Love Can’t Feed You

DEBUT Adding to the growing ranks of diasporic Filipino literature is this first novel from playwright Sy, who was born in the Philippines and lives in Brooklyn. When 17-year-old Queenie, her 10-year-old brother, and their Chinese father travel from Manila to New York to reunite with their Filipino mother after five years, it doesn’t take long for Queenie see that life in the U.S. isn’t exactly how she imagined it. Queenie’s dreams of starting a new life and attending college are waylaid when her apathetic and materialistic mother informs her that first she needs to work to help support her family. With the support of her sole friend, Yan, whom she met at the library, Queenie’s journey of survival and self-discovery is a harrowing one as her immediate family unit unravels before her eyes. Strong characterizations and heartfelt emotions are well depicted in this engrossing coming-of-age story, full of surprising narratives.