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We Belong
An extraordinarily beautiful novel-in-verse, this important debut weaves a dramatic immigrant story together with Pilipino mythology to create something wholly new.Stella and Luna know that their mama, Elsie, came from the Philippines when she was a child, but they don't know much else. So one night they ask her to tell them her story. As they get ready for bed, their mama spins two that of her youth as a strong-willed middle child and immigrant; and that of the young life of Mayari, the mythical daughter of a god. Both are tales of sisterhood and motherhood, and of the difficult experience of trying to fit into a new culture, and having to fight for a home and acceptance. Glorious and layered, this is a portrait of family and strength for the ages.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 30, 2021
28 people are currently reading
2353 people want to read
About the author
Cookie Hiponia
1 book27 followersCookie Hiponia was born in the Philippines and immigrated to America when she was nine years old. As the mother of children born into two cultures, Cookie writes stories that honor and remember the culture and heritage of precolonial Philippines. Her first book, We Belong, is a semi-autobiographical middle grade novel-in-verse about the Pilipino American immigrant experience that weaves in Tagalog cosmic mythology. Cookie lives in Seattle with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
October 9, 2024
"But as in all faerie tales, we would learn
all magic comes with a price."
A story in verse about sisters and immigrants.
I love the verses. I love the characters.
Yet I feel there could have been more to the story.
I like the illustrations. They are white-blue and so soothing.
This is a book which you can read with your child together. It's beautiful to read aloud.
This book won't take up your time. You can read it in one sitting.
I would have appreciated the book more if the words in between were translated alongside.
The story has parts which deals with grief and the struggles of immigrants.
But then it is all about hope and new beginnings.
all magic comes with a price."
A story in verse about sisters and immigrants.
I love the verses. I love the characters.
Yet I feel there could have been more to the story.
I like the illustrations. They are white-blue and so soothing.
This is a book which you can read with your child together. It's beautiful to read aloud.
This book won't take up your time. You can read it in one sitting.
I would have appreciated the book more if the words in between were translated alongside.
The story has parts which deals with grief and the struggles of immigrants.
But then it is all about hope and new beginnings.
August 18, 2021
A beautiful, lyrical middle grade novel about immigration as told by a mother to her daughters through bedtime stories. Loved the inclusion of a couple lullabies in Tagalog (get the audio version to listen).
We Belong blends family stories with folklore as a mother shares her coming of age story with her daughters, talking about dictatorship in the Philippines (referencing real events and people), moving to America, and trying to find a new way of life without disowning the one she knew before. In simple, but sincere, language, We Belong is a book about freedom, pride, and family.
-Jess, Youth Services
Find this book and other titles within our catalog.
We Belong blends family stories with folklore as a mother shares her coming of age story with her daughters, talking about dictatorship in the Philippines (referencing real events and people), moving to America, and trying to find a new way of life without disowning the one she knew before. In simple, but sincere, language, We Belong is a book about freedom, pride, and family.
-Jess, Youth Services
Find this book and other titles within our catalog.
September 15, 2021
The stories are incredibly beautiful, but can be a bit confusing at times. I'll be putting this one down for now.
March 5, 2021
This book just oozes love, it's beautiful. It's told in different timelines and storylines, and ends up being so much more than the sum of its part. The book is about a mother telling her daughters bedtime stories and that feeling, the love, the safety, the comfort, was really conveyed in the book. Being Filipino, she's interweaving Tagalog mythology and her personal experiences as an immigrant in her stories to her daughters, and it was just beautifully done.
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July 23, 2021We Belong is a beautiful story told from a parent’s heart to their children about one’s family, and identity. Written in verse, Cookie Hiponia Everman shares a mother’s immigration story to her daughters through the retelling of Filipino mythology.
The untranslated language and lyrical style offer authenticity to the narrative and a dream-like quality. It helps offset the weight of moments of abuse, discrimination, and loss that the mother, Elsie, experienced. As the story moves between the mythological and Elsie's past and present, she expresses both her struggles and epiphany that they are exactly who they need to be where they are.
While the story is written for a juvenile audience, it might not be the most engaging or easy to read but might be wonderful to read aloud or with someone older.
The untranslated language and lyrical style offer authenticity to the narrative and a dream-like quality. It helps offset the weight of moments of abuse, discrimination, and loss that the mother, Elsie, experienced. As the story moves between the mythological and Elsie's past and present, she expresses both her struggles and epiphany that they are exactly who they need to be where they are.
While the story is written for a juvenile audience, it might not be the most engaging or easy to read but might be wonderful to read aloud or with someone older.
August 15, 2022
If you grew up in the global south, have a complicated relationship with your mother, and have felt that the western norm of just cutting ties doesn't really solve your problem nor fit your needs - this book is for you.
Absolutely MASTERFUL.
Absolutely MASTERFUL.
August 20, 2022
1.5
I really try to finish books, because I know it’s a piece of someone’s heart and soul that makes a book. Sadly, I just couldn’t find anything exciting about this book. I really wanted to find something I loved, but it didn’t work out.
I really try to finish books, because I know it’s a piece of someone’s heart and soul that makes a book. Sadly, I just couldn’t find anything exciting about this book. I really wanted to find something I loved, but it didn’t work out.
May 11, 2021
This was such a cool little book!! What a beautiful blend of Filipino folklore and commentary on the Filipino migrant experience! I love the way myth and reality flow into and reflect one another in this book. The prose is lovely and so true to Filipino culture, norms, and society throughout the diaspora. I felt at home with much of what is portrayed here. I see my mother, my titas, my Lola, and myself among the characters. The untranslated songs were little treasures dispersed throughout the story. Loved this concept so much and thoroughly enjoyed listening to the audiobook!
March 28, 2021
I received this book as a free digital ARC from the SLJ Middle Grade Magic virtual conference. All of the thoughts expressed in this review are honest and my own.
The first half of this book was very confusing to me. The story is written in verse and is told from the perspective of a mother as she tells stories to her children at bedtime. The stories are a mash-up of Philippine mythology and her own life story. To me, the stories of Philippine mythology and the mother's story of how she immigrated to America as a child were both compelling stories separately, but when mixed together became confusing to the point that the story felt less meaningful to me.
Also as someone with no experience with Philippine culture, it was difficult for me to understand and relate to the many references and words given in Tagalong. There is a glossary in the back matter of the book, but with so many terms I would constantly be flipping to the back to find meaning for the words. I love reading and learning about other cultures, but typically the books I read that mix English with other languages provide meaning for the new words within the text rather than just having a separate glossary.
From the perspective of a school librarian, I could see this book having a profound impact on my Philippine students who can relate more closely to the mythology and language. I would love to share this with them to see if they can provide more insight and teach me something. I love when I can learn from my students and this would be a great opportunity to do so.
The first half of this book was very confusing to me. The story is written in verse and is told from the perspective of a mother as she tells stories to her children at bedtime. The stories are a mash-up of Philippine mythology and her own life story. To me, the stories of Philippine mythology and the mother's story of how she immigrated to America as a child were both compelling stories separately, but when mixed together became confusing to the point that the story felt less meaningful to me.
Also as someone with no experience with Philippine culture, it was difficult for me to understand and relate to the many references and words given in Tagalong. There is a glossary in the back matter of the book, but with so many terms I would constantly be flipping to the back to find meaning for the words. I love reading and learning about other cultures, but typically the books I read that mix English with other languages provide meaning for the new words within the text rather than just having a separate glossary.
From the perspective of a school librarian, I could see this book having a profound impact on my Philippine students who can relate more closely to the mythology and language. I would love to share this with them to see if they can provide more insight and teach me something. I love when I can learn from my students and this would be a great opportunity to do so.
June 21, 2021
This was such a unique book. Technically a middle grade, We Belong is told in verse and weaves together Philippine mythology and the speaker's immigration story to provide a magical commentary on immigration and belonging.
I do think I would have enjoyed it more were I a younger reader and this is also definitely the kind of story that's best enjoyed the more you relate to the subject matter so if you're Filipino or speak Tagalong you'll probably have a much more intimate experience with this than I did, but even without that extra layer of understanding, it's easy to fall for the beauty in the way Cookie Hiponia Everman approaches storytelling here.
I do think I would have enjoyed it more were I a younger reader and this is also definitely the kind of story that's best enjoyed the more you relate to the subject matter so if you're Filipino or speak Tagalong you'll probably have a much more intimate experience with this than I did, but even without that extra layer of understanding, it's easy to fall for the beauty in the way Cookie Hiponia Everman approaches storytelling here.
January 11, 2022
The metaphors used to connect the two stories and made it a bed time story for her two daughters, resembling Tala (the goddess of the stars) and Mayari (the goddess of the moon) set an overall warm tone of the book. Like if you were to describe it by choosing a color, it would be ember, painting an early dusk. It's coming home, but it's also longing, and saying farewell. It's about motherhood, about becoming one, and forgiving, and leaving the country that birthed you.
It's so nostalgic because they also sang bahay kubo. It's a book that you can just pick up when you're in good mood, and can appreciate a little sweetness.
It's so nostalgic because they also sang bahay kubo. It's a book that you can just pick up when you're in good mood, and can appreciate a little sweetness.
August 3, 2021
They may call you hapa, but you are whole.
This book felt like it was written just for me. I've seen some criticism that the book is difficult to follow if you're not already familiar with Filipino culture, and I'm sure that will limit the audience, but this book would have meant so much to me as a child and I want to give it to every Filipino American kid in the world right now.
This book felt like it was written just for me. I've seen some criticism that the book is difficult to follow if you're not already familiar with Filipino culture, and I'm sure that will limit the audience, but this book would have meant so much to me as a child and I want to give it to every Filipino American kid in the world right now.
July 4, 2021
I have mixed feelings about this book. Review to come.
March 4, 2021
I love novels told through verse so I knew I would enjoy We Belong. This book tells two tales, the story of a young girl who left the Philippines as a child with her family and the story of a mythical daughter of a god. I think the poor formatting of the earc I read led to some confusion as to which story was being told at times as there wasn't always a clear divide but once I was more familiar with the characters I was able to work this out myself and both stories were beautiful. I loved learning about Philippine mythology alongside Elsie's daughter as she interweaved the story with tales from her own childhood. A beautiful novel about family, love and strength.
November 2, 2024
Randomly came upon this book when I was looking for a book for Akdang Pinoy’s October 2024 prompt: Mythology.
A novel told in verse that unfolds an immigrant story, complicated family dynamics, motherhood, sibling rivalry, the definition of home and love with pre-colonial Philippine mythology at the foreground.
What I loved about this book is the level of rawness it offers without it being too graphic as it talks about death, abuse, and the grief and disappointment that comes with not fitting in a new place after leaving a dreadful and hopeless “home”. I very much enjoyed the mythology part and how lyrical and gripping the writing was.
Some quotes I’d like to share:
“Sometimes even good people, good mothers,
do things they never thought they could do
because they’re worried, because they’re scared.
Sometimes even good people, good mothers,
get so scared, they forget who they’re supposed to be.”
#####
“Go back to where you came from.”
How can I go back to where I came from
when even in my mother’s arms I am unsafe?
How can I go back to where I came from
when even in my motherland I am unsafe?”
A novel told in verse that unfolds an immigrant story, complicated family dynamics, motherhood, sibling rivalry, the definition of home and love with pre-colonial Philippine mythology at the foreground.
What I loved about this book is the level of rawness it offers without it being too graphic as it talks about death, abuse, and the grief and disappointment that comes with not fitting in a new place after leaving a dreadful and hopeless “home”. I very much enjoyed the mythology part and how lyrical and gripping the writing was.
Some quotes I’d like to share:
“Sometimes even good people, good mothers,
do things they never thought they could do
because they’re worried, because they’re scared.
Sometimes even good people, good mothers,
get so scared, they forget who they’re supposed to be.”
#####
“Go back to where you came from.”
How can I go back to where I came from
when even in my mother’s arms I am unsafe?
How can I go back to where I came from
when even in my motherland I am unsafe?”
September 3, 2021
Age 10-13
May 23, 2021
We Belong by Cookie Hiponia Everman
My Rating:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
Pub Date: March 31,2021
.
Of all the books I read, I have never connected as much as I did with this book. The author, Cookie Hiponia Everman has penned down the perfect portrait of Pilipino family’s immigration journey to USA. This beautiful novel-in-verse is a very lyrical poetry that is very heartfelt to my core. The beautiful presentation of Philippines’ mythology and fantasy folklore that is much more similar to all the stories I have heard and read growing up is both comforting and pure! The translated glossary gave me the “feel at home” vibe.
.
Since this gem was brought to my attention through @prhaudio, listening to “Bahay Kubo” was very sentimental to me. I got emotional reading how Elsie’s kids begged for PBJ sandwich to bring to school for lunch instead of rice because my kids has done the same begging. It was a very popular line for Filipino comedian @jokoy and I have laughed so hard hearing him talked about his “baon”. Nevertheless, it was very relatable just like what Luna and Stella had experienced. Like Elsie, taking oath during my US Naturalization ceremony was bittersweet too. What does one have to gain in acquiring a new citizenship? How much does one have to give up to denounce a Nationality? Like Elsie, I have also answered the question “Where I came from?” I will always be too Pilipina or Pinay for America and my kids will always be too Americanized for Philippines. Like Elsie, we belong where our heart is, and our heart is always at home , that’s where we belong. We Belong here in the USA too.
.
Forever thankful for @prhaudio for giving me the free audio version of this book to review. I love it so much. I rarely show myself on my book pictures for booktagram, this however is an exception because this book is totally me and I am proud to be Pinay and to be American just the same. I am also proud to wear my cute and bright Pinay shirt from @wepinay. This fun little book is going to be an addition to my forever favorites! I can’t wait to read more from @titacookie1974 !
.
.
#webelong #filipinoauthors #filipinowriter #aapiauthors #stopasianhate #immigrationstories #bookreview
My Rating:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
Pub Date: March 31,2021
.
Of all the books I read, I have never connected as much as I did with this book. The author, Cookie Hiponia Everman has penned down the perfect portrait of Pilipino family’s immigration journey to USA. This beautiful novel-in-verse is a very lyrical poetry that is very heartfelt to my core. The beautiful presentation of Philippines’ mythology and fantasy folklore that is much more similar to all the stories I have heard and read growing up is both comforting and pure! The translated glossary gave me the “feel at home” vibe.
.
Since this gem was brought to my attention through @prhaudio, listening to “Bahay Kubo” was very sentimental to me. I got emotional reading how Elsie’s kids begged for PBJ sandwich to bring to school for lunch instead of rice because my kids has done the same begging. It was a very popular line for Filipino comedian @jokoy and I have laughed so hard hearing him talked about his “baon”. Nevertheless, it was very relatable just like what Luna and Stella had experienced. Like Elsie, taking oath during my US Naturalization ceremony was bittersweet too. What does one have to gain in acquiring a new citizenship? How much does one have to give up to denounce a Nationality? Like Elsie, I have also answered the question “Where I came from?” I will always be too Pilipina or Pinay for America and my kids will always be too Americanized for Philippines. Like Elsie, we belong where our heart is, and our heart is always at home , that’s where we belong. We Belong here in the USA too.
.
Forever thankful for @prhaudio for giving me the free audio version of this book to review. I love it so much. I rarely show myself on my book pictures for booktagram, this however is an exception because this book is totally me and I am proud to be Pinay and to be American just the same. I am also proud to wear my cute and bright Pinay shirt from @wepinay. This fun little book is going to be an addition to my forever favorites! I can’t wait to read more from @titacookie1974 !
.
.
#webelong #filipinoauthors #filipinowriter #aapiauthors #stopasianhate #immigrationstories #bookreview
August 15, 2021
3.5 stars
A whimsical and lyrical novel-in-verse about the immigration experience. I love how this book weaves in Philippine mythology.
It was also sad to read about how the children are mocked at school by their peers, being called names like "chink" and "monkey", and getting teased for eating rice during lunch.
There are three different timelines being told, two of which were in black font while the folklore was in blue font. I felt a bit confused as it was difficult to differentiate the non-folklore timelines, but overall this was a good read.
A whimsical and lyrical novel-in-verse about the immigration experience. I love how this book weaves in Philippine mythology.
I feel like I lost my names
during the journey between countries
I feel like I lost my voice
in the ocean between continents.
It was also sad to read about how the children are mocked at school by their peers, being called names like "chink" and "monkey", and getting teased for eating rice during lunch.
We tried our best to live here,
to be American on the outside,
but Pinoy pa rin on the inside.
The kids at school will always
find new things wrong with us,
find new reasons not to be our friends.
There are three different timelines being told, two of which were in black font while the folklore was in blue font. I felt a bit confused as it was difficult to differentiate the non-folklore timelines, but overall this was a good read.
How could the points
between acceptance and belonging
be so far away from each other?
August 20, 2021
As a part Filipino with no real connections to the Philippines, I really appreciated this book. I felt connected and engaged through the whole book and even listened to the very end of the audiobook, where the author gave translations and thanks.
I don’t really know what else to say besides that it felt like I was being told what my family might have gone through. I felt so much love and there was a lot that I loved about it.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who has felt like they don’t belong or fit in and for anyone who has wanted to know more about the Philippines, Filipino culture, and American immigration.
I don’t really know what else to say besides that it felt like I was being told what my family might have gone through. I felt so much love and there was a lot that I loved about it.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who has felt like they don’t belong or fit in and for anyone who has wanted to know more about the Philippines, Filipino culture, and American immigration.
July 17, 2023
Oh, what an absolutely beautiful love letter to sisters, mothers, and home 💞
The verse style is beautiful and evocative, yet personal and concise at the same time.
The blend of stories, timelines, and Pilipino folklore was unexpected but brilliant and easy to follow. And I really enjoyed learning about some Pilipino food, customs, and stories, since it's not a culture I knew much about.
There were also some lovely illustrations scattered throughout.
Thematically, this book is so rich, despite how short it is. It looks at families by choice and chance (as the author beautifully words it in the Author's Note), breaking cycles of abuse/neglect, belonging, immigration and homelands, and the messiness of relationships where there is deep hurt from someone that part of you still loves or wants to love.
Highly recommend no matter your experience with novels in verse! This is one of the best I've read, imo.
CW: Grief, corporal punishment/child abuse, violence, brief gore/body horror, racism
The verse style is beautiful and evocative, yet personal and concise at the same time.
The blend of stories, timelines, and Pilipino folklore was unexpected but brilliant and easy to follow. And I really enjoyed learning about some Pilipino food, customs, and stories, since it's not a culture I knew much about.
There were also some lovely illustrations scattered throughout.
Thematically, this book is so rich, despite how short it is. It looks at families by choice and chance (as the author beautifully words it in the Author's Note), breaking cycles of abuse/neglect, belonging, immigration and homelands, and the messiness of relationships where there is deep hurt from someone that part of you still loves or wants to love.
Highly recommend no matter your experience with novels in verse! This is one of the best I've read, imo.
CW: Grief, corporal punishment/child abuse, violence, brief gore/body horror, racism
October 29, 2021
I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who wants just a small glimpse of how immigrating from the Philippines to the United States is like. It’s told in a fairytale-esque sort of way, but the small hurts and the quiet confusion of not quite belonging absolutely felt like Everman was telling my family’s story.
My dad was in charge of songs in a Filipino American group and taught me and my sister and all the other kids Bahay Kubo and I sang along every time it appeared in this book. It was very nostalgic see the words on the pages and it made me so happy to know that I remember that song still.
The folk tale interwoven in this is done beautifully and makes me want to find and read more Filipino mythology.
My dad was in charge of songs in a Filipino American group and taught me and my sister and all the other kids Bahay Kubo and I sang along every time it appeared in this book. It was very nostalgic see the words on the pages and it made me so happy to know that I remember that song still.
The folk tale interwoven in this is done beautifully and makes me want to find and read more Filipino mythology.
June 21, 2025
I appreciate that this book was written in a particular style...a story within a story...with another story. The formatting was cool with the different text colors and the illustrations. But...all together...it just didn't really work for me. There were 3 stories/timelines going on in this book and i only kinda cared about one of them and even that really didn't dig deep enough for me to really enjoy it. It wasn't terrible but...definitely not for me.
May 15, 2021
Absolutely beautiful. A wonderfully woven book that made my heart burst with pride.
June 8, 2021
This is a great book. A beautifully written story of family, identity and migration, interspersed with vivid imagery from Filipino mythology.
May 20, 2021
A middle grade novel I didn’t expect to love and relate to this much. The prose was great, a weaving of Philippine myth and history, particularly the Marcos era. It was both sad and sweet; I may have shed a few tears.
September 15, 2023
A beautiful novel in verse about a search for belonging as an immigrant family.
December 16, 2021
This book is so personal and close to the heart. The book begins with a mother telling stories to her daughter about home and about being an immigrant and interweaves her experience with Philippine mythology. It’s a beautiful read. It’s lyrical and listening to the audiobook enhances that experience. The only thing I wish I did was also get the physical book. As I’m not from the culture and because I don’t know the language, I didn’t have the glossary to refer back to. I’m worried that I missed some things but also this book isn’t made for someone like me as I’m just an outside visitor looking in on something so personal. I can only imagine how excited a kid would be reading about their own culture. I was still able to follow the story regardless and some of this experience still resonated with me being from an immigrant family. Even thought this is considered middle grade, it should be read by any age. I wish this got more attention then it did.
February 10, 2022
Two Filipino American girls ask their mom to tell them her story. Instead she tells them a story from Tagalog mythology about three demi-god children named for the sun, the moon, and the stars that she tells her girls mirrors her own story. Eventually she does tell some of her own story of life in the Philippines in the 1980s, moving to America, the struggles of adjusting to American culture, and how she found where she belongs.
It was very interesting to hear some Filipino myths. Those don't get nearly as much page time as Greek or Roman or Norse or Egyptian myths. The back of the book says that the mother's story reflects the author's own, so I respect the bravery in sharing something so personal. It is very interesting to hear what life was like in the Philippines after the leader's assassination and how that impacted the average person. We need more stories from the Philippines. On the other hand, I felt like this was written in so sophisticated a manner I'm not sure who the target audience is. It is written in verse and the author trusts the reader to do a lot of connecting the dots and drawing parallels on their own. It really felt like a YA novel in the sophistication of the text. (Even though it was in verse and the myth text is in one color and the real stories are in another.) It isn't an easy story to read necessarily both in the style and the content. In both the myth and the realistic stories, there are instances of parental neglect and physical abuse. The incident in the narrator's real past was horrible, and so sad mainly because it was never really addressed on the part of the parent involved and caused some lasting trauma for the narrator. She also had some bad experiences at a Catholic school psychologically which seemed to make all mentions of any religion come across quite jaded which I believe but also found sad in the obviously unaddressed past trauma that added. I finished the book feeling like the best ending would have been for the mom in the story to go to a therapist and really deal with a lot of these things in her past. She says that having her girls has healed her, and that is sweet on one hand but I didn't feel like it addressed the root on the other hand. I'm really conflicted about this one. I like the Filippino culture and history it introduces, but there's some real mental health issues not addressed, but it's also only a novel in verse so there's not that much space to tackle those issues... Yep, still torn. Waffling between a 2 or 3 stars for this one, but it just made me so sad I'm going to 2. Due to the content, be careful who you hand this to.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. It is mentioned that girls are disappearing in the Philippines which is part of the motivation for the family to leave. The mother in the myth slaps her daughter to get her angry enough to leave her as she is dying. After the mother's death in the myth, the father abandons his kids on Earth and they have to figure out their own way to his home. There's a fight between siblings in the myth that literally results in someone losing an eye. In the real history, the mom shares how her mother beat her to the point she was bloody and needing patching up from her grandma. She could never call her mother mother again but continued to live with her. Bullying and refusing to acknowledge preferred names at school in the States really hurts the mom and her siblings.
It was very interesting to hear some Filipino myths. Those don't get nearly as much page time as Greek or Roman or Norse or Egyptian myths. The back of the book says that the mother's story reflects the author's own, so I respect the bravery in sharing something so personal. It is very interesting to hear what life was like in the Philippines after the leader's assassination and how that impacted the average person. We need more stories from the Philippines. On the other hand, I felt like this was written in so sophisticated a manner I'm not sure who the target audience is. It is written in verse and the author trusts the reader to do a lot of connecting the dots and drawing parallels on their own. It really felt like a YA novel in the sophistication of the text. (Even though it was in verse and the myth text is in one color and the real stories are in another.) It isn't an easy story to read necessarily both in the style and the content. In both the myth and the realistic stories, there are instances of parental neglect and physical abuse. The incident in the narrator's real past was horrible, and so sad mainly because it was never really addressed on the part of the parent involved and caused some lasting trauma for the narrator. She also had some bad experiences at a Catholic school psychologically which seemed to make all mentions of any religion come across quite jaded which I believe but also found sad in the obviously unaddressed past trauma that added. I finished the book feeling like the best ending would have been for the mom in the story to go to a therapist and really deal with a lot of these things in her past. She says that having her girls has healed her, and that is sweet on one hand but I didn't feel like it addressed the root on the other hand. I'm really conflicted about this one. I like the Filippino culture and history it introduces, but there's some real mental health issues not addressed, but it's also only a novel in verse so there's not that much space to tackle those issues... Yep, still torn. Waffling between a 2 or 3 stars for this one, but it just made me so sad I'm going to 2. Due to the content, be careful who you hand this to.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. It is mentioned that girls are disappearing in the Philippines which is part of the motivation for the family to leave. The mother in the myth slaps her daughter to get her angry enough to leave her as she is dying. After the mother's death in the myth, the father abandons his kids on Earth and they have to figure out their own way to his home. There's a fight between siblings in the myth that literally results in someone losing an eye. In the real history, the mom shares how her mother beat her to the point she was bloody and needing patching up from her grandma. She could never call her mother mother again but continued to live with her. Bullying and refusing to acknowledge preferred names at school in the States really hurts the mom and her siblings.
July 13, 2021
I picked this book up on a chance, and I'm so glad I did. I haven't read a novel in verse in a while, so my heart was drawn even more. The bonds held between family, between mother and motherland, between our heart and our actions, are all at play here. A beautiful step into Filipino culture and a mother's love.
May 3, 2021
Half-Filipino, half-white, Stella and Luna request a bedtime story from their mom, Elsie. Their mother tells the myth of Mayari and how she transitioned into living in heaven among the gods. Told in verse in English and Tagalog, the story switches between Elsie’s childhood, the myth, and moving/adjusting to living in the United States. How will Elsie adjust to her new life? The verse works well for telling the story. The plot is interesting and realistically portrays the struggles of trying to fit in and adjust to living in two different cultural worlds. Readers who enjoy novels told in their own voice, realistic fiction, magical realism, and multi-generational stories will enjoy reading this book. 4 stars, Grades 7 to 9
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