When I plucked this gorgeous paperback off the shelf at BookPeople, the bookseller stopped to tell me how much she adored this book—and that she just wanted to hug it when she finished the last chapter. With a towering stack of books on my TBR shelf, I didn’t need to buy another one, but how could I say no? Just as I expected, this is an amazing middle-grade fantasy story with so much heart. And yes—I did want to hold it close to my heart when I reached the end.  

I highly recommend Lalani of the Distant Sea to all young readers, especially young girls who can relate to Lalani’s struggles with bullying. She faces a lot of cruelty—from schoolyard bullies and family members living under her thatched roof. Adolescence isn’t for the faint of heart, folks.

This is a wonderful book for young girls who feel powerless in the face of adversity. Lalani is here to show young readers that anything is possible—even when it seems like all hope is lost. I also greatly enjoyed the author’s subtle antifascist messaging, and I’m sure many of you will find this passage particularly relatable:

“Never trust someone who wields power through fear. We have many opportunities in life to overcome fear and embrace courage. Once we seize the first opportunity, it becomes easier to seize the second.”― ERIN ENTRADA KELLY, LALANI OF THE DISTANT SE

As for the world-building, the author did a masterful job transporting me to the fantastical island village of Sanlagita. I felt like I was right there with Lalani watching the fishing boats drifting in the ocean amidst the backdrop of the forbidden mountain. I could envision the boats of sailors vanishing into the mystical fog in search of great fortunes, never to be seen again. And oh, how I loved the little woodland and aquatic critters based upon Filipino folklore. My only gripe is that they needed to play a larger role in the story. Perhaps that could happen in the sequel? I sure hope this isn’t the last we’ll see of Lalani and the islanders of Sanglagita.

If you love adventure stories, please give this book a chance. It’s more than just a story about a girl on a quest to save her village; it’s a story about hope, love and persistence. Imagine how much change we could make in this world if we didn’t just throw up our hands and say, “Oh well.” Imagine what could happen if we all braved the wilderness and went against the flow to do what’s right. Just imagine the possibilities if more Lalani’s existed in this world!

“We have many opportunities in life to overcome fear and embrace courage. Once we seize the first opportunity, it becomes easier to seize the second.”― ERIN ENTRADA