At first I wasn't sure where the book was going, but I'm glad I stuck with it. Basically a kid goes to the Philippines to visit his father's family after he finds out his cousin/best friend was killed over drugs. He demands answers and so goes, as the typical American teen, to the land where he will clear up any names that need to be cleared up. Obviously, he learns quite a few things about his familial culture through the different interactions with his family members. I think one of the things I liked the best about the book was that it was a great depiction of an American teenage boy. There were different "themes" in the book, and although I am not a fan of too many issues in a book, this one seemed to be a little more real about them. Maybe that they weren't preachy made a difference.

I thought this novel was perfectly nuanced and complex for the teen audience. As readers, we are taken along with Jay as we try to figure out what happened to his cousin; we feel his desperate hope for his cousin to have been good all along, able to resist temptation and "vice," while also feeling that melancholy and understanding as we how the situation is more complex and layered than we first thought. This is a good novel that explores what makes a human "good" and thus what we should punish. Does someone who does drugs, or even sells them, deserve to be punished? What are alternative ways to address these problems and their root causes? Situated in the particular context of the Philippines and its politics, this novel also covers topics of identity (sexual, racial, national, and ethnic) and class. There are lots of heavier topics and events discussed., but I felt like they were handled with care.

I read "Patron Saints of Nothing" many months ago but never got around to doing an actual review. I was reminded of it recently when I reviewed another book about an ethnically diverse teen in America. I remember thinking that this book was something special- and it must have been since it was a National Book Award Finalist I highly recommend this book about Filipino-American Jay visiting family in the Philipines after the death of a beloved cousin. As a librarian, I would recommend this book for high school and public libraries. It is an intense, but important read.

I wanted to like this book more. I really enjoyed how much the novel taught me about the Phillipines and the drug war in that country. My only issue was that I felt like I wanted more. It felt underdeveloped to a certain extent. I also didn't appreciate the random romantic element; that felt unnecessary. However, I have wholeheartedly recommended it to students!

Ribay's story about loss, grief, and the lengths a person is willing to go to discover the truth took me on a wild ride.

American born Filipino, Jay is coasting through his senior year until he finds out that his cousin Jun was murdered. A victim of President Duterte's anti-drug war, Jun's existence is basically erased by his family and Jay just can't wrap his head around the idea of Jun the drug user and pusher. Desperate to know what really happened, Jay convinces his parents to let him go the the Philippines in hopes of discovering the truth. What Jay begins to uncover only leaves him with more questions and his search for truth may tear his family apart.

While it took me awhile to get into the book, once I did, I enjoyed it. I, like Jay, needed to know what happened to Jun. And as Jay continued to dig and research, I, too, was not convinced that everything he was discovering was the truth. This one kept me going back and forth between who Jun really was and what really happened.

Patron Saints of Nothing is the story of family and what divides family. Our main character fiends himself traveling to find out what really happened to his cousin. He died under mysterious circumstances. Did he really take his own life after running away and living on the streets? Or was it a drug overdose like the paper said? Read Patron Saints Of Nothing by Randy Ribay nd decide for yourself. Happy reading!

When Jay hears about his cousin's death by murder by a policeman in the Philippines, he decides he to go and find out what really happened and what led his cousin down the path he chose. While in the Philippines, Jay discovers Jun was not the person he thought he was and things are not always as they appear.

Loved Jay and his family. Loved learning about Filipino culture through him as he processed the loss of his cousin. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

After finding out about his cousin Jun’s violent death, Jay Reguero travels from America to the Philippines to uncover the truth behind the mysterious death. Jay does not have much of a connection to the Philippines, the place of his birth, and has recently discovered that the nation has changed in the face of a sweeping drug war initiated by President Rodrigo Duterte, a war that Jun’s father, Tito Maning, enthusiastically endorses. Jay digs into the circumstances of Jun’s death, which is much more complicated than what he had anticipated.

I really enjoyed The Patron Saints of Nothing which deftly weaves a mystery/suspense elements regarding Jun's death and a coming of age story that taps into the deep, nuanced, and complicated yet realistic family drama between family members who stayed in Philippines and that of Jay's father who decided to raise his children in America. Ribay perfectly captures the feelings of those who straddle two different cultures. He faces microaggressions at school and while attempting to try to convey his feelings to his American friends. Yet he also feels like an outsider in the Philippines because he does not speak the language though he looks Filipino.

This book is a window for me in terms of learning about the current the current-day war on drugs ravaging Filipino society, characterized by extrajudicial vigilante killings endorsed by the highest levels of government, which unfortunately I do not hear too much about in the news. The author also touches upon the Filipino history of colonization, occupation, and revolution, but I needed a bit more to fully wrap my head around. After reading this book I can definitely see why it was nominated for the National Book Award for Young Adults.

I could not put this book down! This book not only mirrors the thoughts and actions of a lot of my students, but also deals with cultures and peoples that are not regularly a topic for a YA book. My students are able to connect with the characters and the story.

This one will resonate with teens who feel caught between multiple identities. Jay is Filipino American (his mom is white) and he travels to the Philippines over spring break to find out the truth about his cousin Jun's death. When he gets there, he is constantly told that he is not Filipino enough to understand the way things are done in his birth country, and he struggles with that feeling. I haven't read any YA that touches on President Duterte's drug war and how it affects Filipinos all over the world, and I think this book is pretty special.

Patron Saints of Nothing is a strong novel that transcends borders. Jay's desire to understand his Filipino family as well as the inclusion of the challenges facing the Philippines make this a strong title to give to students.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group for providing a free advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Starting his senior year of high school Jay knew what his parents were expecting from him. Considering he had no real plan of his own his only choice was to follow that of his parents. Finish high school with good grades and head to the University of Michigan in the fall. Although he has no idea what he would like to study once he is there.

Before Jay begins to seriously consider what his future might look like he finds out that his cousin Jun, who lives in the Philippines has been killed. Jay hadn’t seen or spoke to Jun for many years but the knowledge of his death had a larger impact on him than even he expected. When he tries to get answers about his cousins death he is told that the family won’t speak of it and it is better to act like it never happened.

When he receives pictures of Jun through an anonymous Instagram account Jay realizes that he must find out what actually happened to his cousin. Even if that means going to the Philippines himself.

Dealing with guilt and overcome with grief Jay’s need to find out what happened to his cousin allows him to also find himself. In his journey for the truth about his cousin he uncovers many secrets that make him question everything he thought he knew and understood. This book is based on factual events that have taken place in the Philippines and brings the reader into a world of poverty, corruption and atrocities. A must read.

Right from the very first chapter, I already felt that I will actually be seeing my country in this book. Not just in simple ways, but in major ways. And that our different cultures will be given spotlights. And I was right to expect such things. From the contradictions in our country – from the slums to the well-built three story houses, to the lives of the privileged to the lives of the marginalized, people’s contrasting views; how our every day lives are being heavily affected by our political system and policies (or the lack thereof, of effective ones); and the different Filipino cultures – from the interesting to the toxic ones, there were all there and gives a picture of what it really is to live here.

I really adored seeing the Filipino family and balikbayan cultures, and a lot more. I loved how it felt like I was in an adventure. Jay went to different parts of the Philippines from Manila to the province, to the slums to the churches to the malls, and I loved how descriptive it all were. It was quite a trip.

DEEP AND CAREFUL EXPLORATION OF FAMILY RELATIONS, POVERTY, DRUG WAR, PRIVILEGE CHECKING, AND MORE
Reading this book, it’s almost impossible not to be political and this is also certainly and undoubtedly a thought-provoking one.

Lots of Philippine issues or topics – political, humanitarian, social, were tackled. It carefully and deeply dives into the issue of the drug war in the Philippines and the extrajudicial killings that goes with it. It also shows what bad parenting, being suffocating and controlling, the lack of communication, not cultivating a loving and safe home can do and affect the children on that household. How poverty results to people risking their lives, doing things that are dangerous or illegal just for them to be able to put food in their stomachs for a day. About relationships between relatives who lives apart. Reminding us how sometimes, being caught up in our own lives, we start losing care about our relatives especially those who lives afar. About the wrong thinking that those in power are always right. About checking your privilege. About being silent, speaking up and how both could have different outcomes. About finding out the truth – the heaviness, and responsibility that comes with it. About discovering and embracing one’s identity. And how your words, presence, or showing that you care for someone can make a huge impact no matter how small you think that is.

I also really appreciate how this actually talks about real life events like the Maguindanao Massacre, imprisonment of Leila de Lima and more. And also mentions other events in the Philippine history.

Patron Saints of Nothing wasn’t biased, became an eye-opener and was able to make me ponder about so many things in life and made me feel different emotions I couldn’t even describe and count.

HUMANS REPRESENTED *WELL* THROUGH FICTION
Jay, tbh I didn’t know what to feel of him at first. I was afraid that he would be this typical American teenage privileged boy who just wants to mingle in other people’s business and think that he knows better and can solve all of the Philippines humanitarian problems just because he couldn’t imagine such things existing in real life. However, as the time goes by, he started to capture me. He proved that he is not just American but a Filipino as well. He is a good person. Not perfect. But I loved his journey of learning and how loving and thoughtful he is. He is just… the Kuya I wish I have.

Jun, oh Jun. I don’t even know where to start. I connected and understood him a lot for different reasons. He’s the representation of teenagers who grew up in a suffocating and strict household where you can barely feel loved, accepted and understood and couldn’t submit to such confining environment. His mental health issues, his dreams in life, his values, his positive and loving attitude ever since he was a kid… oh my ggod man, remembering them makes me tear up. He’s quite the star of the story for me. (Sorry Jay, you’re a star too) Though I like him and Jay the same, I actually connected with him more.

Grace, I love her. I understood her, though not at first. Her attitude is very understandable and I saw a part of me in her, growing in a strict household myself. She’s a strong girl with a soft heart who I just want to protect. She’s this girl whose fighting silently and secretly and I loved it.

Angel, I love her too. She’s this sweet little sister that has to be protected who will always try to make you happy.

Tito Maning, I hated him. He’s a DU30 supporter. I don’t even want to talk about his ideologies. I’ll just say that he’s that typical FIlipino who supports and embraces our traditions without being open to challenging its problems. He’s the typical strict parent who pressures their child and only thinks about what they want and always wants to be followed. He believes lies. He’s a Marcos apologist. He’s problematic. And I don’t want to talk about how much I hated. I digress.

Tita Annie, I dislike her. But I also pity her. She’s the typical Filipina submissive wife who couldn’t stand up against her husband even for the sake of her children. And I pity her because she’s a victim of sexist cultures that’s embedded in our society, who didn’t know better.

Mia, I liked her at first. I thought she’s this woke iska (scholar) I’d be admiring at the end. I do love what she’s doing – especially her hunger for the truth. But I was disappointed of her at the end. (Reasons somewhere below)

Tita Chato and Tita Ines, I love them both. They’re the titas we all need, who we can run to. I also admire their work in their organization. They show that though they are not your parents, you can still lean into some of your relatives. And that’s beautiful.

Reyna, I feel sorry for her. But I admire how strong of a woman she is. She’s a sex trafficking victim and her story tells a lot about the horrors this disgusting illegal act is doing to its victims which are mostly Filipinas.

Tito Danilo, I liked him. Yes, he broke a vow as a priest but that just shows that your original family is still your family and there are people who can break vows just for the sake of their loved ones.

The characters including those who aren’t mentioned, overall, showed different Filipinos I see in my life and other people’s lives that I know or see everyday. They are realistic and helped me more in feeling the realness of this story despite it being fiction.

IMPERFECTIONS
Mia, disappointed me. She’s a cheater and I honestly think the “romance” or whatever that is was unnecessary. ~~~I would have loved if she and Jay have become close friends instead. I couldn’t believe that cheating wasn’t actually called out and I hated the attitude of Jay towards it who just went with the flow and seized the chance.

Also, I wasn’t able to immersed myself to the story and establish a connection with the characters, especially with Jay, immediately.

I do badly wish that there are trigger warnings especially on the beginning. Right on the very first few pages, I was welcomed with an animal death, and it broke me. But I’ve only read an eARC so I’m not sure if the finished copy has it. I hope so.

Lastly, this is not actually an imperfection, but rather just a personal thought. It’s obvious that Jay and Jun’s family is privileged. I have nothing against that and I’m not invalidating them. But I could really just imagine what if Jun’s family is poor. Yes, there are also victims from the middle class but majority of the victims of extrajudicial killings are poor. The Philippines drug war have basically been a war against the poor.

OVERALL
Patron Saints of Nothing is more than just a book – it is a ticket, giving a unique tour experience in the Philippines where you’ll see it for what it really is beyond its beaches, beautiful islands, happy faces, and tourist attractions. You’ll see its contradictions, and open your eyes to the struggles, nightmares, and hardships the Philippines is facing in this side of the world. But at the same time, it offers a hard-to-swallow but still somehow satisfying end – or rather, another beginning.

It may be my identity that makes me connect to this book in a very very deep way, but even without it, I could still see this book for what it really is – truthful, powerful, a battle cry for the victims of extrajudicial killings as well as corruption, injustice, and sex trafficking, eye-opener to everyone – Filipino or not, brave, and poignant.

Patron Saints of Nothing is one of a kind.

This book was well written and honest. Although it is fiction, it reads like a non-fiction buograohy. Losing a relative isn’t easy, but losing someone under mysterious circumstances makes grieving and closure very difficult. I would recommend this for teenagers and young adults and in classrooms.

I'll get right to it here: Randy Ribay is one of my favorite authors. I loved After the Shot Drops, and I thought Patron Saints of Nothing was even better. His stories draw on the complexities of our relationships with ourselves, each other, and of the setting in which those relationships are formed. Patron Saints of Nothing is a master class in character development and as an educator, I would be remiss if I didn't recommend other educators check out Oona Marie Abrams' Nerdy Book Club post that's chock-full of excellent ideas for teaching this amazing story: https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2...

Jay's journey from Michigan to the Philippines to discover the mystery of why his cousin Jun was murdered, is one I won't forget. I can't recommend this YA novel enough, and I can't wait to talk with more people about it!

Patron Saints of Nothing is one of the best books that I have read lately. Jay is a biracial American whose father is Filipino. While he was born in the Philippines, Jay moved to America when he was very young and has only returned to visit a few times. During those visits he became close to his cousin Jun, but as the years passed he was distracted by his life and stopped responding to Jun's letters. Jay is shocked when he learns that his cousin was killed. Consumed by grief and guilt, Jay is determined to confront his uncle and find out what really happened to Jun. He convinces his parents to send him to visit his family in the Philippines and lies when he agrees to avoid discussing the murder. But Jay's determination to learn the truth about Jun's death forces him to face some difficult truths about himself, his family, and the country where he was born. A unique, engrossing novel..

When Jay's cousin is killed in the Philippines as part of Duterte's war on drugs, he travels to a land he barely remembers to face an uncle he thought he knew. But how can a man stand by and watch his child die? When Jay is faced with more questions than answers, he realizes he has so much to learn. But one thing is for certain: he will figure out what happened to his cousin. This book joins the growing pantheon of YA lit, created by Asian-American authors, with Asian POC as the MCs, an area that has been sorely lacking until recent years. It's so nice to see the breadth of multiculturalism penetrating the typically white YA bookshelves. I can't wait to give this one to my Pinoy student who said she'd love to have a book with a Filipino MC--her wish has come true with Jay.

Jay returns to the Philipines to find out why his cousin was murdered. This coming of age book is powerful in Jay's quest to connect with his roots and reconcile who he is based on his new relationships with his relatives. Love, pain, parental relationships, controlling relationships, and drugs are all themes in this book. So enjoyable!

This book is a gut puncher. I vaguely have heard about what is going on in the Philippians but the details are awful and tragic. This is a story of grief and looking for answers. I feel like I would like to now read a non fiction book about this. Seeing the world through Jay’s eyes were interesting.