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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
With four children, all under the age of 10, spending the weekend here, this was the perfect kind of book for me to be reading if I wanted to get any reading done at all. (And, of course, I always do.)
Besides enjoying this book very much, I learned new things about the Philippines, such as that the country loves basketball -- I had no idea -- and the legend of Bernardo Carpio, which I especially enjoyed, as I love folktales from other countries and noting the similarities and differences among them. Bernardo Carpio reminded me a little bit of our (U.S.) tall-tale figure, Paul Bunyan, though Carpio is much more like the Greek mythological Atlas. I liked how the author used Carpio-like struggles as a metaphor for how Nardo felt when he was suffering his seizures. The author also used, in a subtle way, Carpio's winning over the townspeople as a metaphor for the way Nardo won the little children over when he started his new school.
Andi's (Nardo’s half-sister) voice and the dialogue of Nardo's best friend, Jabby, caused me to chuckle several times. Though all the characters were 'real,' I especially enjoyed those two.
As the story got more serious, I was reminded of recent events in Japan. I was also reminded of Japan when it was stated that high school basketball in the Philippines is a very big deal and televised, as I know the same is true in Japan with high school baseball. As I read on, I felt the connection I made was an appropriate response, because though this book contrasts life in London with life in a barrio in the Philippines, what emerges at the end are what can make us all feel similar -- a child’s want and need of the love of family.
Besides enjoying this book very much, I learned new things about the Philippines, such as that the country loves basketball -- I had no idea -- and the legend of Bernardo Carpio, which I especially enjoyed, as I love folktales from other countries and noting the similarities and differences among them. Bernardo Carpio reminded me a little bit of our (U.S.) tall-tale figure, Paul Bunyan, though Carpio is much more like the Greek mythological Atlas. I liked how the author used Carpio-like struggles as a metaphor for how Nardo felt when he was suffering his seizures. The author also used, in a subtle way, Carpio's winning over the townspeople as a metaphor for the way Nardo won the little children over when he started his new school.
Andi's (Nardo’s half-sister) voice and the dialogue of Nardo's best friend, Jabby, caused me to chuckle several times. Though all the characters were 'real,' I especially enjoyed those two.
As the story got more serious, I was reminded of recent events in Japan. I was also reminded of Japan when it was stated that high school basketball in the Philippines is a very big deal and televised, as I know the same is true in Japan with high school baseball. As I read on, I felt the connection I made was an appropriate response, because though this book contrasts life in London with life in a barrio in the Philippines, what emerges at the end are what can make us all feel similar -- a child’s want and need of the love of family.
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book started out fine only for the quality to begin devolving rapidly. I was blown away by how quickly it started to unravel. I didn’t hate it by any means, but it certainly did not live up to how interesting the synopsis made it sound.
Told between two points of view - Bernardo and Andi - the choppy, arbitrary chapter lengths undercut any chance to develop the characters. It left no time for the story to breathe before quickly moving to the next person.
I also didn't like how the point of views were so repetitive. In one chapter it might be Andi reacting to an event in the present then the next might be Bernardo talking about his life leading up to the same event and then reflecting on the event itself thereby retreading the same exact information; it was very one step forward, two steps back. It was tedious to go back and forth instead of the story being told straightforward as it happened. This goes back to what I said about the character development being stifled: if half the chapter is an introspection on a past occurrence or just introspection in general then where is the room for the characters to react to events or other characters in the moment? How can they grow or change when so much is a foregone conclusion, we're just seeing it from an alternate perspective? It felt like the plot was set in stone so the characters were forced to be reactive and unable to to truly influence anything. I never felt like they had control over their actions.
Everything is played so fast and loose. It not only makes it hard to take a deeper look at the cultural divide it also undercuts the character arcs. In a book so rife with potential for strong story beats due to the emotional upheaval literally baked into the premise there was very little exploration of the turmoil reconnection would cause, resulting in missed opportunities for personal growth amongst the cast and a poor communication of some of the themes.
The prologue begins with the family going to pick up Bernardo from the airport. It ends with Andi being shocked that Bernardo is so tall - for some reason her mother keeps this a secret? It’s a weird, inexplicable decision. It is not until 43% in that we finally reach this part of the novel again. 43% of exposition that could have easily been relayed after Bernardo got to London. This puts the relationship between Bernardo and Andi at another disadvantage because on top of the language barrier there’s very little time for the two to get to know one another.
The parents are working constantly. I can count on one hand the amount of interactions both parents have with Bernardo once he reaches London. To a point, I understand this; they need money after all. However, I felt that if the author truly wanted to she could have squeezed in quality time spent in the free moments. As it stands I have no idea what Bernardo’s arrival does to the family dynamic as a whole.
A lot of this book is heavily skewed towards Bernardo’s perspective - the bulk of the novel is dedicated to his life in the Philippines, the circumstances that led to his increase in height, the impact his superstitious, traditional community had on his psyche. Nothing else is fleshed out nearly as much. This meant that Andi’s point of view on this massive change in her life did not feel as significant narratively. In fact when Andi was given prevalence her primary concerns are basketball, so much so that when her brother is dealing with a major crisis she chooses playing in a game over him. While I appreciated the realism of Andi not always being kind to Bernardo - she’s like twelve years old struggling with a brother that did not measure up to the expectations she had for him - I felt that the sparse interactions between the two cast some of her choices in a more negative light than was intended. Without good interactions to balance it out the bad ones stood out more.
Furthermore, though Bernardo is sixteen he reads as younger than Andi most of the time. For example, he doesn’t get why Andi doesn’t want to hang out with him at school. What teenager doesn’t get the concept of the embarrassing older sibling? Obviously, Bernardo didn’t grow up in the same country, but I’m sure people get embarrassed by their family members in the Philippines too.
While his disappointment that she’s acting this way makes sense, the fact that he doesn’t speculate more or use context clues to piece it together is bizarre. He immediately assumes it’s his fault somehow which, to be fair, plays into the overwhelming sense of responsibility he has over everything - a major facet of his arc. However, it’s at the expense of the actual mindset for a person who is soon to be an adult.
There’s also this huge underlying idea that Bernardo might be the reincarnation of an important folklorian character in his small town. I liked this aspect because it was a great way of highlighting the way that different cultural beliefs inform your personality and shape your values. What I didn’t like was that the resolution to this plot thread was rooted in a major incident that happened so late in the game that it had to be abruptly concluded because it was time for the novel to be over.
Long review short, this feels more directed towards the younger side of middle grade ie. those who will not be thinking too deeply about it. It’s not a bad book, but I thought it would be more about grappling with the gulf that has grown between this family for reasons outside of their control. It’s more emotional than practical. I was invested because underneath its faults there is a really charming, sweet story. Bernardo was trying his best and his misaligned perception of himself resonated with me. So surprisingly even though I only gave it one star I would low-key still recommend this because I do believe it is competently written and fairly enjoyable, especially when you consider the fact that I am not in the intended demographic.
Told between two points of view - Bernardo and Andi - the choppy, arbitrary chapter lengths undercut any chance to develop the characters. It left no time for the story to breathe before quickly moving to the next person.
I also didn't like how the point of views were so repetitive. In one chapter it might be Andi reacting to an event in the present then the next might be Bernardo talking about his life leading up to the same event and then reflecting on the event itself thereby retreading the same exact information; it was very one step forward, two steps back. It was tedious to go back and forth instead of the story being told straightforward as it happened. This goes back to what I said about the character development being stifled: if half the chapter is an introspection on a past occurrence or just introspection in general then where is the room for the characters to react to events or other characters in the moment? How can they grow or change when so much is a foregone conclusion, we're just seeing it from an alternate perspective? It felt like the plot was set in stone so the characters were forced to be reactive and unable to to truly influence anything. I never felt like they had control over their actions.
Everything is played so fast and loose. It not only makes it hard to take a deeper look at the cultural divide it also undercuts the character arcs. In a book so rife with potential for strong story beats due to the emotional upheaval literally baked into the premise there was very little exploration of the turmoil reconnection would cause, resulting in missed opportunities for personal growth amongst the cast and a poor communication of some of the themes.
The prologue begins with the family going to pick up Bernardo from the airport. It ends with Andi being shocked that Bernardo is so tall - for some reason her mother keeps this a secret? It’s a weird, inexplicable decision. It is not until 43% in that we finally reach this part of the novel again. 43% of exposition that could have easily been relayed after Bernardo got to London. This puts the relationship between Bernardo and Andi at another disadvantage because on top of the language barrier there’s very little time for the two to get to know one another.
The parents are working constantly. I can count on one hand the amount of interactions both parents have with Bernardo once he reaches London. To a point, I understand this; they need money after all. However, I felt that if the author truly wanted to she could have squeezed in quality time spent in the free moments. As it stands I have no idea what Bernardo’s arrival does to the family dynamic as a whole.
A lot of this book is heavily skewed towards Bernardo’s perspective - the bulk of the novel is dedicated to his life in the Philippines, the circumstances that led to his increase in height, the impact his superstitious, traditional community had on his psyche. Nothing else is fleshed out nearly as much. This meant that Andi’s point of view on this massive change in her life did not feel as significant narratively. In fact when Andi was given prevalence her primary concerns are basketball, so much so that when her brother is dealing with a major crisis she chooses playing in a game over him. While I appreciated the realism of Andi not always being kind to Bernardo - she’s like twelve years old struggling with a brother that did not measure up to the expectations she had for him - I felt that the sparse interactions between the two cast some of her choices in a more negative light than was intended. Without good interactions to balance it out the bad ones stood out more.
Furthermore, though Bernardo is sixteen he reads as younger than Andi most of the time. For example, he doesn’t get why Andi doesn’t want to hang out with him at school. What teenager doesn’t get the concept of the embarrassing older sibling? Obviously, Bernardo didn’t grow up in the same country, but I’m sure people get embarrassed by their family members in the Philippines too.
While his disappointment that she’s acting this way makes sense, the fact that he doesn’t speculate more or use context clues to piece it together is bizarre. He immediately assumes it’s his fault somehow which, to be fair, plays into the overwhelming sense of responsibility he has over everything - a major facet of his arc. However, it’s at the expense of the actual mindset for a person who is soon to be an adult.
There’s also this huge underlying idea that Bernardo might be the reincarnation of an important folklorian character in his small town. I liked this aspect because it was a great way of highlighting the way that different cultural beliefs inform your personality and shape your values. What I didn’t like was that the resolution to this plot thread was rooted in a major incident that happened so late in the game that it had to be abruptly concluded because it was time for the novel to be over.
Long review short, this feels more directed towards the younger side of middle grade ie. those who will not be thinking too deeply about it. It’s not a bad book, but I thought it would be more about grappling with the gulf that has grown between this family for reasons outside of their control. It’s more emotional than practical. I was invested because underneath its faults there is a really charming, sweet story. Bernardo was trying his best and his misaligned perception of himself resonated with me. So surprisingly even though I only gave it one star I would low-key still recommend this because I do believe it is competently written and fairly enjoyable, especially when you consider the fact that I am not in the intended demographic.
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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
Tall story is a tale of two teenage siblings, Andi and Bernardo. Andi was born and raised in London, while Bernardo was born and raised in a small town in the Philippines called San Andres-which also happens to be a prime spot for earthquakes. Andi is a basketball prodigy while Bernardo is an 8 foot tall giant believed to be San Andres’ earthquake messiah.
The book alternates between the siblings’ POVs, and it’s touching to see their relationship unfold. We are given a glimpse of an aspect of the rich Filipino culture- where people believed in witches, curses, and talismans. Although some events were quite far fetched, it’s a quick and entertaining read.
inspiring
So few books with Filipino characters so I was very excited to pick this one up to help diversify my reading and my classroom library. The dialogue switches from sister Andi to brother Bernardo and Gourlay does a masterful job of giving each of them their own unique voice that positively shines through. In my process to vet books for read alouds for my 7th graders, having alternating narrators only works if it is supremely well crafted and Tall Story fit the bill. The interwoven bits of science, supersition and magic and the real is deft and only adds to the richness of the story. Diversity of cultures, socio economic status and sibling/familial relations make this a book many people middle grade and higher will find speaking to their own life experiences. I highly recommend.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Grief, Colonisation
Moderate: Ableism, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry
Minor: Animal death
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Complicated
A great book if you're an OFW's child or relate to the stuggles of immigrant children. It tackled the topic well. The book is mainly geared towards younger teens. I enjoyed it nonetheless.
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
"It's not your fault, Bernardo," she sighed. "None of this is your fault. It's just bad luck."
Synopsis and/or Premise:
Andi, a tomboy and a basketball prodigy, wasn't expecting her Filipino half-brother, Bernardo, to be this lanky, 8-foot tall giant. Now that he had migrated to them in London, the stories of two unlikely half-siblings began to converge as they make sense of each other.
The Good and The Bad:
The author's unique writing style was a shining attribute in this novel. The way she uses superstitions as a driving force for her characters gave the book a prominent magical-realism quality. This was also true to her newer novels, although at a lesser extent. Her signatory penmanship gave simple, straightforward narratives some enhancing ✨ dazzle ✨.
The book had for major themes that were handled alright. First was Basketball 🏀. The book (especially Andi) was an enthusiast of the sport, and was reflective about the Filipino's love for it. Second was Family 👨👩👧👦. Again, with the Filipino themes, the book successfully portrayed the importance of having someone to share your life and experiences genuinely. Third was Expectations 👀. It presented the readers how inhibiting it was for an individual adhering to others' expectations that he/she didn't ask for. Lastly was Guilt 😔. Feeling dispirited from repeatedly blaming oneself was such a relatable scenario.
Let's keep in mind that Candy Gourlay wasn't as experienced when she wrote this book. Many of these mistakes were due to amateur skills.
1. Tardy premise - I believed the blurb was extremely misleading ❌, but the more I thought about it the more I realize that there wasn't a better way to vaguely write a premise serving the plot. It had no choice but to let the promise of the book occur way too further within the story (past a third way of the book.)
2. Pandering - OMG 😮, I don't want to point this out but it was true. The book had too much 'Filipino' (and many were stereotypical) that it felt like straight pander. More nuance should have been implemented. But maybe that’s the point of this book (which’ll diminish its value.)
3. Too much topics - Despite being a short book, it was extremely crowded without good reason. The multiple themes within were treated superficially, thus many of which ended up half-cooked in execution 👎. I think the author was a little careless about adding content after content.
4. Not convincing - The plot writing was rushed and handled weakly. Due to its limitations, heavy moments weren't given much priority, thus not producing appropriate/enough emotional impact 💥. The narrative payoff wasn't satisfactory, and as a consequence, this made the book forgettable.
Final Thoughts:
Tall Story by Candy Gourlay is a two-perspective, middle grade, contemporary novel about two distant half-siblings finally joining a single household bringing their own personal stories. Fun fact, this was a personal record breaker by being my fastest full-length novel read 😁 (only 6 hours to complete.) Anyways, I found out that in the acknowledgement the author had several inspirations that were all integrated, and now I do see why the book was an inherent jumble. Now I'm just wondering...am I the exemption here? Many of the reviews were highly positive — which is good for them, I guess.
Rating: A middling 5/10
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Links to my ratings and reviews:
Goodreads reviews
The StoryGraph