Thea and the Mischief Makers

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.)