July Book Review Part 1

Concept: This latest young adult novel by Randy Ribay explores four generations of Maghabol men as they navigate life as Filipino Americans. The experience of each is also intertwined with his relationship with his father. The youngest Maghabol, 16-year-old Enzo, relates his experiences during the Covid lockdowns as his grandfather Emil moves in with the family, exposing the difficult relationship between Enzo’s father Christopher and Emil. Enzo’s story becomes his effort to bridge the divide between his father and grandfather. Through flashbacks to the young adulthood of Francisco, Emil, Christopher, and Enzo, Ribay weaves in the complexities of the Filipino immigration experience and references to Filipino history. 

My Take: Immigration stories have unique cultural aspects that explore the intersection of race, ethnicity, language, and religion in terms of how these elements interact with the cultural aspects of “dominant” United States culture. Ribay provides us a history of Filipino immigrant experiences that is a noteworthy comparison to the experiences of other immigrant groups such as Mexican Americans. Through the experiences of four generations, the reader explores challenging topics such as racially-motivated violence, labor rights, and assimilation.

Recommendations: I would definitely add this to my high school classroom library. Adding multiple immigrant experiences beyond the most well-known stories of Mexican and Central American migrants expands the immigration experience discussion. School Library Journal recommends this novel for Gr 9+; Kirkus Reviews ages 12-18;  Publishers Weekly ages 12+, and Common Sense Media ages 13+.

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