PATRON SAINTS OF NOTHING
by Randy Ribay
Kokila Books
Finalist – Young Adult Fiction
2019 CYBILS Awards
The Book
Young Adult Fiction
Contemporary, Family, Mystery, Realistic Fiction, Social Justice
More than just a murder mystery, PATRON SAINTS OF NOTHING tells a poignant, powerful story about a Filipino-American teen who travels to the land of his birth to investigate the wrongful death of his cousin. With a vivid, unique setting, the novel explores not just an underrepresented country but also an issue (President Duterte’s aggressive and often violent war on drugs) that has been underexplored in both the media and popular fiction. Ultimately hopeful, PATRON SAINTS OF NOTHING is an eye-opening, thought-provoking novel about truth, identity, and justice that’s as timely as it is compelling.
                    
   
   
The Music
In the award-winning YA novel Patron Saints of Nothing, Jay Reguero ventures to visit his family in the Philippines and investigates his cousin Jun’s mysterious disappearance and death. Duterte’s war on drugs affects both Jay’s family in the novel and hundreds of Filipino families in real life. Each of the songs in this playlist is a social commentary and a call to action from Filipino artists who convey political messages through their music. Each song is a story of its own, describing harsh experiences, lost family members, violence, and the constant oppression that these artists have faced.
The Girl
Riya Fernando
Riya is thrilled to be able to combine two of her favorite things: books and music. She is an avid reader who can often be found with her nose in a murder mystery while listening to contemporary piano music, her favorite genre of piano music to listen to and play. She was introduced to CYBILS Awards through her mother, Category Chair and CYBILS Awards Board Member, who helped Riya cultivate her love for books. She hopes that others will love these playlists as much as she does!