Jay is a Filipino American teenager in his senior year of high school making plans for college. Spring break looks to be relatively average - maybe go to a different state or even a European country, and relax for a bit. Then, his cousin is killed in the Philippines in President Duterte's war on drugs, and Jay decides he has to know what really happened in his estranged cousin's life.
The writing style is interesting, and Ribay doesn't pull the punches with descriptions of the difficulties of living in the Philippines, while also celebrating the beauty of its culture and the people who live there. It inspires an anger in the reader at the way President Duterte has attempted to limit drug use - by attacking drug users and drug pushers and giving a way for the police to exert extreme brutality where none is needed.
Unfortunately, some of the powerful writing is brought down by the main character, a problem since the book is written in the first-person from his point of view. I understand that much of the book is also about Jay breaking away from the privileged life he's led and recognizing the poverty and violence the Philippines is subjected to, but some of his commentary repeats itself enough that I feel like only parts of his character has been fleshed out. Some aspects of him are quite strong, but at important scenes that are supposed to be pivotal in understanding Jay, he just falls... flat.
Besides underwriting the main character at times, I would say this book, and the many lessons it has to teach, is valuable and worth the read. Hopefully you'll have a reading experience as enjoyable as mine.
The writing style is interesting, and Ribay doesn't pull the punches with descriptions of the difficulties of living in the Philippines, while also celebrating the beauty of its culture and the people who live there. It inspires an anger in the reader at the way President Duterte has attempted to limit drug use - by attacking drug users and drug pushers and giving a way for the police to exert extreme brutality where none is needed.
Unfortunately, some of the powerful writing is brought down by the main character, a problem since the book is written in the first-person from his point of view. I understand that much of the book is also about Jay breaking away from the privileged life he's led and recognizing the poverty and violence the Philippines is subjected to, but some of his commentary repeats itself enough that I feel like only parts of his character has been fleshed out. Some aspects of him are quite strong, but at important scenes that are supposed to be pivotal in understanding Jay, he just falls... flat.
Besides underwriting the main character at times, I would say this book, and the many lessons it has to teach, is valuable and worth the read. Hopefully you'll have a reading experience as enjoyable as mine.