Squalo & Mage vs. the Rage of the Bakunawa

A magical child and her shark friend set out on an adventure to find the sea serpent known as the Bakunawa… The narrative is rich with Filipino mythology, providing enough contextual clues for readers unfamiliar with the culture to follow the story. Though the storyline occasionally touches upon serious topics, debut author-illustrator Bodegón-Hikino successfully maintains a fun, upbeat adventure with Squalo and Mage’s friendship at the heart of the story. The soft pastel color palette adds a whimsical touch to the cartoon-style artwork, and video game–inspired elements interspersed throughout offer additional appeal. Young readers will be eager for the second volume. A delightful, fantastical duology opener infused with Filipino folklore. — KirkusYoung druid Mage and her warrior shark pal, Squalo, pair friendship with magic in this Philippine mythology adventure by author-illustrator Bodegón-Hikino [that is] an inviting fantasy world… Panels featuring heads-up displays throughout the story, providing power, inventory, and rewards received, will give this added appeal for video game fans, who will appreciate this series starter’s wealth of action, battles, and charm. — BooklistAs they battle and explore, the two hilariously encounter tropes from role-playing games and stealth action video games, like leveling up, inventory management, and poor level design… The lightheartedness of the piece will appeal to kids, and both the cartoonish design of the art and the bubbly personality of Squalo will be a hit with readers. The neon color palette adds to the charm, seeming to coat the entire piece with bubblegum beauty. A solid and upbeat adventure that will keep newly independent readers engaged from start to finish. — School Library Journal

Kara Bodegón-Hikino is a Filipino cartoon illustrator, author, and semiretired music journalist. She grew up hoping to become a marine biologist to study sharks but ended up in the music industry, where she wrote for publications like Billboard, Bandwagon Asia, and PULP Magazine. She also worked from backstage to the photo pit at concerts and designed album covers and merch for some pretty cool bands and artists. These days, she sells stickers and little trinkets as KARAKUGAKI at local art markets and conventions. Squalo & Mage vs. the Rage of the Bakunawa is her first graphic novel.

Kara lives in a very music home with her husband and their son (who they’re training to become a Pokémon Master) in the south side of Manila.

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