Scan barcode
moonchildallen's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
smo13's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
It’s a journey story but with Filipino mythology!
cerisewon's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
young me would’ve loved this book but now me has learned so much from marikit and her adventures as she goes along her diwata journey.
this book is such a good book and i believe that whatever age you are, you will surely enjoy Marikit and the Ocean of Stars. it’s a mix of adventure, filipino fantasy, and family. i did shed a tear or two at some part hshshehehdhshs. BUT NO ONE WILL CHANGE MY MIND THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS FROM A FILIPINO AUTHOR AND THE FACT THAT ITS CENTERED IN FILIPINO CULTURE IS JUST SO HEARTWARMING AND AMAZING ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
this book is such a good book and i believe that whatever age you are, you will surely enjoy Marikit and the Ocean of Stars. it’s a mix of adventure, filipino fantasy, and family. i did shed a tear or two at some part hshshehehdhshs. BUT NO ONE WILL CHANGE MY MIND THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS FROM A FILIPINO AUTHOR AND THE FACT THAT ITS CENTERED IN FILIPINO CULTURE IS JUST SO HEARTWARMING AND AMAZING ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
lostcupofstars's review against another edition
1.0
Oh man I’m so sad I hated this book.
The story was all over the place and Marikit was a brat. I kept hoping it would get more enjoyable but in the end it fell flat for me.
What I did like though, were the chapter headings. I thought it was really cool that each chapter gave us a different word and its translation. The illustrations dotted throughout were also really nice.
The story was all over the place and Marikit was a brat. I kept hoping it would get more enjoyable but in the end it fell flat for me.
What I did like though, were the chapter headings. I thought it was really cool that each chapter gave us a different word and its translation. The illustrations dotted throughout were also really nice.
alohabooksandbujos's review against another edition
4.0
Marikit and the Ocean of Stars was such a fun read! The addition of words and their meanings at each chapter heading was educational and helped add another layer to the story. While I previously had no knowledge of Filipino folklore, this was magical and the inspiration definitely was front and center.
The setting, emotions, characters- it’s magical and a beautiful representation that is needed. This is a wonderful fantasy middle-grade read that I would recommend to anyone who loves fantasy, middle-grade, or is simply looking to branch out.
The setting, emotions, characters- it’s magical and a beautiful representation that is needed. This is a wonderful fantasy middle-grade read that I would recommend to anyone who loves fantasy, middle-grade, or is simply looking to branch out.
scythefranz's review against another edition
5.0
"You will learn things along the way."
Really enjoyed reading this book! It's like a PJO-kind of adventure but with Philippine folklore and myths.
Really enjoyed reading this book! It's like a PJO-kind of adventure but with Philippine folklore and myths.
chenillereads's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
vcords_'s review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Marikit is <i>makulit</i>, kind of a brat, and only discovers resilience along the way. I suppose that is how we all learn. If anything, I appreciate her raw honesty and the gracious acceptance that the characters she meets extend toward her. This does not mean she is not an annoying character. And, I suppose, her being <i>makulit</i> demonstrates how she is marked by her love—she does not need to earn it and how love is how she is able to overcome.
I liked her growth arc but I was far more invested in Filipino mythology.
Also, I could not help but envision Pucca's Master Soo as Bathala.
I liked her growth arc but I was far more invested in Filipino mythology.
_christinacreads's review against another edition
4.0
“But she is with you. In the stitches and patches and every fiber of this dress. Her love is as intact as every hem. Every seam. Her threads will watch over you.”
4.5 ⭐️ for the book
1.5 ⭐️ for the audio narrator (I’ve listened to 4 books THIS YEAR ALONE narrated by Amielynn Abellera and was pretty bleh about all her other narrations but this is seriously her worst one so far. see more at end of review)
Marikit and the Ocean of Stars by Caris Avendaño Cruz is a fast-paced action packed middle grade adventure novel heavily inspired by Filipino Folklore. If you enjoy books like Abeni’s Song by P. Djeli Clark and The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland by Catherynne M. Valente, this might be for you.
We follow stubborn and strong-willed Marikit who bragged to all her friends that she was going to wear a beautiful brand new dress for her 10th birthday. The big day approaches and her mother, a seamstress who only speaks sign language, presents her with a patchwork dress made from scraps of old clothes that does not meet her expectations. Her mother urges her over and over to wear it, with Marikit not understanding that why until shadows come and she’s whisked away into a magical world.
The most impressive aspect of this book is the absolutely vibrant world Caris paints with her beautiful writing. As Marikit goes on a quest, she discovers that her dress is a map that’ll guide her through numerous trials as she trudges through the most incredibly crafted lands. Along the way, Marikit meets the most adorable of companions and makes a lot of new friends.
This checked all the boxes for middle grade adventure books. You have a feisty main character that has quite a bit of growing to do, a quest and journey through a captivating world, and amazing characters you meet along the way. The culture in this book drips from every single page and very unapologetically presents you with not only the mythological creatures of the Philippines, but also the values most, if not all, Filipinos hold dear.
I co-read this book physically with the audio and while I personally do not enjoy this particular narrator, as I think she did this book a disservice with her portrayal of Marikit and the numerous strange accents she decided to give all the secondary characters, I do highly recommend reading this book physically.
This is a tender love letter to Filipino children, full of heart and yearning. It felt like a warm hug to my inner child. I truly would’ve loved to have this book growing up. Reading through Marikit’s eyes would’ve been so relatable to me growing up – the tantrums, her irritation that grown-ups kept things from you *and for what*, her perseverance and how much she values the friends she makes, and ultimately the realization of the enormity of her mother’s sacrifice and how much she loved her.
4.5 ⭐️ for the book
1.5 ⭐️ for the audio narrator (I’ve listened to 4 books THIS YEAR ALONE narrated by Amielynn Abellera and was pretty bleh about all her other narrations but this is seriously her worst one so far. see more at end of review)
Marikit and the Ocean of Stars by Caris Avendaño Cruz is a fast-paced action packed middle grade adventure novel heavily inspired by Filipino Folklore. If you enjoy books like Abeni’s Song by P. Djeli Clark and The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland by Catherynne M. Valente, this might be for you.
We follow stubborn and strong-willed Marikit who bragged to all her friends that she was going to wear a beautiful brand new dress for her 10th birthday. The big day approaches and her mother, a seamstress who only speaks sign language, presents her with a patchwork dress made from scraps of old clothes that does not meet her expectations. Her mother urges her over and over to wear it, with Marikit not understanding that why until shadows come and she’s whisked away into a magical world.
The most impressive aspect of this book is the absolutely vibrant world Caris paints with her beautiful writing. As Marikit goes on a quest, she discovers that her dress is a map that’ll guide her through numerous trials as she trudges through the most incredibly crafted lands. Along the way, Marikit meets the most adorable of companions and makes a lot of new friends.
This checked all the boxes for middle grade adventure books. You have a feisty main character that has quite a bit of growing to do, a quest and journey through a captivating world, and amazing characters you meet along the way. The culture in this book drips from every single page and very unapologetically presents you with not only the mythological creatures of the Philippines, but also the values most, if not all, Filipinos hold dear.
I co-read this book physically with the audio and while I personally do not enjoy this particular narrator, as I think she did this book a disservice with her portrayal of Marikit and the numerous strange accents she decided to give all the secondary characters, I do highly recommend reading this book physically.
This is a tender love letter to Filipino children, full of heart and yearning. It felt like a warm hug to my inner child. I truly would’ve loved to have this book growing up. Reading through Marikit’s eyes would’ve been so relatable to me growing up – the tantrums, her irritation that grown-ups kept things from you *and for what*, her perseverance and how much she values the friends she makes, and ultimately the realization of the enormity of her mother’s sacrifice and how much she loved her.
jenncortes's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What an adventure!!!