From Powells.com
Book Recommendations for Asian Pacific Heritage Month
Synopses & Reviews
When she learns of her beloved father's fatal car accident, Mapa flies to Manila to attend his funeral. His sudden death sparks childhood memories. Weaving the past with the present, Mapa entertains with stories about religion, pop culture, adolescence, social class and politics, including her experiences of the 1986 People Power Revolution which made headlines around the world. It is a love letter to her parents, family, friends, country of birth, and in the end, perhaps even to herself.
Review
"Weaving together her obsession with movies and music, family stories, and the huge cultural shifts taking place during the 1980s, Mapa captures the excitement of living through a cultural revolution, the security of growing up in a stable, loving home, and the emotional anguish that can only be experienced by a 14-year-old girl listening to the Police's 'King of Pain' on endless repeat." Booklist
Review
"[Mapa's] memoir of life in the Philippines is both touching and joyous, with vivid recollections of food, matriarchy, family, and politics told in an Herge-inspired style that's deceptively simple but apt for its subject." Publishers Weekly
About the Author
Lorina Mapa was born in the Philippines and moved to North America at the age of 16. She currently lives in Hudson, Quebec, with her cartoonist husband and children. She often works doing lettering for various manga publications.