Brown Boy Nowhere is a story of a Filipino-American teen who is forced to move away from the beachfront city he calls home into a rural, obstinate town thousands of miles away from everything he knows.
Angelo Rivera is a sixteen-year-old Filipino-American teen from San Diego, California. Skateboarding, hitting the beach, hanging with his friends and his girlfriend, Amanda, are his entire world; and not to mention the biggest skateboarding competition in California is coming his way. However, his life is turned upside down when him and his parents move to Ocean Pointe, Texas: a tiny little town with that is in the middle of nowhere. Now flipping burgers at his parents’ new restaurant, dealing with being the only Asian kid in a school with only white kids around, and adjusting to his new identity as “brown boy”, it seems Angelo’s life has taken a turn for the worst.
However, Angelo has come to realise that he is not the lone outcast in Ocean Pointe. He befriends Kirsten, the cute ex-cheerleader who is passionate about graffiti art, and Larry, the punctual yet concealed band geek who share similar stories of being excluded from all things considered “familiar”. These three might be against the grain of this closeminded town, but they are sure this won’t stop them from living the lives hey desire.
While managing shifts at work, avoiding problematic (and racist) bullies, and wishing to go back home, Angelo comes to realise that Nowhere can become Somewhere after all.
As a Filipino-American myself, reading Brown Boy Nowhere was a relatable and eye-opening experience. It was an emotional read and addressed so many important topics that we as humans face today. Angelo is a character who embodies not just Filipino-Americans, but all other Asian Americans as well. Racism was an ongoing theme throughout this book. The bullies, of course, were nonetheless high school jocks who were the big boys on campus who are willing to do anything to grab the attention of anyone, even if it means destroying the new guy in town. Hearing the term, “Brown Boy” was both strong and quite triggering at the same. This term alone was relatable to me since Filipinos are often recognised for their darker skin tones, but triggering because of its outstanding racial prevalence.
As for plot, it was quite predictable and the main reason this book is rated as it is. The story of the main character moving from a big city to a small town trying to adjust to their new life as an outsider was nothing new. However, it was refreshing to see that the protagonist was a Southeast Asian teen, and this is something that is not seen too often throughout literature. Diversity is another unique aspect to address. Ocean Pointe is a town that is completely okay with being bland and one in the same all the time. When Angelo and his parents arrive, the town slowly but surely opens their minds to change and cultural differences. This was fascinating to read about because even the smallest, most bland places can have the potential to be understanding and compassionate for one’s life situations.
The biggest takeaway I had from was the unique backgrounds the characters have and how they tied the novel together. Angelo is the new kid in town shaking up the normalcy everyone is used to. Kirsten is the girl determined to chase her dreams as an artist regardless of what anybody thinks, and Larry is both the quiet and enthusiastic kid who is willing to meet new people and learn something new along the way. Angelo’s parents were so much fun to read about and give readers a deeper understanding of Filipino culture and family customs. Hospitality and a friendly demeanour to all are just two of the several traits you will read about throughout this story.
Brown Boy Nowhere was a unique and fun novel to read. Although with a predictable plot and being a POC YA novel in its most basic sense, this story addresses family dynamics, multicultural understandings between different races and ethnicities, and more mature topics such as racism, xenophobia, and much more. You also witness the understanding and middle ground between those characters that are outsiders and those doing everything they can to fit in. As for ethnic and cultural diversity, and characters addressing both serious and no so serious issues, this a book you don’t want to miss out on this summer!
Brown Boy Nowhere is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
Welcome to Nowhere, kid. Life starts here.
What’s the problem? Sixteen-year-old Filipino American Angelo Rivera will tell you flat out. Life sucks. He’s been uprooted from his San Diego home to a boring landlocked town in the middle of nowhere. Behind him, ocean waves, his girlfriend, and the biggest skateboarding competition on the California coast. Ahead, flipping burgers at his parents’ new diner and, as the only Asian in his all-white school, being trolled as “brown boy” by small-minded, thick-necked jocks.
Resigned to being an outcast, Angelo isn’t alone. Kirsten, a crushable ex-cheerleader and graffiti artist, and Larry, a self-proclaimed invisible band geek, recognize a fellow outsider. Soon enough, Angelo finds himself the leader of their group of misfits. They may be low on the high school food chain, but they’re determined to hold their own.
Between shifts at the diner, dodging bullies, and wishing for home, Angelo discovers this might not be nowhere after all. Sharing it can turn it into somewhere in a heartbeat.
