Marikit and the Ocean of Stars

Ages 8 to 12

A magical middle-grade debut about a Filipino girl who ventures into the land of the engkantos, or nature spirits, to save herself and her mother from a sinister fate, written by a Filipino author.

Marikit is used to wearing recycled clothes. Her mother, the best seamstress in the barrio, has become an expert at making due ever since Marikit’s father and brother were lost at sea. But for her tenth birthday, all Marikit wants is something new. So when her mother gifts her a patchwork dress stitched together with leftover scraps from her workshop, Marikit vows to never wear it. That is, until the eve of her birthday, when shadow creatures creep into their home and upend the very life she knew.

Marikit discovers that her dress is a map, one lovingly crafted to lead her to safety in the magical lands of the engkantos, where Marikit makes friends out of monsters and challenges the gods. With the help of her friends, including an exuberant firefly and a cursed boy, Marikit journeys through the land of the engkantos to find the key to saving her family.

About the Author

Caris Avendaño Cruz works as a copywriter for internet brands and cool businesses, but her favorite things to write are magical stories featuring kids of color. Marikit and the Ocean of Stars is her debut novel. She lives in Bulacan, Philippines, and can be found at carisavendanocruz.com or on Twitter and Instagram at @carisavencruz.