Mabuhay!: A Graphic Novel - by Zachary Sterling

About the Book

"First-generation Filipino siblings, JJ and Althea, struggle to belong at school. JJ wants to fit in with the crowd, while Althea wants to be accepted as she is. But between the leftover Filipino food their mom packs for their lunches to having a last name that nobody can pronounce, any sense of belonging seems like a long shot. To make matters worse, they have to help their parents run the family food truck, dressing up as a dancing pig and passing out samples. Ugh! And their parents are always drawing parallels between their poor work ethic and lazy characters from Filipino folklore -- stories they've heard again and again. But when witches, ogres, and other creatures from those same stories appear in their town and threaten their family, JJ and Althea realize that the myths their parents have always told them may be more real than they'd suspected. Can JJ and Althea embrace who they really are and save their family?" -- provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

An Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature (APALA) Honor Book

An Eisner Award Nominee

From rising star Zachary Sterling comes a humorous and heartwarming middle-grade graphic novel that celebrates food, family, and folklore.

Can two kids save the world and work their family food truck?

First-generation Filipino siblings JJ and Althea struggle to belong at school. JJ wants to fit in with the crowd, while Althea wants to be accepted as she is. To make matters worse, they have to help their parents run the family food truck by dressing up as a dancing pig and passing out samples. Ugh! And their mom is always pointing out lessons from Filipino folklore -- annoying tales they've heard again and again. But when witches, ogres, and other creatures from those same stories threaten their family, JJ and Althea realize that the folklore may be more real that they'd suspected. Can they embrace who they really are and save their family?

Review Quotes

A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

★ "Sterling presents a vibrant, nonstop adventure, infusing his electrifying full-color panels with mythic origins and onerous quests. What could have been just another adolescent coming-of-age gets dynamically enhanced with witches, portals, and newfound superpowers... Hand this empowering title to kids needing a boost of confidence." -- Booklist, starred review

★ "This book features lots of colorful panels that sometimes jump out at diagonal angles, adding extra energy and drama to an already exciting story... Have this on hand for readers who enjoy captivating adventures, food, and folklore!" -- School Library Journal, starred review

"Full of Filipino folklore and mythology, this humorous coming-of-age graphic novel is an exciting combination of fantasy and relatable middle school issues. The fun, heartwarming story with its bright, expressive illustrations celebrates family, food, and culture... An engaging tribute to family, food, and finding yourself." -- Kirkus Reviews

"In this quickly paced adventure, Sterling crafts an animated look into one immigrant family's experience navigating fantastical and real-life challenges via brightly hued, cartoon panels and plenty of upbeat humor." -- Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Zachary Sterling is a Filipino-American illustrator, sequential artist, writer, and animation designer. Over the past several years, Zachary has worked on comics and graphic novels for young adult readers as well as animation designs for Frederator Studios and Netflix. He was born in Torrance, California, but raised in the suburbs of Portland, Oregon -- the place he proudly calls home.