First, she’s the apprentice of her albularyo lolo, and yet her magic is weak and unreliable. But things are made even more difficult by two things. Adjusting from the big city to a small island town is difficult enough. Sugar and Spite is the story of a young girl named Jolina who moves from Marikina to Isla Pagibig, an island in the province of Bicol. *I don't usually end up liking young middle-grade books, but this was definitely an exception. adults who like to confuse themselves people who like complex plot lines heartless people just kidding, people who don't like young middle-grade Both light-hearted and heartfelt, the world needs more of the gift that is Villanueva's writing on its shelves! (I'm definitely getting a physical copy when it hits shelves, especially since this was my first DRC ever.) I will be keeping my eyes peeled for her future work. This book had me laughing and tearing up in all the right places, and the ending left such an indelible bittersweet impression on me. They were tackled in such a straightforward, plain, and accessible way that is sure to spark important discussions even among young readers. I also loved how well-woven into the story such themes as consumerism, internalized racism, homophobia, and classism were.

I found myself giggling with delight with every reference from Filipino cuisine to cultural beliefs. Villanueva did not shy away from representing Filipino culture in almost every possible aspect of the story in such a seamless way that did not feel forced to the story. This book was an utter delight to read! Full of heart and quirky magic, this story of friendship is bound to resonate with both middle-grade readers and really anyone who considers themselves young at heart. Yes, a 5-star read because not only was this book good, but it was a much-needed read for me. I received a DRC of this book from Edelweiss+.

Sugar and spite gail villanueva