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sabrinames's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse
tofutofutofu's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This would have been a terrific book, if it had been narrated by Grace. The narrator is annoying beyond measure, and nobody needed this book to be translated through the eyes of a privileged American who stomped in there to play white savior. I was surprised to see that the writer was not, in fact, a high schooler, but instead an adult who committed too much to the juvenile voice.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Slavery, Trafficking, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Classism
zairabardos's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use
sammiesshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.25
Wow. This book was stunning. I found it by chance in a bargain bin at a used bookstore and I am sure glad that I picked it up.
This story follows Jay, a half Filipino teen who was born in the Philippines but raised in America. He finds out that his cousin, Jun, who he used to be pen pals with, has died at the age of seventeen under mysterious circumstances that the family doesn't want to talk about, and so he asks to spend his spring break in the Philippines to get to the bottom of what is going on.
Patron Saints of Nothing is a beautiful story that not only criticizes the drug war started by Rodrigo Duterte but also details what it is like to be an outsider in a country and a family that is supposedly your own. Jay is repeatedly criticized for his lack of knowledge of his birth country and Tagalog, and it is quite hard for him to reconnect with the family he hasn't seen in eight years. It is also hard for him to reconcile his Americanized reality with the reality in the Philippines. Seeing this already tense situation unfold on top of the fact of his family's refusal to acknowledge his cousin's death, the tension is palpable.
The writing in this book is also beautiful. There is an abundance of lyrical quotes that make you feel transported into the mind of Jay and depict his emotions in a way that no other words could.
Overall, this was a beautiful novel about what makes a person good and asks if there is any real justification for murder. With morally grey characters, it makes for a complex and riveting story.
This story follows Jay, a half Filipino teen who was born in the Philippines but raised in America. He finds out that his cousin, Jun, who he used to be pen pals with, has died at the age of seventeen under mysterious circumstances that the family doesn't want to talk about, and so he asks to spend his spring break in the Philippines to get to the bottom of what is going on.
Patron Saints of Nothing is a beautiful story that not only criticizes the drug war started by Rodrigo Duterte but also details what it is like to be an outsider in a country and a family that is supposedly your own. Jay is repeatedly criticized for his lack of knowledge of his birth country and Tagalog, and it is quite hard for him to reconnect with the family he hasn't seen in eight years. It is also hard for him to reconcile his Americanized reality with the reality in the Philippines. Seeing this already tense situation unfold on top of the fact of his family's refusal to acknowledge his cousin's death, the tension is palpable.
The writing in this book is also beautiful. There is an abundance of lyrical quotes that make you feel transported into the mind of Jay and depict his emotions in a way that no other words could.
Overall, this was a beautiful novel about what makes a person good and asks if there is any real justification for murder. With morally grey characters, it makes for a complex and riveting story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Police brutality, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, and Blood
Minor: Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Trafficking
azyef's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Grief, Murder, and Colonisation
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Trafficking, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Homophobia, Infidelity, and Sexual violence
dlrosebyh's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
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
4.0
this is a very impactful and important read. i honestly think everyone should read it, especially people who likes to be educated with worldwide issues.
well, jason is a clueless teenager— maybe, oblivious at some point. sometimes, i found that aspect annoying, sometimes i find it interesting. it honestly depends on the scene. his cousin, jun, passed away abruptly and he’s determined to know why. like other mystery novels, the book describes his journey.
i really liked how unlike most filipino representations, the book isn’t white-washed and actually talks about filipino culture descriptively. you might think that it’s just a mystery novel, but it actually has deeper themes to discuss— especially in duterte’s leadership.
i found the ending a little fast, however this is such an amazing read overall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, and Police brutality
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Racism
Minor: Rape, Sexual violence, and Trafficking
racheldkidder's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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 abuse, Drug use, Police brutality, and Murder
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Trafficking
gabs_reads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Police brutality, and Murder
pawprintsinthesink's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
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? No
5.0
I loved The Patron Saints of Nothing. Though the topics are not easy ones, I found I didn’t want to put the book down. I wanted more of Jay’s story, more of Jun’s story, and I wanted to learn more about the real world in which these fictional characters live.
Jay is shocked when he learns his childhood friend and cousin has died. But when no one wants to tell him what caused his beloved cousin’s death, Jay decides to find out for himself. His journey isn’t just about grief, or solving the mystery of what happened to Jun. His journey is about more deeply connecting the parts of himself and his life that he’s had compartmentalized and separated for most of his life. As Jay learns more about his Filipino culture and is reacquainted with family he hasn’t seen in nearly a decade, he learns more about himself, his cousin, and what he wants from life.
Every component of this novel is flawless. From the incredibly well developed characters to the heart wrenching but intriguing plot to the setting, every detail is well thought out and perfectly done. The setting, a place that should be familiar but instead feels equally foreign and familiar, is a character unto itself.
The voice and writing of this novel fit perfectly with the narrator and main character, making it easy to read even while the content challenges your heart and mind.
This is the kind of book that not only inspires you to think deeply, but reminds you that everyone you know is complex, and has sides you may have never seen.
Jay is shocked when he learns his childhood friend and cousin has died. But when no one wants to tell him what caused his beloved cousin’s death, Jay decides to find out for himself. His journey isn’t just about grief, or solving the mystery of what happened to Jun. His journey is about more deeply connecting the parts of himself and his life that he’s had compartmentalized and separated for most of his life. As Jay learns more about his Filipino culture and is reacquainted with family he hasn’t seen in nearly a decade, he learns more about himself, his cousin, and what he wants from life.
Every component of this novel is flawless. From the incredibly well developed characters to the heart wrenching but intriguing plot to the setting, every detail is well thought out and perfectly done. The setting, a place that should be familiar but instead feels equally foreign and familiar, is a character unto itself.
The voice and writing of this novel fit perfectly with the narrator and main character, making it easy to read even while the content challenges your heart and mind.
This is the kind of book that not only inspires you to think deeply, but reminds you that everyone you know is complex, and has sides you may have never seen.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, and Police brutality
Minor: Drug abuse
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