This is a softcover book, The Umbrella Country by Bino A. Realuyo (1999) from Ballantine Books. "In the tempestuous landscape of the Philippines, a boy comes of age in the shadow of family secrets." Book includes a Reader's Circle discussion guide. Here's a synopsis from the publisher: "'Certain things are better kept than said... But certain things you have to find out now...' On the tumultuous streets of Manila, where the earth is as brown as a tamarind leaf and the pungent smells of vinegar and mashed peppers fill the air, where seasons shift between scorching sun and torrential rain, eleven-year-old Gringo strives to make sense of his family and a world that is growing increasingly harsher before his young eyes. There is Gringo's older brother, Pipo, wise beyond his years, a flamboyant, defiant youth and the three-time winner of the sequined Miss Unibers contest; Daddy Groovie, whiling away his days with other hang-about men, out of work and wilting like a guava, clinging to the hope of someday joining his sister in Nuyork; Gringo's mother, Estrella, moving through their ramshackle home, holding her emotions tight as a fist, which she often clenches in anger after curfew covers the neighborhood in a burst of dark; and Ninang Rola, wise godmother of words, who confides in Gringo a shocking secret from the past - and sets the stage for the profound events to come, in which no one will remain untouched by the jagged pieces of a shattered dream. As Gringo learns; shame is passed down through generations, but so is the life-changing power of blood ties and enduring love. In this lush, richly poetic novel of grinding hardship and resilient triumph, of selfless sacrifice and searing revelation, Bino A. Realuyo brings the teeming world of 1970s Manila brilliantly to life. While mapping a young boy's awakening to adulthood in dazzling often unexpected ways, The Umbrella Country subtly works sweet magic." Book is in excellent condition. No writing in it, pages are clean and binding is tight. Asking $3.00 obo. Everything I have listed for sale is "or best offer", so feel free to make an offer. ~~~~~ ALL ITEMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL PICKUP. I sell a huge variety of stuff to supplement my income and help me put the last of my kids through college. Some items come from flea markets or estate sales, and some come from around our home, but many items come to me from my extended family of hardcore hoarders. So, the variety really can be vast and unpredictable. Please check back often, because you really never know what I will have from one day to the next! Thanks for visiting and have a great day!