Thank you to Flatiron Books for the gifted ARC

Set in the 1950s, Victor Chin’s life is upended after being diagnosed with Hansen’s disease at 15. He’s forced to move away from his family in New York City to a federal institution for patients in Carville, Louisiana. Together with his fellow residents, Victor experiences love, friendship, jealousy, joy, and his passion for music in this coming-of-age story.

ARMADILLOS covers topics of fractured families, the life of Chinese immigrants, and entrenched racism that impacts every aspect of one’s life. Since the focus is on Victor’s experience living in the leprosarium and figuring out life with other teenagers, the book leans more toward YA than most coming-of-age novels.

There are also shifting POVs between Victor’s family members. I thought these are the weaker aspects of ARMADILLOS as they are more slice-of-life musings, and the readers don’t get a full picture of the supporting characters.

ARMADILLOS is a solid debut inspired by the story of Chin-Tanner’s father. It explores an important historical aspect of Hansen’s disease and the life-saving power of music.