Tag Archives: Heritage

YA – Everything We Never Had

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Ribay, Randy. Everything We Never Had. Kokila, 2024. 978-0-593-46141-9. $18.99. 288 p. Grades 8–12.

Randy Ribay’s most recent novel, weaves together an emotional story that spans four generations of Filipino American boys. Told through alternating times and perspectives spanning Philadelphia in 2020, Denver in 1983, Stockton in 1965, and Watsonville in 1930, readers see the violence and inequities that the Maghabol men have faced as well as seeing the familial relationships between the generations. 

THOUGHTS: This novel gives readers a look at some of the hardships and racial charged events that Filipino Americans have faced (and continue to face) throughout the years. It shows the intricacies of familial relationships and how they can be strained through the years, how different generations have different values. There is some mature language throughout the book.

Historical Fiction 

Grades 9-12.

Francisco, Emil, Chris, Enzo. Award-winning author Randy Ribay places his novel first at a migrant farm in California circa 1929 then 1960’s, then Colorado in the eighties, and finally in Philadelphia during the COVID pandemic. Flipping back and forth in the narrative, he traces a family history steeped in activism, alienation, and assimilation. Fifteen-year old Filipino immigrant, Francisco Maghabol, is starting to regret his decision to come to America to work as a migrant worker so he could help his family. This regret turns to determination to stay when the migrant workers face violent racism from white men in Watsonville. The reader learns that Francisco becomes a leader in the United Farm Workers movement. Emil, his son, resents his father’s dedication to other people over his own family. Emil’s curtailed childhood molds him into a person who rejects his Filipino heritage, and his father and impels him to choose a conservative, safe way of life. In Colorado, years later, Emil’s son, Chris is a star high-school football player, but Emil demands he quit the team because of some missed assignments. While researching his paper, Chris learns about the oppression of Filipino dictator, Ferdinand Marcos. This project sparks a desire to study his heritage; but when he tries to share this with his father, Emil will hear none of it. The schism grows between father and son. Conversely, Chris wants his son, Enzo, to feel comfortable speaking to him, to make his own choices, and to care about other people. When COVID strikes, Chris moves Lolo Emil from his assisted-living facility into his West Philadelphia home to keep him safe. Enzo, Chris’s son, suffers from anxiety, which COVID quarantine exacerbates. When Lolo Emil moves in, though, Enzo and Emil form a surprising yet fragile bond, despite Emil’s stoicism. Underlying this generational family story is the lesser-known story of the Filipino instigation of the United Farm Workers’ Union. While most readers are familiar with Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huertos and their work in organizing farm workers, many may not be aware that the Filipino farm workers started the movement. Everything We Never Had provides a raw look at the good and bad of sacrificing for a cause and the inconsistent legacy produced through different times, perspectives, and experiences.

THOUGHTS: This story provokes a lot of thought. On one level, this is a story of relationships. Each narrative can be examined, compared, and contrasted with the other to determine the psychological reasons for the characters’ discord. On another level, it is a story conveying Filipino history: immigration, farm workers’ organizing, Marcos’s dictatorship, United States government’s role in perpetuating racism and unfairness to the Filipino people. Discussions around activism, the necessity of it, and its toll on the activist as well as families can be interesting. The book does not resolve perfectly and readers may wish to speculate on the continuation of the protagonists’ relationships. There are a couple of instances of foul language. One of Chris’s best friends is in an undeveloped lesbian relationship that the author notes with Chris finding the two girls kissing. I could find no mention of Francisco Maghabol in Filipino Farm Worker history; he is a fictional character.

Historical Fiction
Realistic Fiction

MG – Mexikid

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Martín, Pedro. Mexikid. Dial Books for Young Readers, 2023. 978-0-593-46228-7. 309 p. $24.99. Grades 5-8.

In this graphic memoir, a Mexican-American family goes on an adventure-filled road trip to Mexico to bring their Abuelito to live in California. Martín identifies himself as a Mexikid–Martín’s term for himself as first-generation American child of Mexican immigrants with “one heart belonging to both sides.” Mexikid takes place in the late 1970s, and is filled with nostalgic family memories: the Winnebago, a brother’s cassette recorder, and shows like Happy Days. Martín is one of nine children. The sibling interactions and intergenerational interactions are the heart (and the humor!) of this tale. Along the way, the siblings meet many of Abuelito’s friends and extended family members. By the end, Martín grows a great deal from this experience, and Abuelito settles into California life with the family.

THOUGHTS: I couldn’t stop laughing out loud while reading this book—particularly the first half. This memoir has a great mix of humor and heart. Mexikid is a wonderful window into the realistic dynamics of a family. Pieces of the memoir’s second half are incredibly sad (at one point, the family must recover and move their Abuelita’s grave to save it from being washed away). By the time I got to the growing pains and the stories of this second half, I had become so close to this story’s subjects, I felt like they were extended family. I won’t spoil ‘the deer story’ for you. Middle school students will love Martín’s humor. A few readers may struggle with the Spanish language included in the book, but it is just one of the many things that makes this story authentic (and of course, a window for readers not from this similar heritage). This story highlights culture while also underscoring the universality of families. Highly recommended for all middle school graphic format collections: Martín’s story belongs right alongside recent award-winning graphic memoirs like When Stars Are Scattered and A First Time for Everything.

Graphic Novel
Graphic Memoir

MG – Mabuhay!

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Sterling, Zachary. Mabuhay! Scholastic, 2023. 978-1-338-73860-5. $12.99. 240 p. Grades 3-7.

Siblings J.J. and Althea have two things in common. They both have trouble fitting in at school, and they both despise working for their parents. Their parents run a Filipino food truck called The Beautiful Pig, and expect their children to help out because “family comes first,” as their mother often reminds them. Spending a lot of time around their parents’ place of work means they hear a lot of Filipino folklore, and these tales all seem to end with an important lesson J.J. and Althea must learn. One day after work, the family arrives home to find Tito Arvin has arrived from the Philippines. His impromptu visit comes with lamentations about life back home and dreams about a monster who is after their family, a dream both J.J. and Althea have on the same night. Suddenly, the witches and monsters from Filipino folklore are more than just fairy tale creatures, and J.J. and Althea work together to save their heritage and their family.

THOUGHTS: Author Zachary Sterling weaves Filipino folklore with humor and adventure to create a heartwarming story about family, friendship, and food. The illustrations are vibrant and expressive. Tagalog words are used throughout and defined at the bottom of the page, and Sterling includes a Filipino recipe for Chicken Adobo in the back of the book. This graphic novel is a must-have and must-read for middle grade students.

Graphic Novel

Elem. – The Whole World Opened Up

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Richmond, Laylah, and Sharon Richmond. The Whole World Opened Up. Two Pigeons Press, 2023. 978-0-991-81619-4. $14.99. 64 p. Grades 3-6.

Aspiring author, third-grader, Laylah Richmond, loves to read, write, and draw. At dinner after church, her grandmother tells her about a reading contest sponsored by The Black Star Project in downtown Chicago: Black Girls Read for Cash and Glory. Though Laylah is hesitant–she sometimes gets confused with the different pronunciation of words–she consents to enter if her grandmother accompanies her. Further encouragement comes when her best friend, Ria, says she will enter, too. Unfortunately as the competition draws closer, her grandmother has to attend a funeral on the morning of the contest. Though nervous and disappointed, Laylah and Ria attend the competition located in the historic Chicago neighborhood called Bronzeville. Founder, Philip Jackson, hosts the event and offers the prizes; he recites his motto, “Educate or Die.” Laylah and Ria select writings of African-American women heroines and mount the stage to recite the words of Harriet Tubman and Josephine Baker. Inspired and proud, Laylah returns home after her day and soon learns she is the recipient of a second-place prize. She and her family are invited to the African-American owned radio studio where Laylah and the other winners will be interviewed. Not only does Laylah grow in confidence through this experience, she also learns about the accomplishments of famous African-American people, nationally and locally. The title, The Whole World Opened Up, harkens to a Mary McLeod Bethune quote: “The whole world opened to me when I learned to read.” This beginning chapter book, illustrated with folk-like style art by the authors, acknowledges the importance of reading and language and pays tribute to Philip Jackson (1950-2018), the founder and director of The Black Star Project and The Parent Revolution Radio Program. The cozy narrative of this book will draw in young readers. Like the Ryan Hart series by Renee Watson, the Richmonds’ book offers a story with African American characters in a modern, family setting with the added bonus of finding out about the history of people and places about which they may not yet know.

THOUGHTS: The Whole World Opened Up is a simply written book that manages to interject seamlessly lots of helpful information: difficult English words, famous Chicago places, African-American owned businesses, and African-American people. Laylah and Ria take on the challenge, even though they are nervous. Laylah wins, but Ria doesn’t –and it’s fine. It is obvious that the grandmother/grandchild writing team want to honor Philip Jackson, a local businessman and public servant who dedicated his life to activism, particularly in education. A photograph at the end of the book verifies that Laylah was an actual winner of the contest, but the story is not set up like a memoir. Share this book with young readers and writers as an example of plot or even read it aloud to generate interest in African-American businesses and heroes and heroines in their own towns. (Note: I read an e-book ARC from NetGalley and Lorraine Hansberry’s name was misspelled.)

Realistic Fiction 

MG – Chunky Goes to Camp

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Mercado, Yehudi. Chunky Goes to Camp. Katherine Tegen Books, 2022. 978-1-668-83618-7. 188 p. $19.99. Grades 3-7.

It’s not easy being the class clown, but Hudi is up to the challenge. During the school year, he combines his love of comedy and art to make everyone laugh, but unfortunately, his antics land him in detention more often than not. When summer starts, Hudi’s parents decide he needs a change of scenery. When Hudi arrives at Camp Green, a Jewish sleepaway camp, he makes sure to bring Chunky, his personal mascot who is invisible to everyone except him. Hudi is nervous that he won’t make any friends, but when he meets Pepe, everything changes. For starters, Pepe is also a Jewish-Mexican comedian like Hudi. But what’s even more fantastic is that Pepe can actually SEE Chunky! Their friendship blossoms quickly, and the trio decide to prank some of the snobby kids at the camp. However, when some of the pranks go too far, Hudi realizes that Pepe is not just trying to make people laugh. In fact, he has a different, darker motive, and Hudi isn’t sure he wants any part of that. Hudi has to decide whether his friendship with Pepe is worth being labeled a troublemaker for the rest of his life.

THOUGHTS: In the sequel to his autobiographical graphic novel, Yehudi Mercado once again delivers. It is both heartwarming yet hysterical with jokes peppered throughout the story, proving that the real-life Hudi is as funny as he is a talented storyteller. Mercado’s books could be a great option for reluctant male readers in middle school.

Graphic Novel          Danielle Corrao, Manheim Central SD