Mila is a big fan of twin celebrity chefs, the "Fab Foodie Brothers," so when word comes that they're opening a new restaurant in Coral Beach, she can't wait! However, she quickly discovers that the food they plan to serve is suspiciously identical to the Filipino-Indian fusion recipes her family's food truck, The Banana Leaf, serves. Desperate to save their food truck, Mila concocts a plan with her family friend, Ajay, to uncover the truth behind the Fab Foodie Brothers' plans.

With a little magic sprinkled in, this was a super cute story and quick read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book, as this book has already been published, I will not share my review on Netgalley at this time.

I've really enjoyed Tracy Badua's previous books and was so excited for another middle grade book from her! Much like "Freddie vs. the Family Curse," this book stars a Filipino-American kid and includes a touch of magic. This one follows Mila, whose family runs a Filipino-Indian fusion food truck but finds their business in trouble when two celebrity chefs move to town and open a restaurant that is a clear rip-off of theirs. With the help of a new friend, Mila sets out to take out the bad guys and save her family's business.

This was a nice short and fun read that I think kids will really enjoy! The descriptions of the food were *chef's kiss* and I really appreciated the subtle exploration of cultural identity and assimilation. I loved watching Mila come into her own and learn to be proud of her Filipino heritage. It was full of mischief and just a touch of magic.

I would recommend this to readers who've enjoyed "Sugar and Spite" by Gail D. Villanueva or "Just a Pinch of Magic" by Alechia Dow. I'm really looking forward to more books from Tracy Badua!

Such a wonderful MG story! A great story filled with food, wonderful characters, love, and just an overall enjoyable read!

Mila believes in magic, but also in fitting in when starting a new life with her dad. They run a food truck the Banana Leaf with Filipino-fusion foods. While some neighbors find their food too "weird," most are willing to give it a try with a help of some folk magic.
Then celebrity chefs come in town, open a new space, and start using the Banana Leaf recipes to sell at higher prices and with more influence. While Mila can't prove it, she knows she has to do something. Perhaps a little magic, friendship, and uneasy alliances with a rat will do the trick.

Such a fun book, and very relatable if you love cooking.

This book could easily have fallen into an easy good vs evil dichotomy. Consider the set up: a food truck accuses a celebrity restaurant of stealing their recipes. The little guy goes against seemingly impossible odds to take down the big guy who is lying and cheating. Basic stuff. But Badua elevates the plot by adding in more complexity. The powerful restaurant promises to bring more traffic to all of the businesses in their struggling town, so fighting will harm all of their friends. And side elements include the exploration of colorism, the complexities of cultural identity, and folk magic. None of the elements are explored in deep ways but with likeable characters and engaging writing this is a solid read for middle graders.

I flew through this fun book! It was funny, full of heart and culture, family, friendships...everything! I just had to know how everything would turn out, so I definitely kept turning the pages. Also, food truck books-we need all of them.

A delicious story with a determined heroine who overcomes the odds against her! Mila loves helping her dad at his food truck of Philiipoino Indian fusion food. Her favorite celebrity chefs arrive in town to open a restaurant across the street, but they’ve stolen the food truck’s menu and recipes! Mila’s determined to prove the theft, but it’s difficult with no power or influence. Even still, she and her friend Ajay work to expose the chefs with a little help from her Philipino folk-magic potions. And as Mila pursues her goal, she learns that she can be herself…and that, in the end, her other friends really do accept her for who she is.

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for the chance to give my honest opinion.

Mila is trying to fit into her new small town Coral Beach while spending time in her dad's Indian-Filipino fusion food truck. I really enjoyed this book, especially with someone trying to take over your area and it's your family business they are trying to ruin, how far will Mila go to save her family's truck business?

I really enjoyed this book, especially with the food involved and the culture.

Just not for me. The pacing felt rushed and, honestly, I would have been much more interested in a story about Mila's adjustment to her new town and growing magical ability than the plot about the celebrity chef siblings. Did I miss a novel and come in the middle of a series or something?

My Rating: 5
A fun and fighting story of a girl determined to save her family’s food truck with Filipino folk magic and courage.
Thank you HarperCollins for providing an e-book copy through NetGalley.

Synopsis:
Mila wishes her dad’s Filipino-Indian fusion food truck, The Banana Leaf, was the most successful business in the area. But Coral Beach is a small coastal location with few tourists and even fewer people of color. While Mila enjoys inventing the next new dish with authentic flavor, she hates how ostracized she feels from the community. After she and her dad moved here from LA, making friends, growing the family business, and pleasing her grandma bear on her need to “fit in” to the crowd. But Mila has no idea what that means.

Then, something exciting finally happens to Coral Beach. The Fad Foodie Brothers - hottest TV food sensations and Mila’s celebrity crushes - are opening a new restaurant in town! Mila is over the moon and eagerly awaits the soft opening where she can try all the food. But then she learns of their “inventive” Filipino-Indian fusion idea, like the Banana Leaf. Then she sees the menu, which looks suspiciously like the Banana Leaf’s. Then she tries the food, and it is exactly like the Banana Leaf’s. The Fad Foodie Brothers are stealing the Banana Leaf’s food! If Mila doesn’t do something, her family’s business will be shut down for good. To stop this, she must use some Filipino folk-magic that amplifies emotions and truth. The problem: She’s no good at it. In addition, going against the Fad Foodie Brothers means going against what it means to “fit in”, and Mila’s not entirely sure how she can live in a place that refuses to accept her for who she is. But the Banana leaf is their home, and Mila’s love of food, of her father, and of their cuisine will not let her stop until she exposes the brothers for their crime.

What I Liked:
The Takeout is a story about a Filipino girl who must decide what is more important: Fitting into the community to make friends and live a “normal” life, or fighting for yourself and your family. It’s a fantastic message and one that Mila struggles with. On the surface, it’s easy to say “Of course be yourself!” but sometimes, given your circumstances, it’s not the most conductive or safest option. There is more nuance for people of color fitting into a mostly white community, and Mila’s story shows this in a slightly exaggerated situation but realistic perspective. Mila’s inner thoughts are introspective and considerate of other people’s point-of-view, such as her father, sister, her new friend Ajay, and others in her life. Other characters are fully realized and unique, some surprising readers (and Mila) with their decisions. The incorporation of Filipino folk magic is delightful and fun, easily adding urban fantasy to the story without distraction. Mila, Ajay, and their families are Filipino. The Fad Foodie Brothers and Mila school associates are White. There is a spattering for Black/Brown minor characters.

What I Didn’t Like: Nothing!

Who Would I Recommend This To: Kids who like reading about food, the underdog fighting against big businesses, Filipino folklore and culture, and about kids trying to fit in.

Review Date: June 20, 2023

A charming read with very likeable characters. I enjoyed reading about Filipino-Indian food fusion, with a touch of albularyo magic. This is a light read about loyalty, family, and friendship. Middle-grade kids and adults would enjoy this.

Absolutely wonderful book by Tracy again and this one didn't disappoint. Absolutely phenomenal writing here!

Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books, Clarion Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

The Takeout by Tracy Badua is the story of Mila, her family's food truck, and the fight she undertakes to keep a pair of celebrity chefs from stealing her family's recipes and livelihood.

I know a lot of people will probably love this book, but I couldn't connect with it. For me, the entire book was filled with so many different plotlines that ALL introduced additional stress and unhappiness into the main character's life, it was an uncomfortable, tense read. I realize that life is not always puppies and flowers, but I was missing a little bit of joy in the book - instead it all seemed to be frustration and sadness until the end of the book.

The actual writing is cohesive and effective, but unfortunately, due to the plot points and storyline, it was not an enjoyable read for me.

********SPOILER ALERT*********
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There was sooooooo much unhappiness and tension. It seemed liked overkill that 1) Mila was unhappy within her family - she misses her mother while she is out of the country, and she currently lives in a tense household with her grandmother who is disapproving of her father's life choices and voices those opinions often, 2) Mila is uncomfortable in her community while not feeling like she fits in or has true friends, 3) Mila is afraid of the potential of the loss of her family's food truck and how the loss of that income and her Dad's dream will affect them all, 4) Mila is disappointed in her inability to create potions like her mother and sister and as a result feels inadequate.

Another tension I personally experience that other people may find amusing was the presence of Ajay's pet rat. I realize that this is just a book, but the fact that he carries the rat around in his pocket and occasionally leaves it in a box IN THE FOOD TRUCK while he is working there was extremely gross to me.

***END OF SPOILER****
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I really loved this middle grade book!! It was so much fun!

All the food talk was great. Made my mouth water. The Darlington’s made me so angry, especially with how they treated Mila and her family. The mystery and sleuthing was so much fun. I enjoyed Mila working with Ajay. Although, I didn’t like how Ajay kept making comments on Mila’s look and wanting to change it.

My favorite quote: “I never want to be a boring old corn dog.” LOL!!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early advanced ebook copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

tl;dr
A charming lead fights to save her family business in a tale about food, magic and finding your own identity.

About
Mila feels out of place in Coral Beach, a small city where being Filipino makes her stand out. The only place where she can be herself is the Banana Leaf, her father's Filipino-Indian fusion food truck. Unfortunately, a new celebrity chef restaurant might put the truck out of business, especially after she discovers they've stolen her family recipes. But what can one person even do about it?

Thoughts
Growing up in the diaspora has some unique challenges, and I've read a lot of MG books lately that address this. This one in particular though really manages to hit it from multiple angles. It's difficult to try to shave off pieces of yourself to fit in, but it's also difficult when other people challenge your choices and make you feel "not enough." That being said, I think Mila's growth in learning to accept herself will resonate with any reader, and her own revelations really hit home. Ajay was also a great secondary character, with growing up and fitting in problems of his own, and their friendship over the course of the book was my favorite part. My second favorite part was, of course, all the descriptions of food. Filipino and Indian food are both excellent, and if there were a Banana Leaf food truck in my area, you can bet I'd be a regular customer. The ending is fun and hopeful, with all the loose ends tying up very neatly.

"People say that home is where the heart is, but that's a lie. Home is where the stomach is."

Thank you Harper Collins and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The Takeout follows Mila as she navigates fitting in after moving to a new town while trying to save her family's food truck. Not only is Mila going against the celebrity chefs stealing from The Banana Leaf, but going against them means going against the city, its residents, and the chamber of commerce. Mila turns to the magic that her mom and sister practice, even though she has been unable to use it by herself. Mila's story talks a lot about wanting to fit in while also wanting to be more connected to her culture. Her sister criticizes her for not reconnecting and trying so hard to fit in, judging her on things like getting a friendship bracelet to going to tea with her grandmother and her new friends. Her grandmother, on the other hand, wants the family to try even harder to fit in, criticizing Mila’s father’s dream of successfully running The Banana Leaf. With her mother caring for her grandfather in the Philippines and her sister away at college, there’s a lot on Mila’s plate.

Starting over is hard for most people. Mila’s story is great for people who are starting over, trying to make new friends, trying to belong, and trying to connect. Her struggle with working with the magic without her sister and mother there to make it themselves is connected to her struggle with herself, stumbling over a mixture of Latin, Tagalog, and other languages that seemingly come naturally to them. Her journey through the book is accepting herself as much as it is saving The Banana Leaf, and its message that you are enough as you are is great for everyone to hear.

THE TAKEOUT comes out on May 9th, and I hope y’all pick up a copy! The descriptions made me super hungry, so 10/10 recommend having some lumpias near by! Happy Reading!

4.5 stars
Takeout is an amazing and energetic middle grade focused on fighting the dishonesty of those who abuse fame, high power, or status, like being an influencer or large brand, to succeed by stealing from the original creators and many times minorities. In this case, Mila has to prove that the restaurant that just opened nearby stole her family's recipes. Such injustice can't be unpunished and Mila has allies.

Mila's voice will not be silenced, not by the famous or older generation (grandmother's view of her American Dream) that sees the world differently, with a different kind of caution. I am glad that we are seeing more characters that don't stand down, although they are young, their voices are coming forward for the sake of the community or family.

I love that the story infuses some infusion of Filipino folk magic, referring to natural products, herbs, and infusions to heal instead of chemicals. I appreciate when fiction inserts a bit of "magic" in the resolution of conflict when the themes are so close to our daily lives that humor makes the story lighter.

It's quite energetic and uplifting in this quest for justice on an infuriating journey to seeking truth.

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for the chance to give my honest opinion.

I've read "Freddie vs. the Family Curse" so I was excited to see (and receive) the ARC for her next book for this age-group, "The Takeout".

At the first sentence, it was like coming home. Badua is right in saying that "home is where the stomach is" as the fondest memories we have of back home is not the food per se, but the memories associated with it: Simbang Gabi (Midnight Mass) noche buena (midnight meal), birthdays, graduations, and all sorts of family gatherings.

But for Mila in "The Takeout," it is much more than that. It means their livelihood; it means not having to live under the thumb of her domineering grandmother; it means not seeing her dad stressed out in paying bills; and for her, it means possibly having her own test kitchen to work out her own Indian-Filipino fusion.

When cooking stars, Fab Foodie Brothers, threatened their food truck by having a brick-and-mortar establishment serving the same food in the same vicinity, Mila knew she had to step up her "albularyo" game in order to save her family business.

As much as there are Filipino folk magic and Latin-inspired spells involved, Mila knows she needs to have more confidence in herself in order for things to work out. I liked the injection of some more of the Filipino elements in the story, but I do think the use of incantations may be a little too witch-y for me. Granted, albularyos do DO that, the notion of it included in a book geared towards children is a little unsettling. Let's just say, I don't think I would want my children thinking that drinking potions and concoctions (albeit natural ingredients) is the way to solve problems or get out of situations. It would be good if the emphasis is more on her inner strength than the magic potions.

That being said, even without that, I think the story actually has a very good plot, though there would be a different way to solve the mystery. I liked that Mila was spunky and determined and did not let those who are "bigger" than her (in every way) get in her way of uncovering the fraud that the Foodie brothers are spinning everyone around in.

A good message here is that what you see on the screen is not always what you get. It should help children and teens see that we can't always believe what we see on TV, and our "idols" in media may not be the same in real life. At the end of the day, with the myth shattered, then Mila can actually see who she is and what she is capable of, shattering everyone's image of her and finally letting her true self come out.

"When a celebrity chef's new restaurant threatens Mila's family's food truck, she plans to expose them for the recipe thieves they are.." - Goodreads

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
•Family run Filipino & Indian Food Truck
•Cultural identity
•Big company vs small company
•Fitting in
•Magical potions

This is another middle grade book I wish was around while growing up! I love that this book features a little bit of the business side, Filipino and Indian dishes, dilemmas in fitting in with peers and your own culture, and a little touch of magic ✨️

Thank you Netgalley for the advance copy!!