I do not say this lightly as an avid middle-grade reader, but this just might be in my Top Ten favorite middle grade fantasy books ever. This book is quite possibly The Perfect Middle Grade Fantasy. Every young Filipino reader deserves the gift that is this book.

First of all, Caris Avendaño Cruz's writing is absolutely captivating. This book reads a lot like Tahereh Mafi's Furthermore in that it feels like the narrator is addressing the reader directly. The description of not just setting but also emotion is stunning. I expect great things from Cruz's future works.

The worldbuilding is also fantastic. The lands that Marikit travels are well-realized and creative. I was thoroughly fascinated by how magical everything was. The characters that Marikit meets along the way were also very endearing. I love the entire cast with my soul.

Mostly, I just absolutely loved how very Filipino this is! Every aspect of this book drips with something Filipino. Not only are Filipino words used, but there are references to Filipino folklore, mythology, culture, food, religious beliefs, superstitions, and even some common tall tales many Filipinos are familiar with growing up. I honestly think this should be required reading in Filipino elementary schools! I just think it would be fantastic for young Filipino readers to follow an adventure where they can see their cultural upbringing depicted so unapologetically. This book is, without a doubt, a love letter to young Filipinos, especially those whose families struggle to make ends meet and have nice clothes. Even as an adult, this story resonated with me and reminded me of some of my insecurities and struggles as a kid.

To top all of this off, there are also a lot of great lessons here about identity, family relationships, and what matters most in life. Overall, this book just has so much heart.

I cannot recommend this book enough. It practically demands to be read!

A beautifully lyrical story, Marikit and the Ocean of Stars will take young readers on an adventure filled with Filipino folklore. Avedaño Cruz does an excellent job of weaving in explanations into the narrative and bringing to life all the magic and mystery her main character faces. Highly recommended!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for allowing me to read this wonderful middle grade book before it hits the shelves.

I’ve read my fair share of middle grade books as an adult. Some of them are books I loved as a child that I decided to reread to see if they still hold the same magic. Others are books that were recently published and I’m evaluating them for usage in programs, and some are books that are soon-to-be-published and I’m evaluating them to add them to the collection. Of all of the middle grade books I’ve read in the past year and change, I think Marikit and the Ocean of Stars might just be my favorite.

This is a story of growing up and finding yourself. It’s a story of family, the one you’re given and the one you make yourself. It’s a story of home, and loving your home even if it’s not the shiniest and newest. And it’s a story about promises. Most of these things aren’t unique–you can find a million books about growing up and family and home. While it’s less common to find a middle grade book about the importance of keeping promises, they exist too. Despite how common these themes are, Marikit and the Ocean of Stars is a unique book. It’s sad to say that a big reason for that is because it is inspired by Filipino stories, and there aren’t a lot of Filipino stories in the western market. I had so much fun getting introduced to gods, goddesses, and mythological creatures I’d never heard of before, and to learn a bit more about some of those I had. (I’m definitely going to be diving into some Wikipedia pages on Filipino mythologies now because there’s just so much to learn here!) I also really enjoyed Marikit.

I’ve said multiple times before that, for me at least, a character can make or break a story. When I first met Marikit at the beginning of the book, I thought she was going to break the story. I did not like who Marikit was when the story started, but I love who Marikit became by the time it ends. If you want to see an example of a dynamic character and some A+ character growth, Marikit is it. It’s a little messed up that I’ve read books about growing up and finding yourself before where the characters who are meant to be growing and learning are flat and static, but that is not the case for Marikit. She is fully fleshed out and full of so many contradicting feelings, just like anybody is at 10 years old. There are entire worlds inside this character, and that is exactly what a book like this one needs to really be something special.

This is definitely one that is going on the purchase list for my library. I especially can’t wait to see what the illustrations look like in their final glory!

Wonderful, genuinely unique fantasy inspired by Filipino folklore. This is an area of folklore I am unfamiliar with, so it was great to learn new stories. The main tale itself is inspiring and charming as well. There are shades of The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making here, as well as the cited similarities to The Girl Who Drank the Moon and When You Trap a Tiger.