Randy Ribay

Confident five stars. Definite one for the classroom. Please, just read it. If nothing else, google "Rodrigo Duterte" and understand that this story IS real, for so many people.

See full review and more here!

Recommended: YES, TO EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE
For those who struggle with their identity, their family. For those who have let someone they loved drift away for no good reason. For those who value and seek the truth. For those who are impassioned by injustice. For those who are angry with or horrified by or unaware of government sponsored police brutality around the world. Honestly, it's also just a really powerful, heart-wrenching story.

Thoughts:
I saw this and thought, "Yeah that has some serious potential."
Then I read the 5 chapter excerpt from NetGalley, and was already slavering for more.
FINALLY, release day came, and it was everything I had expected and more.

Our characters are complex, so much so that I felt like I had run into them before in classrooms, meetings, or coffee shops. The truth is complex, and that's what this story grapples with, as well. Every part of this story feels real, like it was torn straight from the author's heart.

The shame Jason feels at letting Jun drift away, and at knowing nothing about his home country across the world. The anger he has toward his father for never reacting, never pushing, never caring. The constant surprises and chagrin at being surprised that he faces during his trip - that people living in slums are still living, and still have happiness within them, faces him to confront his own judgments and the inherent biases he has from only being exposed to what is shown to him by Western media.

God, I could go on forever about this book. It's important, it's real, and it will make you cheer, grimace, rage, and so much more. Please, just read it. If nothing else, google "Rodrigo Duterte" and understand that this story IS real, for so many people. (I put this at the beginning AND end of the review, because it's that important and I want to make sure as many people as possible see it.)… (más)

*I got this book for review from Net galley*

I really enjoyed this book. I loved how this book was told from two boys POV and how it really focused on their friendship and how it changed over the course of the novel. It was such a impactful novel and it was super hard to put down. I thought the racial elements in this book was super well done and it was handled so well. I loved how sports was used to increase tension in this novel. I was equally invested in both POVS and loved the cast of characters that populated this world. I was super impressed by this novel as well! I will def.check more stuff by this author in the future!… (más)

*I got this book for review from Net galley*

I really enjoyed this book. I loved how this book was told from two boys POV and how it really focused on their friendship and how it changed over the course of the novel. It was such a impactful novel and it was super hard to put down. I thought the racial elements in this book was super well done and it was handled so well. I loved how sports was used to increase tension in this novel. I was equally invested in both POVS and loved the cast of characters that populated this world. I was super impressed by this novel as well! I will def.check more stuff by this author in the future!… (más)

The writing was really well done, nice character development, interesting settings. The plot was decent, in my humble opinion. I struggled and could not keep up with all the political parts dealing with the Philippines. I know the author is trying to shed light on the plight of the Filipinos but it was just too heavy for me. As someone who suffers from Post traumatic stress disorder and depression and anxiety it was difficult to finish this book. The preview was very promising but it took me a long time to work my way through. I had to force myself to finish this book and I hate that. I really wanted to like it. I appreciate the review copy and will pass it along to someone who may enjoy it more than I did.… (más)