Patron Saints of Nothing
Edgar Award Winner/Audiobook
Patron Saints of Nothing
By Randy Ribay
Format: 323 pages, Hardcover
Published: June 18, 2019 by Kokila
ISBN: 9780525554912
Book summary from the publisher:
A coming-of-age story about grief, guilt, and the risks a Filipino-American teenager takes to uncover the truth about his cousin's murder.
Jay Reguero plans to spend the last semester of his senior year playing video games before heading to the University of Michigan in the fall. But when he discovers that his Filipino cousin Jun was murdered as part of President Duterte's war on drugs, and no one in the family wants to talk about what happened, Jay travels to the Philippines to find out the real story.
Hoping to uncover more about Jun and the events that led to his death, Jay is forced to reckon with the many sides of his cousin before he can face the whole horrible truth -- and the part he played in it.
My Thoughts:
This story was powerful and moving and offered a view into a country and culture I knew little about, despite the fact that my own mother lived in the Philippines for most of her childhood. I was inspired after reading the book to learn more about the colonization of the Philippines by the United States and now have a more complete understanding of how my grandfather came to be stationed there and the impact of US occupation of that country.
Patron Saints of Nothing explores the adolescent struggle for independence and developing sense of identity, along with the history of the Philippines and the societal impact of a political regime's ruthless policies. Jay learns to better understand and connect with his family, both those living in the US and in the Philippines, and has his eyes opened to the reality of those living in conditions far removed from his comfortable suburban existence in the US. His quest to solve his cousin's murder changes the entire extended family and shifts his own worldview and life plans.
Programming ideas:
This book offers opportunities to talk about identity, race, equity and diversity, and current events. Collaborate with teachers to develop assignments that encourage students to reflect on their own identities and assumptions, to learn about the history and modern experience of the Philippines, or to learn about the experiences of AAPI people.
Jay struggles with not feeling fully seen or accepted in the US and with not feeling sufficiently Filipino to be accepted there. Students may relate to this experience of feeling insecure in their identities, especially students who are members of minority groups or multi-cultural families. Provide safe spaces for discussion or personal writing so that they can reflect on and process their experiences.
Provide context and a more complete picture of the Philippines by sharing images and information about the history, culture, customs, and modern life in the country.
Letters were an important element in the book. Provide letter writing supplies and encourage students to write a letter to a family member or friend that can be mailed from the library.