Review by Booklist Review
Thea Torres is spending two weeks of summer at Junior Stunt Warrior Camp with her friends from middle school. Thea transformed into the cool, athletic kid after she transferred schools, but when her geeky ex-best friend, Evan, joins the camp and stays with her family for the summer, Thea worries that he will ruin her newfound reputation. Her problems multiply when she cuts the branch off a tree in her backyard to make an obstacle course, prompting duwendes (goblins from Filipino folklore) to threaten the ruin of her home and town if she doesn't come up with an appropriate apology in one week. As the duwendes' pranks and destruction cause more trouble for Thea, she seeks help from Evan, who is familiar with duendes (elves) from his Mexican American culture. Badua's latest novel highlights Filipino American culture and features relatable characters struggling to find acceptance and friendship as well as a deeper understanding of who they are. A magical adventure rooted in the realities of growing up.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
With her friends Brooklyn, who is Black, and white-cued Rex, Filipino American Thea Torres is attending Junior Stunt Warrior Camp, which is sponsored by the athletic competition show Stunt Warrior. When her former friend, Mexican American Evan, arrives, Thea is embarrassed by his lack of awareness surrounding social cues. At camp, she's one of the popular kids, and being around Evan is affecting her reputation. Yet his presence might be the least of her worries; unfortunately for Thea--and her street cred--she isn't very good at the Stunt Warrior challenges. At home, her father warns her about creatures called duwendes that live in trees. But Thea ignores his warning and cuts down the calamansi tree in their backyard to build a Stunt Warrior practice course. Soon, she's approached by duwendes Dante and Dora, who give Thea one week to come up with a genuine apology or they will destroy her neighborhood. Desperate, Thea enlists Evan to help her stop the creatures. Both Thea and Evan's personal insecurities surrounding their respective eagerness to fit in or be themselves are palpable throughout Thea's sensitively wrought first-person narration. Badua (The Cookie Crumbles) elevates an otherwise staid tale by infusing it with Filipino myth, making for an uplifting fantasy adventure. Ages 8--12. Agent: Natalie Lakosil, Looking Glass Literary. (Oct.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
After accidentally destroying the home of magical Filipino tricksters, Thea must find a way to make amends. With her wins in Brazilian jujitsu, Thea Torres is finally the "popular sporty kid"--she's even attending Junior Stunt Warrior summer camp with some of her cool new friends. But her self-image is threatened when she struggles with some of the obstacles and when Evan Rodriguez, a Mexican American friend from her old school who's embarrassingly clumsy and geeky, shows up. Hoping to improve her skills, Thea decides to make a practice course in her backyard. Ignoring her father's warnings about the goblinlike duwendes, Thea cuts a branch from the calamansi tree her late grandfather brought from the Philippines. That night, she's awakened by a pair of angry duwendes who are tearing apart her room. Threatening to destroy her neighborhood next, they tell Thea she has to make a "true apology" within seven days: She must be sincere in her "words, heart, and offering." As the damage escalates, Thea enlists Evan and her new friends to help. But the stresses of camp, saving her home, and keeping up her cool, fearless image might be too much. Infused with Filipino folklore and culture, this romp includes tricks, stunts, and an exploration of friendship. Thea's struggles will resonate with many readers as she wrestles with her reputation, others' expectations, and just being herself. A heartfelt and fun-filled story full of action, adventure, and mischief.(Adventure. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
