Title: Salingkit: A 1986 Diary
Writer: Cyan Abad-Jugo
Publisher: Anvil Publishing, Inc.
Place of Publication: Manila, Philippines
Date of Publication: 2012
Award/s received: Finalist - Filipino Readers' Choice Awards 2013
No. of Pages: 140
Recommended for ages: 12-17 years old
Type: Historical Fiction
Remarks: This Y.A novel features the diary and the experiences of Kitty Eugenio during the time of
Martial Law and after it. Left by her mother to go to another country, Kitty lives with her cousin Kuya
Alan, and his family. Relating Depeche Mode songs to the current events that time, this story gives us a
glimpse on how the People Power Revolution looked like through the eyes of a teenager. The summary of events that the author gave in the front part of the book was a really helpful refresher of the things that transpired back then. Reading about our history from a book that was not a "history book" really made everything more personal. Also, I like the character development of Kitty because at first, she was kind of apathetic but then as the story progressed, I saw how she was able to take part in the events in her own way. One thing I didn't really like was the bands and songs used because I can't really relate to them, but I saw in the story how important songs are because we can use it as a form of expression of what we feel.
Title: Number the Stars
Writer: Lois Lowry
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Children's Books
Place of Publication: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Date of Publication: 1989
Award/s received: Newbery Medal and Honors
No. of Pages: 137
Recommended for ages: 9-12 years old
Type: Historical Fiction
Remarks: Number the Stars is set during the World War 2. It featured the life of Annemarie Johansen, a ten-year-old girl who lived in Copenhagen with her family. I first read this book when I was in 4th grade, as a requirement for our book report but I didn't enjoy it that much and reading it became a drag. Re-reading it at a time not that cramped made me appreciate the story. The main thing that stuck to me the most from this novel, aside from the bravery of the children, is the quote that it's much easier to be brave when we don't know anything. When we don't know anything, we won't be forced to lie about what we are being asked about.
Title: Woman in a Frame
Writer: Raissa Rivera Falgui
Publisher: Adarna House, Inc.
Place of Publication: Quezon City, Philippines
Date of Publication: 2014
Award/s received: Won the Novel in English category of the 2nd Filipino Readers’ Choice Awards (2013)
No. of Pages: 100
Recommended for ages: 13 years old and above
Type: Historical Fiction
Remarks: This story centers in the life of Sining Labrado, an artist who saw a painting of a young woman
in a frame. The woman turned out to be named Marcela Simbulan, who lived during the colonial era in
the Philippines. I'm not entirely sure why, but even before reading the book, the story got my interest
because of the book cover. It gave off a vibe of mystery that got me curious. I liked how the book was able to touch on a variety of topics like the role of women during the Spanish revolution, art, and a whole lot more. Over-all, I can say that this book is a must-read.