Jason Tanamor in Conversation With Kate Ristau

POW! BANG! WHAM! Victor, a superhero-obsessed teen, might work for Portland's newest vigilante. As he grapples with bullying and isolation, a social studies project becomes Victor's path to self-discovery, acceptance, and pride in his Filipino heritage. Between a tsinelas-wielding superhero, a major social studies project, and take-out boxes of adobo and lumpia, seventeen-year-old Filipino American Victor Dela Cruz isn't sure how to get through high school without the help of a radioactive spider. Despite his attempts to assimilate into his mostly white Portland high school, Victor has always felt like an outsider. He likes to think high school is his superhero origin story, and all he needs now are some superpowers. His very own supervillain, Clint Robertson, Cleveland High's golden boy, and a major project about his ancestry make Victor wish he had the power of invisibility. But when he witnesses his boss at the food truck slinging his trusty tsinelas to stop a thief in his tracks, Victor sees his chance to find the acceptance he's always craved. He believes he's found a hometown superhero, and he plans to convince his peers that the owner of Filipino Feast is secretly an undercover vigilante. From Jason Tanamor — author of Love, Dance & Egg Rolls — The Legend of Sensei Tsinelas (Ooligan Press) is a testament to resilience, reminding us that true strength and pride are found in embracing the rich tapestry of our own identities. Tanamor will be joined in conversation by Kate Ristau, President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA), Executive Director of Willamette Writers, and author of Clockbreakers.