In Thea and the Mischief Makers, Filipino American Thea Torres is finally living the dream—or at least, the middle school dream. She’s popular, athletic, and attending Junior Stunt Warrior Camp with her new, cool friends. The cherry on top? She’s known for her Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills, a tribute to her late grandfather who taught her to kick butt and take names. But, as we all know, life’s never that simple. Enter Evan, her clumsy, socially unfiltered friend from her previous school, who decides to crash the camp vibes just as Thea is basking in her newfound rep. If this sounds like a comedy of middle school social anxiety, you’re exactly right.
The real trouble begins when Thea, in a desperate bid to be the best, cuts a branch off the family calamansi tree to build a backyard stunt course. Problem? Oh yes. Her dad warned her that duwendes—Filipino goblins—live in that tree.
And wouldn’t you know it, those pint-sized pranksters show up in her room to tear it apart and make a grand threat: apologize “with heart, words, and offering,” or they’ll lay waste to her entire town. Evan, being the nerdy delight that he is, jumps into duwende diplomacy, showing how much he values Thea despite her casual attempts to ghost him into uncool oblivion.
The journey to apologize authentically pushes Thea into some serious self-reflection. Is she truly this tough, confident athlete, or is she masking her insecurities by stepping on her old friends to fit in? Her new friends at camp, the effortlessly cool Brooklyn and Rex, only make things harder as she struggles to keep her fears under wraps and show the duwendes she’s truly sorry. This task isn’t as simple as giving up her lunch or muttering a few sorry-not-sorry words. And when Evan suggests offering Mac and Cheese as a duwende peace offering, it’s laughably perfect—Dora, one of the duwendes, eats it up (literally) while her brother Dante remains as salty as Thea’s disingenuous apologies.
What I love about this story isn’t just the duwendes’ whimsical folklore, or the hijinks at camp, or even Thea’s hilarious internal monologues. It’s the way Tracy Badua dives into Thea’s struggle with identity and acceptance in such a relatable way, especially for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC readers. Thea must face her fears about fitting in while staying true to her roots, her old friendships, and herself. The story serves as a potent reminder: popularity is temporary, but loyalty and self-respect are not. This is where Evan shines. Despite being awkward (I’m sure most of us can relate) his sincerity and self-love shine through, reminding readers that being yourself is the coolest thing you can do.
Thea and the Mischief Makers is a delightful, humorous, and action-packed ride, seasoned with just enough depth to keep young readers, especially those questioning who they are and where they fit, hooked and rooting for their new favorite girl-and-goblin team. And honestly, let’s give this snarky, sassy, unapologetically authentic book the flowers it deserves—it’s a gem in middle-grade fantasy.
If you enjoy this read, also check out Anxious Gretchen
Tracy Badua is a Filipino American author of books full of humor, magic, and young people with sunny hearts in a sometimes-stormy world. By day, she is an attorney who works in national policy and programs, and by night, she squeezes in writing, family time, and bites of her secret candy stash. She lives in San Diego, California, with her family and photogenic Maltese.
Twitter: tracybwrites
Instagram: tracybaduawrites
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