Patron Saints of Nothing

(Paperback)

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Description

When Jay Reguero hears of his cousin Juns death, everything changes. Although years have passed since they were last in contact, the stories about Jun just dont fit with the boy Jay knew. Hoping to uncover the truth, Jay travels to Juns home in the Philippines but the shocking realities of life there lead to even more questions. Can Jay find the answers he seeks

Reviews

"This powerful and courageous story offers readers a refreshingly emotional depiction of a young man of color with an earnest desire for the truth." -- Kirkus starred review
"[A] much needed window [and a] deep, nuanced, painfully real family drama." -- ALA Booklist starred review
Brilliant, honest, and equal parts heartbreaking and soul-healing. Ill give this astounding book to all the teens and adults in my life. I suspect you will, too. Id give it 50 stars if I could. -- Laurie Halse Anderson, author of SHOUT
Randy Ribay seamlessly takes the cultural texture of the Philippines, the complexities between ethnicity and nationality, political tension and the propaganda that buttresses it, and, most importantly, teenage life, and weaves them all into a thick braid that asks one question: What is the truth And the necessity to know that truth the fight it takes to find that truth somehow gets right to the core of who young people are. This is nothing short of a tremendous feat and will certainly solidify Ribay as a singular voice in the world of literature for years to come. -- Jason Reynolds, author of LONG WAY DOWN
I cant stop thinking about this beautiful book that left me in tears. A searing, soul-searching novel about grief and identity. This book makes me proud to be Filipino American. -- Melissa de la Cruz, author of ALEX AND ELIZA
Lyrical. Stunning. Searing. PATRON SAINTS OF NOTHING is the real deal, a unique and intimate look into the extrajudicial murders in Dutertes war on drugs in the Philippines. Ribays arresting narration and knack for characterization drive a story that is unlike anything else youll read this year. -- Mark Oshiro, author of ANGER IS A GIFT

Author Bio

Randy was born in the Philippines and raised in the Midwest. He is the author of AFTER THE SHOT DROPS , AN INFINITE NUMBER OF PARALLEL UNIVERSES and PATRON SAINTS OF NOTHING, which was shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2020. He earned his BA in English Literature from the University of Colorado at Boulder and his Masters Degree in Language and Literacy from Harvard Graduate School of Education. He currently teaches English and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.