Patron Saints of Nothing

By Randy Ribay

A teen seeks the truth behind his cousin's murder in a war-torn land.

4.2/5 Goodreads · 20,981 ratings

352 pages

$12.99Save 4%

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Bookroo's summary

Jay Reguero's plans for a carefree senior year shatter when he learns of his cousin Jun's murder in the Philippines. Determined to uncover the truth, Jay embarks on a journey that forces him to confront family secrets and his own role in the tragedy. As he delves deeper, Jay must navigate the dangerous waters of a country embroiled in a brutal war on drugs, all while grappling with his identity and the bonds of faith and family. Will he find the answers he seeks, or will the truth prove too devastating?

From the publisher

A NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST Brilliant, honest, and equal parts heartbreaking and soul-healing. –Laurie Halse Anderson, author of SHOUT A singular voice in the world of literature. –Jason Reynolds, author of Long Way Down A powerful coming-of-age story about grief, guilt, and the risks a Filipino-American teenager takes to uncover the truth about his cousin’s murder. Jay Reguero plans to spend the last semester of his senior year playing video games before heading to the University of Michigan in the fall. But when he discovers that his Filipino cousin Jun was murdered as part of President Duterte’s war on drugs, and no one in the family wants to talk about what happened, Jay travels to the Philippines to find out the real story. Hoping to uncover more about Jun and the events that led to his death, Jay is forced to reckon with the many sides of his cousin before he can face the whole horrible truth – and the part he played in it. As gripping as it is lyrical, Patron Saints of Nothing is a page-turning portrayal of the struggle to reconcile faith, family, and immigrant identity.