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Chasing Pacquiao

by Rod Pulido

Identity, bullying, and the cost of hero worship

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AlbakiReads Editorial

Identity, bullying, and the cost of hero worship

Bobby’s effort to stay safe at a violent high school is upended when he is outed, forcing him to reconsider whether keeping his head down is still possible. Boxing, inspired by Filipino champion Manny Pacquiao, becomes part of his response to bullying—but Pacquiao’s public stance against queer people complicates Bobby’s admiration. The novel brings together questions of identity, family and community expectations, self-protection, and the search for courage when a role model disappoints. Its Filipino-American setting and focus on a queer teenager place those conflicts within both school life and community pressures.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Teens and young adults interested in fiction about bullying and standing up to harassment.
  • Readers seeking a story centered on a queer Filipino-American teenager and questions of identity.
  • Those interested in boxing as part of a coming-of-age story.

Themes

Bullying and harassmentQueer identityFilipino-American communityRole models and disillusionmentCourage and self-preservation

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

Experience the extreme joys, sorrows, and triumphs of a queer Filipino-American teenager struggling to prove himself in an unforgiving world.

"Rod Pulido delivers the ultimate one-two punch: bare-knuckled, bruising honesty wrapped in humor, sincerity, and sweetness."--Becky Albertalli, bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

"Pulls no punches as it explores the courage and community needed to stand up to hatred."--Randy Ribay, author of the National Book Award finalist Patron Saints of Nothing

Self preservation. That's Bobby's motto for surviving his notoriously violent high school unscathed. Being out and queer would put an unavoidable target on his back, especially in a Filipino community that frowns on homosexuality. It's best to keep his head down, get good grades, and stay out of trouble.

But when Bobby is unwillingly outed in a terrible way, he no longer has the luxury of being invisible. A vicious encounter has him scrambling for a new way to survive--by fighting back. Bobby is inspired by champion Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao to take up boxing and challenge his tormentor. But when Pacquiao publicly declares his stance against queer people, Bobby's faith--in his hero and in himself--is shaken to the core.

A VULGAR GENIUSES BOOK AWARD WINNER
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