Love, Dance, and Egg Rolls
Jason Tanamor
YA Contemporary
288 pages, Paperback
Published May 10, 2022, Ooligan Press
Paper: $18
Ebook: $6.49
About the Book:
Filipino folk dancing is a huge
part of Jamie's life, but so is high school and his two best friends. When
these two worlds collide, Jamie must decide who he truly wants to be.
Jamie Santiago is just an
ordinary high school teenager—he has a huge crush on a girl from school, he
watches a ton of sitcoms, and he is constantly trying to keep his dad from
feeding egg rolls to his white friends. Not to mention he also aspires to be the
next Tinikling folk dance master. Okay, maybe he’s not so ordinary.
It's hard enough balancing the demands of high school, but when the last ever Asian Folk Festival falls on the same day as Homecoming, it feels like Jamie's world comes crashing down. He is forced to make an important decision between honoring his heritage and salvaging what's left of his social life. With a racist bully at school and rising protests in Portland, Jamie sometimes wonders if it would be easier to forget his Filipino side entirely instead of trying to embrace it.
It's hard enough balancing the demands of high school, but when the last ever Asian Folk Festival falls on the same day as Homecoming, it feels like Jamie's world comes crashing down. He is forced to make an important decision between honoring his heritage and salvaging what's left of his social life. With a racist bully at school and rising protests in Portland, Jamie sometimes wonders if it would be easier to forget his Filipino side entirely instead of trying to embrace it.
[Play the catchy sitcom music]
[Cue the laugh track to numb the
serious stuff]
If only life were so perfect.
Tensions will rise in Love, Dance & Egg Rolls as Jamie decides whether it's more important to remain hidden in plain sight or step directly into the spotlight. Jamie will not only come face-to-face with a bully, but also with this thing called cultural identity.
My Review:
This book is a gem on many
levels.
America is an uneasy melting pot,
stirred by influencers from the top up who chose divisive means to bully and
harass. They don’t support a union, and the animosity has always trickled down
to those who celebrate their heritage within the greater American society.
In Oregon, Filipinos are one
segment of a varied group of Asian Americans who bond through celebrating their
heritage in sharing food and traditions of dress and storytelling and dance. Our
hero, Jamie, is a first-generation highschooler, caught between embracing and
being embarrassed by his racial identity. He’s a typical young man, hanging out
with friends, wondering who he is, enduring flagrant bullying while discovering
the ups and downs of first love. He’s also very good at his cultural dances,
practicing with his greater family for friendly competition at the community
center. But just like so many organizations today, participation is dying out,
and Jamie is facing the end of a very important part of his social life. Enter
one special young woman facing ostracism in her own world. Jamie faces choices
among friends and family, standing up for what he believes, and remaining true
to himself.
The story features many elements
that will resonate with readers, from comical asides and references to pop culture,
in learning how to see between the lines and vibes and real dilemmas of teens
in contemporary society. Highly recommended.
Named as one of the "5 Best
Modern Filipino Writers" by Pinas Global Newspaper, Tanamor enjoys writing
in different genres. He is the critically acclaimed author of the
supernatural/folklore novel Vampires of Portlandia and the YA #ownvoices
novel called Love, Dance & Egg Rolls.
Tanamor also spent a decade as an
entertainment writer and interviewer, interviewing the likes of author Chuck
Palahniuk (Fight Club); comedians Demetri Martin, Jim Breuer (SNL, Half Baked),
Aisha Tyler (Talk Soup, The Ghost Whisperer), Dane Cook, and Gabriel Iglesias;
musicians Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins), Ann Wilson (Heart), Taylor Momsen
(The Pretty Reckless and Gossip Girl), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Dave
Navarro (Jane's Addiction), and Henry Rollins (Black Flag); and baseball legend
Pete Rose.
He has covered everyone from
Steve Martin to Jerry Seinfeld and from Evanescence to President Obama.
Tanamor
is married, has one son, and has a family of fur children. He currently lives
and works in the Portland, Oregon area.
