A boy and a girl in the Philippine jungle must confront what coming of age will mean to their friendship made even more
complicated when Americans invade their country.
Samkad lives deep in the Philippine jungle, and has never encountered anyone from outside his own tribe before. He's about to become a man, and while he's desperate to grow up, he's worried that this will take him away from his best friend, Little Luki, who
isn't ready for the traditions and ceremonies of being a girl in her tribe.
But when a bad omen sends Samkad's life in another direction, he discovers the brother he never knew he had. A brother who
tells him of a people called 'Americans'. A people who are bringing war, and destruction right to their home...
A coming-of-age story set at the end of the 19th century in a remote village in the Philippines, this is a story about growing up,
discovering yourself, and the impact of colonialism on native peoples and their lives.
Andi is short. And she has lots of wishes. She wishes she could play on the school basketball team, she wishes for her own bedroom, but most of all she wishes that her long-lost half-brother, Bernardo, could come and live in London where he belongs.
Then Andi's biggest wish comes true and she's minutes away from becoming someone's little sister. As she waits anxiously for Bernardo to arrive from the Philippines, she hopes he'll turn out to be tall and just as crazy as she is about basketball. When he finally arrives, he's tall all right. Eight feet tall, in fact - plagued by condition called Gigantism and troubled by secrets that he believes led to his phenomenal growth.
In a novel packed with quirkiness and humor, Gourlay explores a touching sibling relationship and the clash of two very different cultures.From the Hardcover edition.