“ much needed window deep, nuanced, painfully real family drama. “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 “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 LONG WAY DOWN Randy Ribay was born in the Philippines and raised in the Midwest. Can Jay find the answers he seeks?Ī gripping and lyrical YA novel for fans of Angie Thomas’s THE HATE U GIVE, Patrice Lawrence’s ORANGEBOY and Nic Stone’s DEAR MARTIN.Ī US NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR YOUNG PEOPLE FINALIST As gripping as it is lyrical, Patron Saints of Nothing is a page-turning portrayal of the struggle to reconcile faith, family, and immigrant identity. Hoping to uncover the truth, Jay travels to Jun’s home in the Philippines – but the shocking realities of life there lead to even more questions. Beautifully written with an astounding command of language, it is both a heartfelt and a heartbreaking look into former president Duterte's war on drugs at large and how it has affectedand affectsindividuals and families, extending beyond. Although years have passed since they were last in contact, the stories about Jun just don’t fit with the boy Jay knew. Patron Saints of Nothing is nothing short of a masterpiece in every conceivable sense of the word. When Jay Reguero hears of his cousin Jun’s death, everything changes. “A heartbreaking and original novel.” – GuardianĪ powerful coming-of-age story about grief, guilt and the risks a Filipino-American teenager takes to uncover the truth about his cousin’s murder. In interviews, he’s cited Sandra Cisnero’s The House on Mango Street as one of his primary influences. Ribay was interested in focusing on this specific experience, which he felt was missing from other young adult novels. SHORTLISTED FOR THE CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL 2020 Patron Saints of Nothing is a young adult novel about a Filipino American teenager.

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