherwise do, while helping him realize just how much control he truly has over his life.

Middle grade readers who have ever felt themselves to be surrounded by misfortune will connect with Freddie’s plight and will consider the possibility that they may be able to affect more change in their lives than they initially thought. This realization is inspiring, encouraging hard work and bravery to attempt the things young people truly desire in their lives. Throughout the story, references to Filipino culture and Tagalog language are included, deepening readers’ connection to Freddie and his familial background. Moments of light horror appear occasionally within the narrative, as well, giving readers a spark of additional flavor to enhance Freddie’s adventure. Like a well-crafted dish, this book includes many engaging elements; it is a rich and intriguing novel to include in libraries for middle grade readers.

What a fun, fast-paced middle grade adventure! Twelve-year-old Freddie has battled a family curse causing him bad luck his entire life, including a non-existent social life. After finding an amulet that should bring him good luck, now Freddie has only thirteen days to break the curse or the curse will break (aka kill) him!

Filled with folklore, humor, and heart, you can’t help but cheer Freddie on as he finally takes risks—and even has some fun—with his cousin Sharkey by his side, to beat the evil spirits and live a life of his own design.

Thank you to author, Tracy Badua, and the publisher for an advanced copy of this awesome book!

I really loved this sweet middle grade fantasy that moved with a fast pace. Freddie is a 12 year old that finds an amulet that must be returned to the owner in 13 days or he will be claimed by the family curse. Excellent themes and great funny moments. My favorite character was great grandma and the dynamic with her late brother. The uncle's speech was used in class to illustrate themes given by older wiser characters.

This is a phenomenal debut! Badua has crafted an exciting and adventurous tale strongly informed by culture that delves into the affects of family history and legacies. Readers will love this fast-paced, humorous, and engaging story. Highly recommended.

Freddie and his family have been cursed for years. When he finds an amulet in the garage, he has to break the curse within thirteen days or he he will die. You would think that this would lead to a fast paced adventure, but it seemed to drag on for thirteen weeks. The concept was great, but the execution just didn't do it for me. The pacing was way to slow. Ramón Was not believable as a 17 year old From the 40s. And finally, after a whole book on breaking an ancient curse, the message is that you make your own luck. I was not a fan.

This was a great little read, fun characters mixed with a unique take on a classic style. Nicely paced to keep readers of all ages interested.

Funny, fast-paced, and delightful. Freddie is an very endearing narrator and kids will definitely relate to all his embarrassing moments! The very first line of the book had me hooked and kept me interested throughout Freddie's cursed adventure!

What a spirited family romp, in more ways than one. Freddie and his family-alive and dead-come together to put the Ruiz family curse to bed once and for all and try to save Freddie’s life. Full of charming embarrassments and relatable middle grade moments, I loved Freddie’s adventure and excellent company. Middle grade readers will fly through this story with glee and root for Freddie as he learns to make his own luck.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.