About This Book
Reach for this book when your teenager is grappling with the complexities of belonging, especially if they are navigating the tension between their personal identity and their community's cultural expectations. This powerful story follows Bobby, a Filipino-American teen who tries to stay invisible to survive his violent high school until he is forcibly outed. Seeking strength through boxing, he models himself after Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao, only to face a second crisis of faith when his hero makes public homophobic remarks. This novel provides a realistic, unflinching look at the intersection of queer identity and cultural heritage. It is best suited for mature readers aged 14 and up due to its depictions of intense bullying and physical violence. Parents will appreciate how it moves beyond a simple coming-out story to address the pain of hero-worship and the resilience required to define one's own worth when the world feels unforgiving.
