Grace Talusan Livres

Born in the Philippines, young Grace Talusan moves with her family to a New England suburb in the 1970s, where she faces racism as one of the few children of color. At home, she grapples with confusion and fear from her grandfather's nightly visits, leading her to build a protective wall of silence that mirrors her Catholic Filipino family's larger silence. As a teenager, she discovers her family's precarious legal status in the U.S. and learns that family must come first. The abuse and trauma she endures as a child profoundly impact her relationships, mental health, and body image. Talusan later uncovers a family history marked by violence and cancer, leading her in her thirties to decide on preventive surgeries to remove her breasts and ovaries. Despite these challenges, she finds love and success as a teacher. On a fellowship, she and her husband return to the Philippines, where she revisits her ancestral home and seeks to reclaim a lost piece of herself. Not all family legacies are destructive; from her parents, she learns the power of storytelling. This debut memoir reflects her determination and resilience, giving voice to unspeakable experiences and illuminating hope amidst darkness.