American Son: a novel in Asian American Writer's Workshop's The Margins

Many thanks to Laurel Flores Fantauzzo, best-selling author, for writing about AMERICAN SON in the Asian American Writers Workshop magazine, the Margins. Check it out: https://aaww.org/seven-writers-on-the-ya-fiction-that-has-shaped-their-work/

“We each have an origin book that resonates; a bell we hear for the first time, ringing out that literature recognizes you, finally. I had never read characters with a white father and a Filipina mother, or a narrative that recognized the threat and isolation I felt outside Los Angeles.

In 1993, teenager Gabe lives in the shadow of his older brother, Tomas, who fashions himself as a Mexican-American outlaw training attack dogs. Their mother has rejected the Philippines and its culture, and suffers racism in LA. Their uncle wants the boys to live in the Philippines under his authoritarian fist. The scenes and gestures of the book will live in me for the rest of my life—Gabe’s recognition of Tomas’ vulnerability. Tomas stepping on Gabe’s face. Gabe’s bizarre encounter with a white truck driver. And Gabe’s betrayal of his mother.

As I’ve grown older, my questions have deepened—did Ika reject the Philippines out of some unstated trauma? How did Gabe interpret his own performance of gender? And—what if he had been sent to the Philippines? The final question animated my own YA novel, which does send an anxiety-wrecked, queer FilAm to Metro Manila. Ascalon Roley led the way 20 years ago, and for that I am forever grateful.”

—Laurel Flores Fantauzzo