Lulu Sinagtala and the City of Noble Warriors

Gr 4-7–The first in what is sure to be a hit series full of magic, mythical beings, and an endearing cast of characters. Lulu was adopted when she was just a baby and has been brought up in a warm family consisting of her mom and sister Kitty. She has a relatively normal life in the City of Caloocan, learning about her Filipino heritage and spending time with an amazing array of people on her lively street. But one day, everything changes. When an earthquake hits, Lulu and Kitty are thrust into a new world full of magic and Tagalog deities, and a wakwak has kidnapped their mother. Along with their friend Bart, as the sisters embark on an epic journey to save their mother, they must rely on each other to stay safe in a world full of danger. Villanueva is a spectacular worldbuilder and does a remarkable job of depicting Tagalog mythology and Filipino history that is riveting, and also accessible to readers with no background in either.