A coming-of-age tale of a young Dominican American boy facing a grave loss and a feathered phantom
Between the looming buildings of Brooklyn, a young Dominican American boy only ever called mijo by his family has just lost his father to brain cancer. In the wake of his grief, he begins to see his deceased father take the form of a pigeon and ghost, acting as protector and advisor in moments of duress and confusion. Determined to find out the truth behind his father’s appearances, he sets out on the streets of Brooklyn with his outspoken friend Naño, and in the hills of the Dominican Republic with his cousin Matias, in search of answers, only to discover more ghostly apparitions and inexplicable occurrences. In a world of lost things and in-betweens, the grief-stricken son must choose whether he can bear to let go of his father or accept the consequences of what we let haunt us.
"Humanity shines through in this work that is notable for its cast of memorable, well-wrought characters. The pages sing with fresh, lyrical prose; a must-read." —Kirkus, starred review
"Bless Me, Papi is the tender, courageous story of one Dominican American boy grappling with the death of his father and trying to find a way to live in the in-between: between Brooklyn and DR, boyhood and manhood, life and death, his grief and his hope for the future. Sharply observed and totally transporting, this novel brings to life the Dominican Republic, East New York, and the ghosts and spirits that haunt both places. This is an unforgettable story of family, coming of age, and what it means to carry our loved ones with us even as we let them go." —Naima Coster, New York Times bestselling author of What's Mine and Yours
