I Am Joey

When I Am Joey begins with one line that literally left my mouth hanging open - "I am made for habits" Joey states as regards her life at the convent that she traded for the social whirlwind of Manila. This one sentence embodies the whole tension of this novel; duty vs. desire, sacrifice vs. survival - and the author doesn't let you lose sight of that fact. The writing has texture (and I love how the Tagalog feels woven in as opposed to just being there), and Joey's voice is so sharp in both the loud and quiet moments of the domestic scenes. If I have any criticism of the book at all, its only the first few pages are somewhat heavy-handed about using dialogue to tell historical context. But what a fantastic debut based on such an show more amazing true story. show less

I Am Joey by R Ghrist is the author's historical fiction debut, telling the remarkable story of Josefina "Joey" Guerrero, a Filipina woman living in Manila during World War II. As the Japanese occupation of the Philippines begins, Joey receives a devastating diagnosis that separates her from her family. Rather than surrendering to despair, she joins the underground resistance and becomes a spy for the Americans under the code name Billy Ferrer.

One of the aspects I appreciated most about this novel is that it is largely told from the perspective of Filipino civilians and resistance fighters. This viewpoint makes the story feel authentic and deeply personal, bringing the realities of war to life in a way that is both moving and show more memorable.

Joey's journey is inspiring. She transforms hardship and suffering into courage, determination, and resilience. Her bravery ultimately earns her the Medal of Freedom with Silver Palm, one of the highest civilian honors awarded by the United States to non-Americans for wartime service.

This is an amazing and inspiring page-turner that shines a light on a lesser-known war hero and an important chapter of history. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy historical fiction and stories of extraordinary courage. show less

"It has been said that Filipinos are like bamboo. Strong yet flexible. Not easily broken. Bending with the wind, they can survive the fiercest of nature’s tropical storms."
I am Joey tells the historical, fictionalized story of Josefina Guerrero, a Filipina spy for the Americans during WWII in the Philippines. I had never heard her story. She was able to succeed in her mission because of her unique circumstance. I won’t spoil what it was, since I loved that I was surprised while reading. The novel walks you through her trials, her successes, and the heartbreaks she endured throughout her life. The book also mentions the Bataan Death March, which stood out to me because I’ve heard about it for years, especially seeing memorial show more rucks on the different bases I’ve worked on. This is a story of resilience, sacrifice, and courage. Everyone needs to read this book to learn about another hero that the history books miss. show less

I found it hard to start with being an e-book as I could not easily refer to the vocabulary list.
Once I got into the book I could not put it down.
At the start I wondered if Joey was being groomed but then the love between Rene and Joey shone through.
Then it all collapsed.
What a life she had.
The book was well written and made me feel I was in Manilla with her, seeing what she saw, feeling what she felt.
This is a side of the war that is not so readily known, and I thank the author for putting it on "paper".