Jolina uses magic to seek revenge on a bully.Twelve-year old Jolina has recently moved to Isla Pag-Ibig from the busy city of Manila. Moving to the small island hasn't been easy, especially with Claudine continually bullying her. Luckily, Jolina has her dog, Kidlat, and her healer grandfather's lessons in the arbularyo's magic to distract her. But one day Claudine makes it a point not to invite Jolina to her birthday party, and Jolina can't take it anymore. Even though she's just an apprentice and she knows powerful magic comes with significant consequences, Jolina brews a gayuma to exact revenge. The powerful love potion works, and now Claudine wants to be her best friend, following anything Jolina says. The girls get to know each other and become real friends, but the price of magic must be paid, putting everything and everyone at risk. This is a fun, heartwarming #ownvoices novel of friendship, love, and forgiveness. Fantasy mixes with reality, exploring themes of privilege, consent, free will, and sacrifice. Filipino culture and Tagalog are naturally worked into the story, which highlights the old healing practices, landscape, food, and history of the Philippines. Early on in the story, Jolina heartbreakingly compares her dark brown skin, thick straight black hair, and flat nose to Claudine's light brown skin, wavy black hair, and high-bridged nose. Claudine's mother has a female partner.A delightfully sweet mix of magic and friendship (and pets). (recipe, author's note) (Fantasy. 8-12)

Jolina uses magic to seek revenge on a bully.Twelve-year old Jolina has recently moved to Isla Pag-Ibig from the busy city of Manila. Moving to the small island hasn't been easy, especially with Claudine continually bullying her. Luckily, Jolina has her dog, Kidlat, and her healer grandfather's lessons in the arbularyo's magic to distract her. But one day Claudine makes it a point not to invite Jolina to her birthday party, and Jolina can't take it anymore. Even though she's just an apprentice and she knows powerful magic comes with significant consequences, Jolina brews a gayuma to exact revenge. The powerful love potion works, and now Claudine wants to be her best friend, following anything Jolina says. The girls get to know each other and become real friends, but the price of magic must be paid, putting everything and everyone at risk. This is a fun, heartwarming #ownvoices novel of friendship, love, and forgiveness. Fantasy mixes with reality, exploring themes of privilege, consent, free will, and sacrifice. Filipino culture and Tagalog are naturally worked into the story, which highlights the old healing practices, landscape, food, and history of the Philippines. Early on in the story, Jolina heartbreakingly compares her dark brown skin, thick straight black hair, and flat nose to Claudine's light brown skin, wavy black hair, and high-bridged nose. Claudine's mother has a female partner.A delightfully sweet mix of magic and friendship (and pets). (recipe, author's note) (Fantasy. 8-12)

Moving to Isla Pag-Ibig from Marikina City in Metro Manila wasn-t how Filipina Jolina Beatrice Bagayan, 12, imagined she would start her apprenticeship with her Lolo Sebyo as an arbularyo, or faith healer. On top of trying to fit in, she must contend with bully Claudine Dimasalang, who-s -brown but lighter than .- Frustrated at faking cordiality to protect her mother-s probationary job at Claudine-s family resort, Jolina brews a gayuma-love potion-for Claudine. But it comes with a warning: -Two powerful forces combined in a potion can result in even greater consequences.- Soon, Claudine wants to be BFFs and invites Jolina to her birthday party. When Jolina begins to view Claudine as a legitimate friend, the line between magic and real emotions blurs. Villanueva (My Fate According to the Butterfly) seamlessly blends Filipino mysticism and culture with themes of internalized racism, classism, and homophobia. Pinoy readers will especially appreciate smoothly interwoven Tagalog and references to Filipino pop culture, but this accessible speculative read will appeal to many. Back matter includes a recipe for yema balls and an author-s note discussing various cultural elements mentioned throughout the book. Ages 8-12. Agent: Alyssa Eisner Henkin, Birch Path Literary. (Apr.)