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Chasing Pacquiao

2 May, 2023

A young man is adjusting the hood of his read sweatshirt. Behind him, there are images of him boxing, riding a bike, embracing another person and graffiti on a locker and a young person with headphones on who is reading a book. All of the images look like they were one whole image once, but have been shattered into pieces that have shifted slightly away from each other. Chasing Pacquiao by Rod Pulido
Viking Books for Young Readers

Self preservation. That’s Bobby’s motto for surviving his notoriously violent high school unscathed. Being out and queer would put an unavoidable target on his back, especially in a Filipino community that frowns on homosexuality. It’s best to keep his head down, get good grades, and stay out of trouble.

But when Bobby is unwillingly outed in a terrible way, he no longer has the luxury of being invisible. A vicious encounter has him scrambling for a new way to survive–by fighting back. Bobby is inspired by champion Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao to take up boxing and challenge his tormentor. Then Pacquiao publicly declares his stance against queer people, and Bobby’s faith–in his hero and in himself–is shaken to the core.

A powerful and unflinching debut that will both shatter and uplift hearts with every read. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

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2 May, 2023
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