Few books speak so clearly in the voice of a female adolescent and this one accurately hits the nail on the head. A troubled single mother, the absent father immortalized and embellished in comfortable memory, and the extended family of matriarchs who step forward to provide the life foundation when called upon--all are part of the story of Marian Kin Santos presented in this debut novel.

This young girl, with the aforementioned supporting cast, manages to find her way through the confusion of family, friendships, and sexuality, emerging in a way that leaves you wondering if she will thrive or merely survive the unpredictability of life. In the end, you root for her---because you always root for yourself---and watch her struggle to make sense of reality and dreams, love and lust, the need to define blood relatives and real family. This truly was an enjoyable read for those seeking answers to the same life questions. ( )

This is a gorgeously written, disturbing coming of age story. I felt strange wanting to continue reading. If I remember correctly, the book was slightly plotless, yet you want to know how the little girl ends up.

This is a sobering read chockfull of real everyday life. ( )