Thea and the Mischief Makers coming October 15, 2024 from HarperCollins; 240 pages
About the Author: “Tracy Badua is a Filipino American author of books full of humor, magic, and young people with sunny hearts in a sometimes-stormy world. By day, she is an attorney who works in national policy and programs, and by night, she squeezes in writing, family time, and bites of her secret candy stash. She lives in San Diego, California, with her family and photogenic Maltese” (Bio from HarperCollins Publishers).
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Tracy Badua’s Thea and the Mischief Makers follows twelve-year-old Thea during her summer at Junior Stunt Warrior Camp, where she will be able to prove her athletic capabilities to her cool new friends. When she arrives at camp she learns, much to her dismay, that her nerdy friend, Evan, is also there—and even worse, that her mother planned for them to spend every day together after camp. While trying to navigate the complexities of fitting in, appearing cool, and hiding her closeness with her socially awkward friend, she awakens little mischievous goblins in her backyard called Duwendes. Duwendes are a part of Filipino mythology, and to Thea’s surprise, they’re real! After destroying the Duwendes’ home, a series of unfortunate events ensues. To amend her mistakes, she must apologize with words, offerings, and her heart.
What stood out to me most in Thea and the Mischief Makers was the diverse and lovable cast of characters, especially Evan. Evan is a wonderful example of a child who doesn’t quite fit in, and teaches readers to treat those who may not have as much social awareness with kindness and patience. With a combination of Filipino mythology and culture, as well as Evan’s Hispanic heritage, these characters provide excellent representation to young readers. One of my favorite aspects of this book was the inclusion of the Duwendes. These small, fuzzy creatures protect the tree in Thea’s backyard and help teach Thea a lesson on the power of words for both good and bad. While at times the writing and message can be on the nose by stating the lesson of the book outright, I think this book will connect with young readers, especially those who have been at either end of verbal bullying. This book handles the topics of grief, truth, bullying, and the importance of sincere apologies, all while being a fast paced and action-packed read. I recommend this book to any reader struggling with fitting in or trying too hard to be something they’re not.
Thea and the Mischief Makers releases on October 15, 2024.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank Books Forward and HarperCollins for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Jenica Delaney, Pine Reads Review Writer