The Philippine-American War of 1899 authentically comes to life in this vivid coming-of-age novel about the Bontoc community. Ten-year-old Samkad desperately wants to become a man, but when his village is invaded by Americans he realizes his culture and people are more important. There is hunting, fighting with spears and axes, sacrifices to ancestral spirits, headhunters, a long-lost brother, a village decimated by fire and the slaughtering of indigenous people. This mesmerizing and haunting story will never leave you.

Author lives in London.

Great Britain. Originally published in English by David Fickling Books/ Scholastic in 2018/ 2019.