Excel seems like a normal Philippino-American teenager but he's hiding a secret. He and his mother are "tago ng tago": "hiding and hiding." They are undocumented, which means that, despite his best efforts, he will never be a "normal" American teenager. Unable to forgive his mother for the life she has forced him into, Excel escapes to the remote desert town of Hello City to live freely among the drifters, old hippies, and washed-up techies. But a disastrous misstep forces him back into his mother's house where he must reconcile with the choices she made for his protection, both good and bad.

This was a fine book but it just didn't capture me. It started off great, with a great premise, the opening scene created a sense of intrigue and was followed by a well-timed flashback with got me just the right level of investment in the characters. But then the pacing fell away and so did my interest. 

This novel has a lot going for it and it's one that I feel will get lots of rave reviews because Tenorio explores so new theme from innovative angles. I love Excel's mum, Maxima, a fiesty but tiny fighting master with a short-lived career as a Philippino movie star. The tension between herself and Excel that permeates their whole relationship because of their status as undocumented residents was very well crafted and explored. At times I was mad at Excel for not appreciating his mother but I was also forced to wonder, as Maxima does herself, if it was worth it?

The characterisation was great and the development of Excel and Maxima was at times painful as the reading experienced forced me to enter into their missteps with them. I liked that this is a kind of narrative I haven't read much of and I love that this is a voice in my reading. Plus, it's an own voices book. But there was just something that didn't quite gel with me on the pacing, but that might not be a problem for other readers.