‘Ginto’t Pilak’ by Hidilyn Diaz and Eugene Evasco, illustrated by Tristan Yuvienco

Is it true women cannot lift heavy things? Before Hidilyn Diaz became the Philippines’ first Olympic gold medalist in weightlifting, she was a girl who carried pails of water, tubs of fish and dreamed to succeed in a sport identified with men. Through continued perseverance and patience, she proved that women can not just lift what is heavy, but win silver and gold medals as well. (Anvil Publishing, Inc.; anvilpublishing.com; available at National Book Store, nationalbookstore.com, Lazada and Shopee.)

‘Wing of the Locust’ by Joel Donato Ching Jacob

Tuan escapes his mundane and mediocre existence when he is apprenticed to Muhen, a charming barangay wiseman. But, as he delves deeper into the craft of a mambabarang and its applications in espionage, sabotage and assassination, the young apprentice is overcome by conflicting emotions that cause him to question his new life. This coming-of-age fantasy novel won the 2018 Scholastic Asian Book Award and is a finalist for the prestigious Singapore Book Awards. (Scholastic Asia; schl.asia/wingofthelocust; available on Lazada.)

‘Li’l Bertong Badtrip!’ by Manix Abrera

The first actual spinoff from Abrera’s cartoon strip “Kikomachine,” “Li’l Bertong Badtrip!” imagines the chaotic, dangerous and hilarious Berto as a kid—though maybe not like others. See Li’l Berto deal with friends and classmates with metaphysical humor and mind-boggling violence in Abrera’s first-ever self-published comic book, 80 glossy pages, all in full color, all brand-new material never published before. (Independently published; available at Shopee, Avenida Books, Komiket, Comic Odyssey and Mt.Cloud Book Shop.)