Saints of the Household

March 1, 2023
Grades 9-12 After beating up the school's soccer star for assaulting their cousin, brothers Jay and Max are suspended from school and assigned to mandatory counseling. Unbeknownst to everyone outside their household, this act of violence wasn't an isolated affair. They and their mother have learned to live under the threat of their father's rage, stoked by tough economic conditions and alcohol abuse. As the brothers deal with their father's legacy, they must consider how their relationships with their parents, community, and, most important, each other have inexorably changed. Though sparked by an incident of violence, the story itself is a quiet, soulful exploration of how young men process the often-stark realities they live in. The character notes are subtle and nuanced, with dual POVs that reflect the brothers' outlooks--grounded Jay in thoughtful prose vignettes and artistic Max in emotionally charged verse. The brothers' Bribri (Indigenous Costa Rican) heritage is showcased in the book (Tison is also Bribri), offering tradition as a way for Jay to quell the anger he harbors inside himself. A thoughtful, solid debut.

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Starred review from March 1, 2023

Gr 8 Up-A heartrending, contemporary debut novel about the repercussions of trauma and the healing power of family and art. Bribri American brothers Jay and Max (who are Indigenous Costa Rican) are reeling from the act of physical violence they perpetrated against the town's beloved soccer star. When they witnessed Luca stepping angrily toward their cousin Nicole and forcefully grabbing her arm in the Minnesota woods, the brothers instinctively beat him up. They've experienced physical abuse at the hands of their father and witnessed him doing the same to their mother. Max finds refuge in his art and a budding romance, while Jay burrows deeply into himself, occasionally finding respite in Nicole and his grandfather, who shares his love of reading and nature. However, the brothers become estranged. The chapters in this ruminative, dual perspective work are short. Jay's are written in prose vignettes; Max's are done in spare free verse. Tison's (Bribri) masterly economy of language-every word and even punctuation mark is chosen for a specific purpose-presents this compelling story of a family smashed to pieces by violence. The novel searingly depicts PTSD's strong hold-how every aspect of life is dictated by the fear of where the next fist is going to land, and how living so deeply in that circle of pain permeates every aspect of one's identity. Their problems aren't solved, but the siblings find peace in their small victories. Nicole is Anishinaabe, and Luca has some Mexican heritage. VERDICT Violence can be inherited but so can love and forgiveness. This vulnerable and magnetic tale of brotherhood belongs on every shelf.-Shelley M. Diaz

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Starred review from January 15, 2023
Haunted by the specter of violence, two Bribri American brothers contend with their hang-ups and each other as their senior year of high school concludes. Two weeks have passed since the incident in the Minnesotan woods when Indigenous Costa Rican brothers Jay and Max brutally beat up Luca, the school's star soccer player, in defense of their cousin Nicole. The brothers are now social pariahs among their peers, enduring counseling sessions to get their lives back on track. At home, daily life remains the same under their father's brutal hand, leading them to take shifts to ensure that their mother isn't left unprotected. A rift soon festers between the brothers, who are only 11 months apart in age. Book-smart Jay rebuilds his friendship with Nicole, keeps a cautious eye on Luca, and tries to hold himself together for his mom, all to the detriment of his homework. Meanwhile, Max remains dedicated to securing a spot at his dream art school and embarking on a secret relationship with classmate Melody, consciously trying to avoid Jay's dragging him down or problems at home from stunting the rest of his life. In this striking, assured debut exhibiting a measured pace and delicate writing, Tison (Bribri) probes the ties of adolescent brotherhood and ways the effects of violence can stall self-directed growth. The author peels apart each brother's bruised psyche by ingeniously rotating among Jay's tense vignettes, Max's wistful verses, and Bribri cultural elements to underscore their anguished journey to reconciliation. Remarkably compelling. (Fiction. 14-18)

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