Everything We Never Had (YA fiction)

     Randy Ribay's latest novel is by far his finest. Everything We Never Had is a rich and complex narrative built on the relationships of the four adolescent boys in a Filipino American family with their fathers and their historical circumstances. 

     In 1930 sixteen-year-old Francisco, newly arrived in California, is earning a living picking apples. He wants to send money home to help his family but can barely cover his own expenses. He misses his family and fears the mobs of whites that roam at night beating and sometimes killing Filipinos.

     In 1965 Emil (16) is going to school and working in his Aunt Carmen's cafe. He wants to be nothing like his father, Francisco, who has become a labor organizer. A fan of capitalism and rugged individualism, he's determined to climb the ladder to success.

     In 1983 Chris is at odds with his father, Emil, over football. He feels that it's the one thing he can do really well. But Emil sees it as a distraction from academics and pulls him off the team. 

     In 2020 as the pandemic is making itself known and Enzo is struggling to keep his anxiety under control Chris announces that Emil is coming to live with them. Enzo is not happy about giving up his room for an indefinite period of time. And, knowing about their adversarial relationship, he wonders if his father and grandfather can live under the same roof without one killing the other. 

     It's no wonder Ribay could create such engaging characters and relationships. In his thanks to his son he says, "Every day you make me think deeply about the kind of father and human I want to be, a process that was the driving force behind this narrative."

On a purrrsonal note, the Saturday after Halloween was super fun 😁. Catherine and went to Culturefest and the Union Take Over, both on campus. The latter was an alcohol 🍸 free Halloween celebration. The 2nd floor of the Union was decorated super spooky. There were so many fun activities! I volunteered helping Gwyn in the boo basket room by telling people the rules. I got to fill my own basket with Halloween cat socks, squishies, a cute little ghost, and, of course, candy. SO MUCH FUN!!!

A great big shout out goes out to all who participated. 

Jules Hathaway 

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