This Is Not a Personal Statement

To kick off Filipino American History Month, we’re giving away a copy of Tracy Badua’s YA novel THIS IS NOT A PERSONAL STATEMENT! Head over to this Instagram post to enter. The giveaway is open to US residents and ends on October 4, 2023.

After getting rejected from her dream college, a teen forges her own acceptance and commits to living a lie: breaking into dorm rooms, dodging security, crashing classes, and figuring out how to actually get in next semester before she’s caught. Admission meets American Panda in this propulsive, poignant young adult contemporary novel perfect for fans of Mary H.K. Choi!

From publisher HarperCollins: At sixteen, Perla is the youngest graduating senior of the hypercompetitive Monte Verde High. Praised—and not-so-quietly bashed—as “Perfect Perlie Perez,” Perla knows all the late nights, social isolation, and crushing stress will be worth it when she gets into the college of her (and her parents’) dreams: Delmont University. 

Then Perla doesn’t get in, and her meticulously planned future shatters. In a panic, she forges her own acceptance letter, and next thing she knows, she’s heading to Delmont for real, acceptance or not. Soon, Perla is breaking into dorm rooms, crashing classes, and dodging questions from new friends about her lack of a student ID. Her plan? Gather on-the-ground intel to beef up her application and reapply spring semester before she’s caught.  

But as her guilty conscience grows and campus security looms large, Perla starts to wonder if her plan will really succeed—and if this dream she’s worked for her entire life is something she even wants. 

From rising star Tracy Badua comes a gripping, incisive tale of acceptance, self-discovery, and the infinite possibilities that await when we embrace our imperfections. 

Be sure to check out Tracy’s other books Freddie vs. the Family Curse and The Takeout!

Dancing Hands

When Sam sees her new neighbors communicating with their hands, moving “as if to music,” she’s intrigued.  Sam then meets her neighbor Mai, who teaches Sam’s hands to dance.  Together, the pair talk about the world around them, and share each other’s dreams, all through Filipino Sign Language.  With sweet, whimsical illustrations, this is a lovely tale about friendship that transcends language barriers.

Dancing Hands | Written by Joanna Que & Charina Marquez | Illustrated by Fran Alvarez | Chronicle Books

Originally published in the Philippines in collaboration with Room to Read.

Lolo's Sari-sari Store

Happy book birthday to Lolo’s Sari-sari Store!

From author Sophia N. Lee — “Lolo's Sari-sari Store is out in the world today! It's a story written by me and illustrated by Christine Almeda.

I hope you love this book about making a home and finding yourself in new places, choosing kindness and building community, and celebrating who you are, wherever in the world you find yourself. It carries all the stories I've learned from our own family's sari-sari stores over the years.

Though it's told from a distinctly Filipino lens, I hope you see it as a book for everyone, everywhere. May we always find a good variety of ways to be kind to each other, just as Lolo does in the book.

Thank you to everyone who helped bring this book to life!”

From illustrator Christine Almeda — “Happy book birthday to LOLO'S SARI -SARI STORE written by the wonderful Sophia N. Lee. This is my first illustrated picture book, and I'm so grateful for the story Sophia wrote and for the great team of people who made this book possible!”

📷 Photos by Christine Almeda