September 10, 2024 by Roaring Book Press
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Lots of humor and Ghanian representation. Kwame's friend Autumn is Hard-of-Hearing, and this was worked into the story well. I love that Kwame's mother was his middle school principal. First person voice, and highly engaging. Great for fans of ' Brown's Serwa Boateng Guide to Vampire Hunting, Saunders Keynan Masters and the Peerless Magic Crew and Baitie's Crossing the Stream.
From the publisher:
Twelve-year-old Kwame Powell refuses to acknowledge any feelings about his grandmother’s passing. And he certainly doesn't want to accompany his parents to her celebration of life ceremony in Ghana, where he knows he'll have to face his feelings about her death head-on.
But when an aboatia – a mischievous monkey from Akan mythology – steals Kwame's grandmother’s dashiki, his last physical reminder of her, Kwame decides to take matters into his own hands. He chases the little thief across town, to the edge of the pier, and… into a magical whirlpool that leads straight to Asamando, the Ghanaian underworld.
With his best friend Autumn, and the crafty aboatia he names Woo, Kwame finds himself embroiled with angry nature gods intent on destroying humanity. And, matters only get more complicated when he runs into none other than his grandmother herself... except in the underworld, she’s still a kid. And very much alive.
Cervantes, J.S. Daggers of Ire
September 3, 2024 by HarperCollins
But when an aboatia – a mischievous monkey from Akan mythology – steals Kwame's grandmother’s dashiki, his last physical reminder of her, Kwame decides to take matters into his own hands. He chases the little thief across town, to the edge of the pier, and… into a magical whirlpool that leads straight to Asamando, the Ghanaian underworld.
With his best friend Autumn, and the crafty aboatia he names Woo, Kwame finds himself embroiled with angry nature gods intent on destroying humanity. And, matters only get more complicated when he runs into none other than his grandmother herself... except in the underworld, she’s still a kid. And very much alive.
September 3, 2024 by HarperCollins
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Perfect for aspiring brujas who enjoyed Rivera's Cece Rios or Meriano's Love. Sugar. Magic.
From the Publisher:
Esmerelda Santos is a rare bruja, born with Chaos magic in her veins. She and her family are direct descendants of one of the four original witches—a mysterious legend about the night magic was born in San Bosco. But since the death of her mother, Esme is more concerned about healing their father’s spiraling grief.
When Esme finds a heart spell in a forbidden grimorio, she thinks it could be the answer to making her dad whole again. But before she can try, she and her best friend, Tiago, discover that their families and all the town’s witches have vanished—along with their magic, which keeps San Bosco alive. The only way to save them and the town is to find an original witch—impossible, since no one has actually ever seen one.
With a witch hunter on their tail, Esme and Tiago journey to a banished realm where forbidden magic runs wild. Here the two must embrace their powers and confront the legend’s terrible truths . . . or risk losing their families and their magic forever.
When Esme finds a heart spell in a forbidden grimorio, she thinks it could be the answer to making her dad whole again. But before she can try, she and her best friend, Tiago, discover that their families and all the town’s witches have vanished—along with their magic, which keeps San Bosco alive. The only way to save them and the town is to find an original witch—impossible, since no one has actually ever seen one.
With a witch hunter on their tail, Esme and Tiago journey to a banished realm where forbidden magic runs wild. Here the two must embrace their powers and confront the legend’s terrible truths . . . or risk losing their families and their magic forever.
Randall, Julian. The ChainbreakersSeptember 3, 2024 by Henry Holt
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
This had some really interesting inclusions of history, from the author of the Pilar Ramirez series. Violet Moon is an engaging character, and her adventures will resonate with fans of Baptiste's The Jumbies and Okorafor's Ikenga.
From the Publisher:
In this action-packed fantasy, thirteen-year-old Violent Moon must rescue her father and save her enchanted underwater world—perfect for fans of The Marvellers and Tristan Strong series.
All Violet Moon has ever wanted is to be a Reaper captain like her father. Born on the Tides of the Lost, a magical world beneath the waves of the Atlantic Ocean, Violet has spent her life at her father’s side rescuing souls lost in the water.But when a rescue mission turns to disaster after the arrival of the dreaded Children of the Shark, weaponized ghost-sharks who steal the souls for themselves, her father is seized and pulled down into the darkness of the Depths. With no choice for Violet but to inherit the captain's powers and helm the ship as the next in line, it'll be up to her to save her father—if he even still lives—and stop the Children of the Shark before they devour the world.
September 10, 2024 by Greenwillow Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Can't say I can think of any other middle grade books featuring Cajun characters, other than Maberry 2015 The Orphan Army and maybe Fournet's Brick Dust and BonesBrick Dust and Bones (a rougarou is involved, but my knowledge of Cajun culture is not great). It makes perfect sense to have a fantasy novel involving the rich folklore and belief in magic. Boston is not a place I would want to live, but neither is the South, so the problems with Feliciana living in Boston made perfect sense. I'll take my food bland, thanks, although here in Ohio I like to think that we would all be a lot nicer to Feliciana.
From the Publisher:
After discovering that the creatures from Cajun folklore actually exist, Feliciana is torn between hiding her heritage and starting fresh at her new school—all while caring for an unexpected magical friend. Rachel M. Marsh’s debut novel is for fans of Tracey Baptiste’s The Jumbies and Katherine Applegate’s Crenshaw.
Twelve-year-old Feliciana Fruge does not like Boston. If given the chance, she would gladly move herself and her mom from the freezing city right back to Grandma’s house in Louisiana. Feliciana dreams of escaping her stepfather’s corny jokes and bland food and the relentless bullying at school.
So, when she transfers to a new school and has the chance to start fresh, Feliciana plans to be as un-Cajun as possible in order to blend in. But then Grandma sends Feliciana a mischievous and magical monster from Cajun folklore—Roux the rougarou. While Grandma might have meant for rambunctious Roux to keep Feliciana company, now Feliciana must juggle making new friends, outsmarting a bully, creating her best art to qualify for an upcoming competition—and hiding her mysterious, magical canine companion from everyone.
September 10, 2024 by Bloomsbury Children's Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
There are relatively few fantasy books with Filipino characters, other than Villanueva's 2024 Lulu Sinagtala and the City of Noble Warriors and 2021 Sugar and Spite, Badua's 2022 Freddie vs. the Family Curse, and Torres' and Elbert's 2012 graphic novel Lola: A Ghost Story. No matter where tweens are in the world, it is up to them to save the world from paranormal destruction! Definitely appreciate that this is a stand alone fantasy novel.
From the Publisher:
In this middle grade debut inspired by Filipino folklore, a spunky, determined warrior must claim her destiny in order to save her sister, perfect for fans of Witchlings and The Owl House.
Tani dreams of fulfilling her destiny as a Serpent Rider, fighting alongside an elemental serpent to defend her village against monsters. More than anything, she wants to protect her little sister Ligaya, the village princess who's tasked with memorizing their community's history, including the tale of Great Bakunawa, the most powerful and feared sea serpent that swallowed six of the world's seven moons.
After a devastating monster attack, Tani can no longer wait patiently for her bakunawa egg to hatch. She makes a desperate deal with a stranger who promises her a serpent of her own. But when her gamble puts her sister in major danger, Tani must find a way to save Ligaya before she's lost forever. All the while, in the depths of the sea, Great Bakunawa is stirring, threatening to devour the last moon and plunge the night sky into eternal darkness . . .
Tani dreams of fulfilling her destiny as a Serpent Rider, fighting alongside an elemental serpent to defend her village against monsters. More than anything, she wants to protect her little sister Ligaya, the village princess who's tasked with memorizing their community's history, including the tale of Great Bakunawa, the most powerful and feared sea serpent that swallowed six of the world's seven moons.
After a devastating monster attack, Tani can no longer wait patiently for her bakunawa egg to hatch. She makes a desperate deal with a stranger who promises her a serpent of her own. But when her gamble puts her sister in major danger, Tani must find a way to save Ligaya before she's lost forever. All the while, in the depths of the sea, Great Bakunawa is stirring, threatening to devour the last moon and plunge the night sky into eternal darkness . . .
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