Growing up Filipino-American, I resonated with many of the themes about family, migration, identity and poverty in this story. It felt brutal to read about the relationships between Queenie and her family and yet so familiar too. The author deftly weaves a story that
…more illuminates the darker aspects of being Filipino-American - things that my parents and their generation would never discuss in public - being undocumented, domestic violence, misogyny, child neglect. I’m glad someone has finally put a story forward that raises these issues. Bittersweet, sad, but necessary for us to grow. (less)