Publishers Weekly
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L.A. high schooler Bobby Agbayani keeps his romantic relationship with fellow comics enthusiast Bran secret from their closed-minded classmates. Despite Bobby’s attempts to remain invisible, however, resident bully Rex targets him when Bobby is outed via graffiti on his locker. After enduring a brutal beating from Rex, Bobby endeavors to emulate his childhood hero, boxer Manny Pacquiao, and learn to defend himself. He gets a job at Jab Gym, a local boxing center, and trains under the gym’s owner, Luke. Bobby meanwhile navigates grief over his father’s death, contends with relationship troubles with Bran due to their socioeconomic differences, and suffers more cruel run-ins with Rex. And a homophobic public comment from Pacquiao further shakes Bobby’s confidence in himself. Bobby’s sincere narration expertly highlights issues of intolerance, financial disparity, the complicated feelings brought about by one’s heroes having harmful values, and Bobby’s inner turmoil around wanting to protect himself and exit the violent cycle he feels trapped in. Debut author Pulido presents a bighearted portrait of one queer teen’s desire to feel safe and seen, boosted by a warm and compassionate cast. Major characters are Filipino; there is racial diversity throughout. Ages 12–up. Agent: Jim McCarthy, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (May)

Horn Book
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

When Bobby Agbayani is forcibly outed as gay to his entire school, an onslaught of bullying ensues. Despite his tight-knit social support, Bobby wasn't fully ready to be out publicly, given the conservative Catholic values of some in his Filipino American community. After bullies beat him up and steal his late father's bicycle, Bobby decides to learn to defend himself ("self preservation" is his personal motto). He finds a job cleaning a grimy boxing gym, where he learns about the sport and about legend Manny Pacquiao...but then (real-life) homophobic comments from his idol are painful to reconcile. This ode to the queer Filipino American experience touches on the history of significant Filipino Americans and how they have influenced future generations. Pulido's seamless use of Tagalog, coupled with Bobby's occasional tanaga (traditional Indigenous Filipino poetry), adds another dimension to the book's examination of what it means to be Filipino American. Through Bobby's journey of naming his identity, the book explores what it means to grow up in as diverse a place as Los Angeles and still feel isolated, and grapples with heroes who reveal their flaws and complexity. (c) Copyright 2023. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Boxing becomes an attractive defense tactic against bullying for a queer Filipino teenager in Los Angeles. You’d better watch your back if you attend Westlake High, an especially tough place to be a gay teenager. When Bobby Agbayani is outed by graffitied hate speech on his locker, he becomes the target of relentless harassment by Rex and Eddie, two Filipino brothers, and their lackey, Jorge, who is Mexican. When a vicious beat down by the trio leaves Bobby badly injured and without his bike—a beloved gift from his deceased father—he takes up boxing to fight back. Inspired by his hero, world champion fighter Manny Pacquiao, Bobby trades custodial work for boxing lessons from Luke, the Jab Gym’s curmudgeonly yet generous Black owner. With the support of Rosie, his wisecracking Latina best friend, and Brandon, his loyal (and wealthy) Filipino boyfriend, Bobby persists through rigorous training while avoiding Rex and his goons at all costs, struggling through school, and ensuring that his hardworking single mother stays ignorant of his real-life drama. Even though the plot feels plodding at times, and readers may wish for a more nuanced resolution, Pulido addresses important themes of homophobia, socio-economic differences, and fallen heroes with a light hand. Bobby’s internal voice is especially strong, coming across authentically with a spot-on blend of candor and sarcasm in keeping with the geek culture he enjoys. A solid debut that explores coming-of-age topics with sensitivity. (Fiction. 13-18) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.