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whatchareadingheather's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
"I'm here to learn what it means to be Filipino, but somehow I've only become more American"
Reading this really makes me appreciate the fact that my parents (a mixed-race marriage btw) and my grandmother chose to raise me differently than what is traditional Filipino values. This book was equal parts frustrating (the unacceptable bluntness/rudeness, the acceptance of misogyny with AAPI men, general racism, etc.) and reflective (a look into the country’s somewhat Caste-like system due to skin tone, the blessing and curse of being a ‘model minority,’ discussing the tomfoolery that is the American Immigration System, etc.) with parts that really hit close to home in terms of my experience growing up (mainly toxic extended family dynamics). I think anyone who is of Filipino descent should read this book, especially if you are trying to unlearn the hurtful behavior that’s passed down generation to generation. If anything, this book reassured me that my stance against the ‘Blood Is Thicker Than Water’ mentality is completely valid.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Rape, and Incest
Moderate: Medical content, Racism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Sexism, Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny
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