Reviewed by @aglassofread
Sometimes life bombards you with your responsibilities, tasks, family commitments all at once, and you have to put reading on pause lol. After a few weeks of juggling life, I’ve been able to press play on the things I enjoy the most and devour a few books.
Last month I was sent a copy of Tonga Victoria’s debut novel, ‘Hyphen American’ to read, which I was so excited about. Pasifika people are gifted storytellers and have been for centuries. They are experts in this craft and not just through speaking but through dance, food, art, and writing. Tonga Victoria demonstrates how naturally gifted she is at writing in this debut novel.
Hyphen American is a coming of age story wrapped in Polynesian culture, heritage and family. The protagonist, Sam Kelly, receives a key for her 21st birthday; one that has been hidden within Tongan Creation Story. All the while, F.B.I Agent Junior Cortez plunges into a world of espionage, capitalism, and government secrets.
The story begins with F.B.I Agent, Junior Cortez, who is in Ireland for a mission, then it moves to the perspective of Sam Kelly who is in California. Tonga Victoria has structured the book so that the story alternates between Cortez and Kelly and is written in the 3rd and 1st person. In addition, it is set across different locations around the world, and I can really appreciate how well the author has executed this. I recently read a novel at the beginning of the year that was told in alternating timelines which was so difficult to follow because I found myself backtracking the pages until I could make sense of the plot. Hyphen American is well crafted in this sense because while it is told through different perspectives in different settings, it is still captivating and intertwines the separate stories so seamlessly in the lead up to the end of book 1 in this series. This really is a testament to the author’s storytelling abilities, because when you read a book that is a page-turner and difficult to close, you know you’ve found a “good read” or in this case a great read.
I love the fact that Tonga Victoria has represented Tongan and Polynesian culture within the narrative and highlighted some of the issues the Pacific Island community face in the US. Issues surrounding identity, stereotypes, maintaining and preserving culture are challenges that all, if not most, Pacific people face in Western countries and I am so excited for our people to read this book. It is modern, relatable, captivating and I encourage everyone, regardless of race, to order a copy and share this with their friends.
To visit Tonga Victoria’s website and purchase your copy click here.
You can follow her on instagram @officialhyphenamerican or @tongavictoria.
