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ica's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
krn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A great book about a Filipino American teen whose cousin dies at the hands of the drug war being carried out by the Filipino government. I had no idea about the drug war or current events and conditions in the Philippines so this was eye opening to the different classes of people there.
Jun’s desire to do but also by a flawed person was captivating and I appreciated that the author did not make him a one sidedly perfect character. Jay’s journey to connect and family is also powerful.
Jun’s desire to do but also by a flawed person was captivating and I appreciated that the author did not make him a one sidedly perfect character. Jay’s journey to connect and family is also powerful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Police brutality, and Trafficking
Moderate: Colonisation
meow_gal's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
I really loved this book. I related a lot to jay and his experience with language because omg do I have terrible tagalog skills. I really love jay as a mc because 1) he’s very relatable 2) he’s not like some other dumb mc 3) he acknowledged he was wrong when he was wrong. I liked how instead of saying jun was innocent and didn’t do drugs they accepted the fact while he had flaws and and started using and selling it doesn’t change the good he did. I think this book did well talking about the issues in the Philippines especially about the drug war and it’s effects on the people. It’s also nice to see more contemporary books with Filipino mc’s have lgbtq+ side characters and this book did shine light on homophobia in the Philippines. I saw that most with Tito Manning’s logic with jun. overall it had a nice storyline and mystery plot. Really hit home with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use
Moderate: Cursing, Death, and Rape
Minor: Colonisation and Lesbophobia
egmamaril's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse
Moderate: Drug use and Murder
Minor: Addiction
pn__'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Grief, Abandonment, and Addiction
jahlyssa's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
No book is truly perfect but this one comes close. I wish I had been able to read this book when I was around Jay’s age. Anyone who has ever had to experience not being “enough” when it comes to their racial or ethnic identity can find a piece of themself in this main character. The book dealt with hard topics without feeling pretentious and by the end of it I was mourning Jun myself.
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug use
rynstagram's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Wow I’ve been lucky with books lately. Randy Ribay is the king of beautiful metaphors and complicated characters. I loved that Jay would admit when he was wrong or didn’t understand something, even if it took someone else to call him out on it. He eventually would notice these things himself much of the time. I also love that Jay’s simple view of his cousin as only good is challenged in a way that doesn’t erase the good, only adds to the many-sidedness of humans.
The language is beautiful, as well.
I docked a star mainly because it felt like a lot of things were repeated and reversed several times. I do think this adds to the story in some ways but also took a little bit away for me.
This book is about hope and the many layers of grief and how we can become closer to others when a mutual loved one dies.
The language is beautiful, as well.
I docked a star mainly because it felt like a lot of things were repeated and reversed several times. I do think this adds to the story in some ways but also took a little bit away for me.
This book is about hope and the many layers of grief and how we can become closer to others when a mutual loved one dies.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Addiction, and Death
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Homophobia
lylacks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use and Police brutality
Moderate: Homophobia and Body horror
Minor: Rape and Trafficking
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