Sugar and Spite
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
Can a bully be defeated by a magical love potion?
Jolina can't take Claudine's bullying any longer! The taunts and teasing are too much. Though Jolina knows she's still in training to use her grandfather's arbularyo magic, she sneaks into his potions lab to get her revenge. Jolina brews a batch of gayuma, a powerful love potion.
And it works. The love potion conquers Claudine's hateful nature. In fact, Claudine doesn't just stop bullying Jolina -- now she wants to be Jolina's BFF, and does everything and anything Jolina asks.
But magic comes with a cost, and bad intentions beget bad returns. Controlling another person's ability to love -- or hate -- will certainly have consequences. The magic demands payment, and it is about to come for Jolina in the form of a powerful storm...
Magic and reality mingle in this brilliant new middle-grade novel by Gail D. Villanueva that asks whether it's ever okay to take away someone's free will.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Moving to Isla Pag-Ibig from Marikina City in Metro Manila wasn't how Filipina Jolina Beatrice Bagayan, 12, imagined she would start her apprenticeship with her Lolo Sebyo as an arbularyo, or faith healer. On top of trying to fit in, she must contend with bully Claudine Dimasalang, who's "brown but lighter than ." Frustrated at faking cordiality to protect her mother's probationary job at Claudine's family resort, Jolina brews a gayuma—love potion—for Claudine. But it comes with a warning: "Two powerful forces combined in a potion can result in even greater consequences." Soon, Claudine wants to be BFFs and invites Jolina to her birthday party. When Jolina begins to view Claudine as a legitimate friend, the line between magic and real emotions blurs. Villanueva (My Fate According to the Butterfly) seamlessly blends Filipino mysticism and culture with themes of internalized racism, classism, and homophobia. Pinoy readers will especially appreciate smoothly interwoven Tagalog and references to Filipino pop culture, but this accessible speculative read will appeal to many. Back matter includes a recipe for yema balls and an author's note discussing various cultural elements mentioned throughout the book. Ages 8–12.
