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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
Decent book. Really interesting start but I felt it dragged on towards the end till the earthquake. I liked the backstory of Sister Nena and Gabriela but otherwise this book didn't really jump at me. Quick read and eased me into Summer
This story was an interesting blend of superstitions and complicated family dynamics.
emotional
funny
I read this back in February 2020 but didn't get around to review it. And, of course, too much time has passed for me to remember specifics. I appreciated reading about a mixed family and of a different biracial identity that I was used to. In this case, the main character is British-Filipino and her half-brother grew up in the Philippines instead of with her in the UK. When he moves in, she's surprised how tall he is- eight-foot tall in fact. Mixing in a bit of Filipino mythology (in the form of the Bernardo Carpio legend), this was an entertaining story of navigating new family dynamics.
I'm so glad this book was passed onto me, it was very touching. I am close to my family, especially my mom and brother and to read about a family like this was emotional, happy and sad. I also learned a lot from this book, the mythology or folklore of other cultures can be very cool. My first thought after reading this was to email my favorite anthropology teacher, who I took Cultural Anthropology from, and see if she'd read this. Maybe she'd even want to teach this book with the other ones she has on the curriculum! The characters were very likable too, you feel for them, all of them. I related to Andi quite a bit, caring about your family, feeling bad when you act harshly or think about acting harshly toward things, and definitely being into things that are "for boys." In the end I felt like I had been there and that I could be happy because they were.
Jayne Entwistle narration was 5 stars as usual. She really made this story come alive and I really liked the story, both narrators, and overall writing.
It had a right blend of hope, dreams, humor, and disappointments.
Highly recommend for ages 11-18 years.
It had a right blend of hope, dreams, humor, and disappointments.
Highly recommend for ages 11-18 years.
Jayne Entwistle narration was 5 stars as usual. She really made this story come alive and I really liked the story, both narrators, and overall writing.
It had a right blend of hope, dreams, humor, and disappointments.
Highly recommend for ages 11-18 years.
It had a right blend of hope, dreams, humor, and disappointments.
Highly recommend for ages 11-18 years.
At first, this book somewhat bored me. But as I read further, I began to like the characters, overall plot line, and folklore involved. I loved the message from this book too. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a book with Filipino characters or folklore mixed in.
A beautiful little book!
This is a heartwarming (and heart-rending, might I add) novel. A Phillipino widow leaves for England, leaving her son Bernardo behind. 16 years later, they are reunited - his papers finally came through! He gets to live in London, with his mother, sister Andi and step-dad.
I was in tears for the most part. This book is so full of feeling, in a subtle way. It really got me interested in Phillipino folklore, and I felt like a part of the village. I mean, I was really angry that Andi thought of Bernardo's suit as ugly - it was made for him with love, how dares she insult it! Our protagonists, Andi and Bernardo, each have their own distinct voice, and I enjoyed reading about them both.
This is a heartwarming (and heart-rending, might I add) novel. A Phillipino widow leaves for England, leaving her son Bernardo behind. 16 years later, they are reunited - his papers finally came through! He gets to live in London, with his mother, sister Andi and step-dad.
I was in tears for the most part. This book is so full of feeling, in a subtle way. It really got me interested in Phillipino folklore, and I felt like a part of the village. I mean, I was really angry that Andi thought of Bernardo's suit as ugly - it was made for him with love, how dares she insult it! Our protagonists, Andi and Bernardo, each have their own distinct voice, and I enjoyed reading about them both.
I haven't been updating while I was reading this book because I got really busy: I travelled for the past two days, and when I did have some spare time, of course, I spent it either doing some school work or reading this book.
Anyway, my lack of updates for this book doesn't mean I hated it. In fact, it's actually the opposite. I LOVE THIS BOOK!
The great thing about this book is that it's concept is a fairly simple one — it's something that we see in a lot of stories (if you don't know, this novel is about the tale of two half-siblings who haven't met each other because one lives in London while the other is in the Philippines) — but it's execution was just top-notch. The usage of Philippine superstition is brilliant, and as a Filipino, I can totally relate to it (I also get frustrated, simply because I'm not really into superstitions sometimes, and I love it that the book made me feel that frustration; it just made everything real). But the cherry on top of this novel is the relationship between the two half-siblings, Andi and Bernardo. It was just so real and heartwarming. I kept saying "Awwww" numerous times while reading this because they're just so sweet. Also, their individual characters are already pretty amazing: they both have distinct personalities, and though they have flaws, they still show a lot of goodness in them. I'm such a sucker for a children's/YA book that portrays young people in a positive light. By "positive light," I don't mean portraying them as perfect human beings; rather, I meant portraying them as flawed, but still inherently good. A lot of YA dwells on things such as recklessness, drug abuse, and all those other typical teenage stuff — sometimes, even exaggerating them — and while I do agree that teens are capable of making bad decisions, they're also capable of making good ones. They're not all impulsive and selfish and all-around stupid, you know. And that's what this book did. Andi had bouts of selfishness and Bernardo his moments of stupidity, but at the end of the day, they don't dwell on that. They work to correct their mistakes, and I love that. They express a level of maturity in such a young age that is actually realistic still.
The other characters are pretty interesting as well. I love the interactions between them — it all felt so sweet and heartwarming. Basically, all I want to say is that this book just oozes so much positivity in a way that is actually bearable and real. And that's why I love this book so much!
PS, I actually listened to the audiobook of this one while I was on the bus and then read the physical copy while I was at home. It was my first time to try out audiobooks, and I'm surprised that I liked it. I still prefer the actual act of reading, but I do have to admit that audiobooks are a good alternative when I'm busy. Plus, it was interesting to listen to the audiobooks of this one because the narrators for Andi and Bernardo are British and Spanish (??? I'm actually not sure for Ramon de Ocampo; his citizenship is American, but I think he has some Spanish blood? I couldn't be sure) respectively, so their accents and the way they narrated added some layer of personality to the characters. As a result, it gave quite a new experience in reading this book. And I'm down for it.
PPS, I might actually choose to reread this book someday. I know I already love this so much, but the thing is, I had a crunch time (I'm reading this for my thesis, you see), so I read this as fast as I could, and knowing me, reading fast isn't my thing. I didn't necessarily skim (the reading speed I chose in the audiobook was 1.25x, and physically, I only read a few pages), but still, it felt rushed because "crunch time" kept looming in my brain. So, I might reread this. That way, I can cherish more the beauty of this book! :)
Anyway, my lack of updates for this book doesn't mean I hated it. In fact, it's actually the opposite. I LOVE THIS BOOK!
The great thing about this book is that it's concept is a fairly simple one — it's something that we see in a lot of stories (if you don't know, this novel is about the tale of two half-siblings who haven't met each other because one lives in London while the other is in the Philippines) — but it's execution was just top-notch. The usage of Philippine superstition is brilliant, and as a Filipino, I can totally relate to it (I also get frustrated, simply because I'm not really into superstitions sometimes, and I love it that the book made me feel that frustration; it just made everything real). But the cherry on top of this novel is the relationship between the two half-siblings, Andi and Bernardo. It was just so real and heartwarming. I kept saying "Awwww" numerous times while reading this because they're just so sweet. Also, their individual characters are already pretty amazing: they both have distinct personalities, and though they have flaws, they still show a lot of goodness in them. I'm such a sucker for a children's/YA book that portrays young people in a positive light. By "positive light," I don't mean portraying them as perfect human beings; rather, I meant portraying them as flawed, but still inherently good. A lot of YA dwells on things such as recklessness, drug abuse, and all those other typical teenage stuff — sometimes, even exaggerating them — and while I do agree that teens are capable of making bad decisions, they're also capable of making good ones. They're not all impulsive and selfish and all-around stupid, you know. And that's what this book did. Andi had bouts of selfishness and Bernardo his moments of stupidity, but at the end of the day, they don't dwell on that. They work to correct their mistakes, and I love that. They express a level of maturity in such a young age that is actually realistic still.
The other characters are pretty interesting as well. I love the interactions between them — it all felt so sweet and heartwarming. Basically, all I want to say is that this book just oozes so much positivity in a way that is actually bearable and real. And that's why I love this book so much!
PS, I actually listened to the audiobook of this one while I was on the bus and then read the physical copy while I was at home. It was my first time to try out audiobooks, and I'm surprised that I liked it. I still prefer the actual act of reading, but I do have to admit that audiobooks are a good alternative when I'm busy. Plus, it was interesting to listen to the audiobooks of this one because the narrators for Andi and Bernardo are British and Spanish (??? I'm actually not sure for Ramon de Ocampo; his citizenship is American, but I think he has some Spanish blood? I couldn't be sure) respectively, so their accents and the way they narrated added some layer of personality to the characters. As a result, it gave quite a new experience in reading this book. And I'm down for it.
PPS, I might actually choose to reread this book someday. I know I already love this so much, but the thing is, I had a crunch time (I'm reading this for my thesis, you see), so I read this as fast as I could, and knowing me, reading fast isn't my thing. I didn't necessarily skim (the reading speed I chose in the audiobook was 1.25x, and physically, I only read a few pages), but still, it felt rushed because "crunch time" kept looming in my brain. So, I might reread this. That way, I can cherish more the beauty of this book! :)