Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me free access to the digital advanced copy of this book.

Hello, this book has the Filipino magical girl of my dreams and childhood. You were everything I hoped for and more. Thank you for finding me in these trying times 💛

A heartfelt story with an endearing spark of laughter and goodness that is Marikit, tied together with Filipino mythical figures and the unconditional bonds and love of family, Marikit and the Ocean of Stars is a love letter to every Filipino child and child-at-heart, and reminds each reader that there is always a magic inside each of us.

Highly, highly, highly recommended! ✨

Sometimes all you need is a middlegrade adventure. This was a really cute one, with a main character who goes through a lot of growth. She starts out pretty annoying, but of course she should be allowed to be, being 12 years old, but she really grew on me by the end of the story. I really enjoyed the journey she went on, meeting so many different characters and having so many different stories told. It's just not quite 4 stars for me because I feel like this book will probably not stay with me for a long time.

From my blog post: First, I must say that the cover got me the moment that I saw it! It’s such a gorgeous cover and gives a visually striking representation of the story. This story is Filipino Folklore inspired and is quite the adventure from pretty early on till the end. It weaves (pun intended) the magic of the world Marikit finds herself in and real world scenarios such as the glaring wealth gap in the Philippines (everywhere, really) so beautifully. It was hard not to get wrapped up in (pun intended again) this story and its characters with the banter, emotional beats & hijinx!

I was incredibly sad when this book ended, not because the ending wasn't perfect (it was) but because I already wanted another story about Marikit. I hope this is the first of many works by the author and certainly look forward to reading more!

Marikit and the Ocean of Stars is a heart-warming, adventurous story filled with Filipino folklore, lush descriptions and sweet friendships. I enjoyed following her journey so much, learning about the landscapes through her eyes as well as the friends she makes and lessons she learns along the way. This story is about the love that ultimately conquers all bonds.

Also, I love the cute illustrations included in the chapters, they're so helpful to visualise the setting and just a little treat to the eyes.

Thanks to NetGalley & Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

On Marikit's 10th birthday what she hopes will be a beautiful blue dress turns out to be a strange patchwork dress, but from that moment on Marikit is forced to go on a journey that will change her life forever!

It got a bit complicated with the folklore, but it was still very enjoyable! Very imaginative and creative writing, the author was able to keep the story rooted in Marikit's friendships that she makes along the way. Great for anyone interested in Filipino culture!

Marikit and the Ocean of Stars is a fun, adventurous read with themes of friendships and family at its core. The writing is so immersive I felt as if I was traveling beside Marikit myself! The way the author wove in folklore and mythological entities and how they impact Marikit's journey was expertly done, and the descriptions of food made me hungry! This is a wonderful book and I plan to introduce it to many more young readers.

This is such an amazing middle grade debut novel and how I wish, as a Filipino, that I have this book to read when I was a kid.

Definitely a highly-recommended read!

It's refreshing to see a book based on Filipino folklore and would love to see more for the middle grade audience.

*3.5 Stars*

"A middle grade debut, inspired by Filipino folklore, about a ten-year-old girl who embarks on a quest in the world of gods and spirits to save her and her family from a sinister shadow god."

I'm a little torn about this one. I loved the concept and the setting, I just felt like the execution wasn't up to par. The story felt all over the place at times and I had trouble following it. I wanted to care and to be 100% in but I had trouble with that. I think maybe the characters were a bit too one-dimensional for me but that might have been because they were so young.
Basically, this was a bit of a miss for me but I don't think you should listen to me because I think a lot of kids will enjoy this. So I'm gonna shut up now.

Marikit and the Ocean of Stars was such a fun read! The addition of words and their meanings at each chapter heading was educational and helped add another layer to the story. While I previously had no knowledge of Filipino folklore, this was magical and the inspiration definitely was front and center.

The setting, emotions, characters- it’s magical and a beautiful representation that is needed. This is a wonderful fantasy middle-grade read that I would recommend to anyone who loves fantasy, middle-grade, or is simply looking to branch out.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

Marikit and the Ocean of Stars is a stunning middle grade debut that caught my eye thanks to the beautiful cover, and ended up wowing me even more with its immersive story, a tribute to Filipino folklore and culture.

The world feels very grounded, with a real sense of place, whether it be geographically or culturally. The Filipino vocabulary that peppers the prose is used effectively, and you get a pretty good sense of the food, religious beliefs, mythology, and more that are part of Filipino people’s lives growing up.

I love the relationships between the characters and how they highlight some of the cultural touchstones. Marikit and her mother’s relationship is beautifully rendered, exploring the sacrifice a parent makes for their child. Marikit is very aware of this, and she tries her best to honor that. I really appreciate that, in turn, her mother doesn’t weaponize this knowledge of what she has sacrificed to hold over Marikit’s head, thus avoiding toxicity from that angle, even if the pressure is still there.

This is such a fun adventure story, and the cultural nuances made it all the richer. If you’re a fan of multicultural middle grade fantasy, I recommend picking this one up.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was a very cute and heartwarming book. It's definitely on the younger side of middle grade, considering it all takes place on the protagonist's 10th birthday. I loved the descriptions and how magical the land of Engkantos feels, and I loved that it was based on Filipino folklore. Very enjoyable read and definitely has high stakes and relatable feelings about growing up!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. For me, at first this book was hard to get into but the story got more interesting. I liked learning about the various Filipino gods and myths. I like in addition to the glossary; at he start of each chapter; there’s a Filipino word and it’s various meanings.

This was so cute and sweet! An adventure with an all Filipino cast, a story rich in culture, traditions, mythology, religious beliefs and many, many more.

I loved the lush descriptions of the places Marikit visits, I appreciated the Barrios or just any community in the story that showcases the difference in customs. Almost every creature/mythical being (I say almost because some are Nightmares!) and friend that Marikit meets along the way are endearing. Her character development was one I commend as well, giving the message that sometimes maybe acceptance is the only key. It was obvious that this book was written with love, for country, for family, and self. I think young readers would love this little story.

As fantasy is not my favorite, it is always hard to review them. There were elements of the story that will please young avid fantasy readers. It read much slower than expected and just didn't hold my interest.

As usual, this cute middle grade book made my cry. This story about a girl who leaves her family to go on an adventure follows a very traditional story arc but with a Filipino flair. I really enjoyed learning a little bit of Tagalog and Filipino mythology throughout the story. This was a lovely tale of friendship, adventure, and family, and I really enjoyed it.

A young girl goes on an adventure unlike any other when her birthday goes awry. Marikit has always worn recycled clothes, her mother is a talented seamstress and has always had a talent for upcycling clothes and making them something new. After Marikit’s brother and father were lost at sea, it’s just been Marikit and her mother. After a birthday party leaves Marikit wishing for more, she makes her mother promise to make her a special dress for her tenth birthday, something new. Yet when her birthday arrives her mother gives Marikit a dress made of patchwork stitched together with leftover scraps from her workshop. Marikit is beyond upset and lashes out at her mother, she vows to never wear it, but on the eve of her birthday shadow creatures come after her and try to take her away but her mother tells her that the dress is a magical dress that will help her on the journey and find her way home. Now Marikit is transported into a new world, one far away from the human world where she discovers that her dres sis a map. Now Marikit must navigate enchanted lands, make new friends and meet magical creatures and gods. She’ll have to find the courage to survive and find a way to save her family and return home. This is a story about finding yourself and growing up, about the love of family and what the word home means. This was a pretty sweet story and magical adventure that is inspired by Filipino stories. which is amazing.

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

God, this book was just so freaking beautiful. The descriptions of the land of the Engkanto. The friends Marikit makes along the way. The lessons she learns about finding one's place in the world while still showing gratitude and acknowledgment to where you came from. I am absolutely 100% sobbing.