Arsenic and Adobo

This summer we are highlighting #OwnVoices books. #OwnVoices, a hashtag created by Corinne Duyvis, highlights books that are written by an author that shares a marginalized identity with the protagonist because the best people to represent a marginalized group are those who experience that marginalization. We love being able to share these great books by amazing authors with you! 

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Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala

Arsenic and Adobo is a contemporary fictitious mystery by Mia P. Manansala. This novel, the first book in the forthcoming Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series, is an entertaining, quick read that will keep you guessing until the end.

The story starts as a romance novel with Lila Macapagal having just moved back home to Shady Palms to help her aunt. The author shows her sense of humor right away at the start of book as she compares the story to a Hallmark movie.

My name is Lila Macapagal and my life has become a rom-com cliché.

Not many romantic comedies feature an Asian-American lead (or dead bodies, but more on that later), but all the hallmarks are there.

Girl from an improbably named small town in the Midwest moves to the big city to make a name for herself and find love? Check.

Girl achieves these things only for the world to come crashing down when she walks in on her fiancé getting down and dirty with their next-door neighbors (yes, plural)? Double check.

Girl then moves back home in disgrace and finds work reinvigorating her aunt's failing business? Well now we're up to a hat trick of clichés.

And to put the cherry on top, in the trope of all tropes, I even reconnected with my high school sweetheart after moving back to town and discovered the true meaning of Christmas.

The book quickly captures your attention as you wonder if Lila will find love again in her hometown of Shady Palms and you soon meet a couple of primary characters that could be likely candidates. 

Even through the story starts out as a romance novel, the author has a surprise for you as the story takes a sudden turn and Lila is now not only in the middle of a murder investigation, but she is one of the main suspects!

Derek’s Salabat-Spiced Banana Bread from blog post
Cooking the Books: Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala

 Filipino-American culture, traditions, and food are woven throughout the book. From the appearance of adobo in the meal in the very first chapter to the food served at the (multiple) funerals, food makes an appearance at every family event, gathering, and crisis. The author also includes recipes at the end of the book if you want to give a few dishes a try yourself!

Family also plays a center role in the book and throughout the book we see how family members are honored and treasured.  "Family” also extends far beyond the immediate biologic members to family friends as is shown by the role the aptly named “Calendar Aunts” play in the book.

There are so many great books written by Filipina authors. The Next Somewhere website has put together a lovely list of other books written by Filipina authors, including Arsenic and Adobo! If you see a book on the list we don't have at our Library that you'd like to read, just ask and we can borrow one for you for free through our state-wide inter-library loan system!

Homicide and Halo-Halo by Mia P. Manansala

The next book in the series, Homicide and Halo-Halo, is scheduled to come out in February 2022!

Happily Ever Afters

This summer we are highlighting #OwnVoices books. #OwnVoices, a hashtag created by Corinne Duyvis, highlights books that are written by an author that shares a marginalized identity with the protagonist because the best people to represent a marginalized group are those who experience that marginalization. We love being able to share these great books by amazing authors with you! 

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The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

The Kiss Quotient is Helen Hoang’s debut novel, featuring Stella, a young woman with Asperger’s syndrome (now known as Autism Spectrum Disorder). Stella is consumed by her job and the fact that math and numbers are the only things that makes sense in the world. Stella’s job has given her more money than she can spend but left little time for experiencing the dating world.

Stella decides she needs practice with French kissing and dating. Who would be best to teach her? A professional. Stella hires Michael Phan, a Vietnamese and Swedish escort. Michael isn’t in a position to turn down the pay and decides to help Stella complete her check list.

Stella learns more than just French kissing and eventually realizes that love might actually make sense for her (and Michael). 

Helen Hoang was 34 years old when she was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (previously known as Asperger’s Syndrome) and that journey led her to finally understand herself and inspired her to write The Kiss Quotient. As Lisa Bonos from the Washington Post notes in her article, A romance novelist struggled with Asperger’s. Now she writes about love on the spectrum,

Stella’s journey has resonated with readers of all kinds, from autistic readers who have “never seen themselves represented in a positive way, especially having sex and having a normal life,” Hoang said, to the parents of children with autism who worry that their kids are not going to have happy futures. Her books show otherwise. “I think a lot of it is about finding the right environment and being with the right people,” Hoang said. In her books, the love interests are patient and respectful of boundaries, they see their autistic partners as capable of love and worthy of it — even if the characters don’t always see themselves that way.

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang

Hoang’s second novel, The Bride Test, follows the story of Khai Diep, Michael’s cousin. Khai’s autism means he has difficulty processing emotions. He’s convinced that he’s “defective” but does little to change his ways. Khai’s mother takes his love life into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him a bride. In The Bride Test, Hoang shows readers that autism affects each person differently. 

Every reader deserves to see themselves reflected in the stories they read. Hoang’s authentic characters also give readers a chance to step into the shoes of different folks and further develop empathy and understanding. 

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What are some of your favorite books that reflect your lived experience? What are some of your favorite books that helped you understand someone else's lived experience?

Stay Gold, Pony Boy

This summer we are highlighting #OwnVoices books. #OwnVoices, a hashtag created by Corinne Duyvis, highlights books that are written by an author that shares a marginalized identity with the protagonist because the best people to represent a marginalized group are those who experience that marginalization. We love being able to share these great books by amazing authors with you!

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 Stay Gold by Tolby McSmith

In this young adult book, Pony is a senior at a new school and he just wants to keep a low profile and graduate unnoticed, especially after all the attention he got at his old school when he came out as transgender. He's struggling to stay focused when he is always scared someone will find out and he'll be the talk of the school...again. Georgia is beginning to think there's more to life than cheerleading. She plans on keeping a low profile until graduation as well...which is why she promised herself no dating until after high school. 

Then, on the very first day of school, the new guy and the cheerleader lock eyes. How is Pony supposed to stay stealth when he wants to get close to a girl like Georgia? How is Georgia supposed to keep her promise when sparks start flying with a boy like Pony? This books is about teens finding love and finding themselves.

In Stay Gold, Pony argues with his father about his over his pronouns and his dead name (the name he was given at birth that he no longer uses). Pony's dad struggles to understand Pony and his identity and it can be exhausting for Pony to always be explaining his orientation to people who do not understand. 

Luckily, there are many resources for friends, family members, and allies who want to understand and support their LGBTQ+ family and friends. 

A Quick & Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns

This book truly is a quick and easy read. It's a graphic novel style book that explains how to use gender neutral pronouns like They/Them, but it can also be helpful in understanding any pronouns that may be unfamiliar.

A Quick & Easy Guide to Queer & Trans Identities

This book is also a graphic novel style reader that helps explain Queer and Trans Identities. It covers essential topics like sexuality, gender identity, coming out, and navigating relationships. This guide explains the spectrum of human experience through informative comics, interviews, worksheets, and imaginative examples. It is a great starting point for anyone curious about queer and trans life, and helpful for those already on their own journeys!

In Stay Gold, Pony reflects on how it’s hard to live your best life when the threat of exposure lurks down every hallway and in every bathroom. But Pony, with help from his friends and his sister, tries to look for the best in every situation and chooses to be happy with who he is. He celebrates himself and the diversity around him. 

The Gay Agenda by Ashley Molesso and Chess Needham

The Gay Agenda is a book celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. Written by a self-described "queer and trans power couple," this book celebrates achievements made by queer people, discusses history in fun timelines, it's packed with trivia, charts, info-graphics and more in bright colors and fun illustrations.

 When Pony transitioned he chose a new name. His inspiration for his name came from the book The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Although Stay Gold and The Outsiders are very different Pony identifies strongly with the characters and themes in the book. 

The Outsiders by S.E. Henton

In The Outsiders, Johnny lays dying when he tells Ponyboy to "Stay Gold." Earlier the boys had talked about how "Nothing gold can stay," meaning that all good things must come to an end. Which the boys take to mean their youthful innocence must end. This line is urging Johnny to stay innocent. Check it out and see what other characteristics of Ponyboy helped Pony in choosing his name.

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