Patron Saints of Nothing is the third book in my sponsored read in memory of my brother Matt who passed away suddenly last August. I am raising money for the rehabilitation centre that helped him and our family so much before he died. For more information, and to help me reach my goal, you can go here: https://bit.ly/2NeAetH Jay intends to have a lazy summer hanging out with his friends and playing video games. When he learns that his Filipino cousin Jun has been murdered, he decides to travel to the country he was born in to find some answers. What he finds are family members who, for the most part, aren't willing to even talk about Jun let alone help Jay dig into the mystery behind his death. It doesn't help that Jun's father is a high ranking member of a police force that has a shady reputation in how it is handling crime. Determined, Jay sets off to learn the truth, what he finds will shake his beliefs and make him question his own purpose on this planet. I really loved this novel, I enjoyed Jay's transformation throughout the story as he learned more and more about Jun and ultimately, himself. There is a political, historical and socioeconomic backdrop throughout, highlighting the effects of poverty and corruption in the Philippines, but also the strong communities, the hope and bonds that keep people together. It's also a condemnation of Philippine President Duterte's human rights violations when it comes to law and order throughout the country. Jun's father is convinced Jun became a drug addict, which would make him less than human in his eyes. Jay knows in his heart that Jun wouldn't fall to drugs, and that there must be something sinister behind his mysterious death. It's a fast story that keeps you going, keeps you guessing and breaks your heart while doing it. I really recommend Patron Saints of Nothing, it educates, informs and keeps you enthralled to the last page.
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This is the second book in my sponsored read. I'm reading one YA book a week that tackles mental health, depression, substance abuse and other issues. I'm doing this in memory of my brother Matt who passed away in August 2018. I'm hoping to raise money for a charity close to him and our family. For more details, and to donate, you can go here: https://bit.ly/2NeAetH THE BOXER by Nikesh Shukla is about 17 year old Sunny. After a racist attack at a train station, he's left bloody, beaten and filled with PTSD and anxiety. After some convincing, he decides to join a boxing gym. Over time he becomes more confident and makes new friends. One of them is Keir, a boy with a troubled past but a kind heart. However, when Sunny learns that Keir's brother and father are hardcore racists, he becomes angry, frightened and confused. When another incident incites racial tensions to rise in their home city of Bristol, Keir and Sunny find themselves at opposite ends of the argument. This culminates in Sunny facing off against Keir in a boxing match, one that Keir claims will end Sunny's hopes of ever boxing again. THE BOXER is told in alternate chapters, with Sunny & Keir facing off in the ring and the other chapters flashing back to the incidents leading up to the match. It's masterful storytelling and highlights the deep racial issues that are prevalent in the UK. Sunny is a boy with deep problems, he's suffering from the trauma of the attack and grappling with the reality that his father is going to die. He and his father have a difficult and complicated relationship, which makes visiting him in the hospital tricky, it also makes talking about his feelings even harder for Sunny. I also learned a lot about the sport of boxing, and how it can have therapeutic qualities. Sunny's depression, anxiety and social awkwardness cuts to the bone in a very honest way. I feel like Nikesh was able to express how someone dealing with these issues on top of being attacked for having darker skin in a very nuanced way. The pace of this novel is fast and it's loaded with discussion points for students, which I love. I know it's going to be in the hands of lots of students next year and I can't wait. This is the first book in my sponsored read. I am reading one YA book a week in memory of my brother, Matt, who passed away in August 2018. I am raising money for a charity close to him and our family. More details can be found here: https://bit.ly/2NeAetH or on social media using #ReadingForMatt Darius Kellner is about to take his first trip to Iran to see his grandparents and other members of his extended family. His grandfather is suffering from a brain tumour, Darius has only met him over Skype. Darius, along with his father, are also struggling with diagnosed depression and take medication for this. Darius feels guilty because, as he said, "nothing bad has ever happened to me", he just knows his brain sometimes tells him things he shouldn't think. When he gets to Iran he meets a boy named Sohrab, who calls him Darioush. Sohrab is like no one Darius has ever met, he doesn't make fun of him, he is respectful and thoughtful. Sohrab is dealing with a major family trauma in that his father was imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. Together they play soccer, eat delicious Persian food and keep each other afloat. Darius also learns to communicate with his father, Darius feels his father wishes he was more "normal" and would just "snap out of it" even though he takes medication for his own depression. As Darius tries to navigate his own depression and his family, the looming date to leave Iran and Sohrab is closing in. Darius must decide who he wants to be and try to learn to be happy in this world. I really loved this novel, I connected with it on many levels - down to playing Rook with my friends, trying to communicate with different members of my family and living with a family member who was depressed, restless and out of place. It's the prefect novel for anyone who feels like they don't belong & I'm very glad I chose it for my first book in this sponsored read! |
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