Tall Story

Rarely do I see kids' fiction featuring Filipino characters, so this was nice to discover. Andi lives in London with her mother and English father. Her older half-brother Bernardo has been living in the Philippines for years with their aunt and uncle until immigration papers can be processed. But the villagers of San Andres have ascribed a mythical status to Bernardo, after the story of giant Bernardo Carpio, and if he leaves they believe San Andres will no longer be safe from earthquakes. A nice combination of magical realism, myth and contemporary concerns. Basketball-loving Andi is particularly appealing, as is the developing connection between brother and sister.

This is a touching story about Andi, a thirteen-year-old British girl in London, and the arrival of her teenage half-brother from the Philippines. Bernardo was delayed there waiting for immigration papers to be processed. When he arrives in England, the family are surprised to find that he suffers from gigantism and is eight feet tall. The story addresses a couple of forms of prejudice. Andi is short yet loves to play basketball while the team at her school doesn't allow girls to play. In the background they must contend with constant stares at Nardo. There is a nice mythical twist generated by the people of his village in the Philippines who are convinced that he has some influence on earthquakes. This is intended for young adults but show more would also appeal to younger teens. It is a humorous and sensitive story, well-written by Filipino author Candy Gourlay. show less

Gourlay, C. (2011). Tall story. New York: Random House/David Fickling Books. 298 pp. ISBN: 978-0-385-75217-6. (Hardcover); $16.99.*

Bernardo is TALL, very tall, 8 feet tall. Andi wants to play basketball but Andi is not only short, but a girl as well. Bernardo is moving from the Philippines to London to be reunited with his mother and his half sister, Andi. Andi has wished for this and she knows Bernardo is tall. Andi has finally landed a spot on her school’s basketball team and she is hoping that her tall brother embraces basketball as firmly as she does. However, Bernardo’s arrival and his dubious health (on account of his gigantism), forces the family to move and Andi’s basketball dreams are dimming. Bernardo is truly happy with show more the thought of being reunited with his mother, but in San Andres, Bernardo is revered as a savior, like his giant namesake who saved the town long ago. Ever since Bernardo’s amazing growth spurt, which Bernardo believes are curses from witches, earthquakes have disappeared from the town, for reasons he can’t quite understand. And now he is moving away! Mixing tall tales with folklore and throwing in some witches and curses and mixing this with life in a small, superstitious Filipino town, and shaken with the big city sights of London, gives this book its very unusual and very unique personality. The magical realism allows Gourlay to broach topics like cultural apathy in a non-judgmental way: “Hundreds of Casualties in Massive Philippine Earthquake. But ‘hundreds’ are not people, are they? And blank faces on TV are not people either. I shook myself. Andi, I told myself sternly, don’t think about it. Don’t drive yourself crazy. Think about something else. Think about basketball.” (p. 249). Andi deals with sexism. Bernardo deals with society expectations (including the one that insists that all tall people play basketball). Bernardo does not speak English and knows nothing of the school culture. He endures the frustrations of not being able to communicate very well, even with Andi, to say nothing of the fact that his physical condition has caused all eight feet of him to come crashing to the ground. Despite these serious issues, the heart of the book is in its ethereal, upbeat tone. As we witness Bernardo and Andi bonding, we straighten ourselves, stand up tall, and cheer for this exceptional story that just may dig itself onto award lists. This book will be at home in middle school and high school libraries; I can even picture a few very bright elementary students loving this one too. show less

This is a small book about a big guy and his little sister.

When Andi finds out that her brother Bernardo is finally moving from the Philippines to live with her and her parents in London, she’s beyond excited. But his arrival leaves her unsure of what to think. For one, he’s tall. Not tall like her favorite basketball players – taller. Eight feet tall. And he has mysterious seizures that render him unconscious. His English is strange, he doesn’t seem to understand the way things work in London, and he definitely doesn’t fit in at school. Will Andi take the time to get to know her brother, to find out why he carries around such a load of guilt and how he feels about his size?

The chapters alternate between the narration of Andi show more and Bernardo, so you get both their perspectives. Just when Andi is on the verge of revealing a new bit of information or the outcome of a surprising plot twist, the chapter ends and picks up with Bernardo’s point of view. This helps the story unravel just a little bit at a time so that you’ll hardly be able to put it down until you’ve finished. show less

Amandolina (Andi) knows her life is in for a change when she learns that her half-brother Bernardo is moving from the Philippines to live with her and her parents in England. People have always said Bernardo is "tall" but at eight feet he towers over everyone - taller even than Andi's hero Michael Jordan. At his home in the Philippines, Bernardo's height is considered a mark of good fortune. Though he longs to reunite with his family, he fears leaving his superstitious neighbors behind.

Tall Story is a tale of family, friendship, wishes, and curses with a twist of folklore blended into a story of growing up. The book is told in alternating chapters by Andi and Bernardo and author Candy Gourlay does a remarkable job giving each character show more a unique perspective and voice. Though their situations are original they both face awkwardness and adjustments that any young adult can relate to but the heart of this story is a theme of love and family that will charm readers of any age. show less

Andi desperately hopes her long lost half-brother Bernardo will be as mad on basketball as she is. But when he steps off the plane from the Philippines, she cannot believe her eyes. She hasn't seen him for ten years, but even so, how did he get to be EIGHT FOOT TALL? An eight-foot tall boy who is about to crash into her life with his size 22 feet.
But Bernardo is not what he seems.
Bernardo is a hero, Bernardo works miracles, and Bernardo has an amazing story to tell.

This is an excellent book, for teens and older children, about a spunky British girl who loves basketball, and her extremely tall Filipino half-brother. They meet in their teens, when Bernardo goes to live with his family in England. He struggles with the alien environment, and gradually they learn what it is to be a family.

Amusing in places, thought-provoking, and sometimes moving. The book addresses issues such as sexism and superstition, and has a backstory cleverly woven together with the current events. Highly recommended to children or adults. Really four and a half stars.