Parts of Annabelle Tometich’s story of growing up in Fort Myers, FL, the daughter of a Filipino mom and white dad, are so unbelievable they must be true. Written by a veteran journalist, food critic, and writer, The Mango Treeis incredibly entertaining and compellingly readable. The book begins with Tometich receiving a collect call from an inmate at the county jail who is, of course, her mother. From there, the book goes back to tell the story of Tometich’s childhood, and we learn about the undying family loyalty of her mother, her father’s mental health struggles, and the very real times when Tometich not only had to parent herself but her siblings. This family saga is told with unflinching candor. Bravo!
The Mango Tree by Annabelle Tometich, (List Price: $30, Little, Brown and Company, 9780316540322, April 2024)
Reviewed by Rachel Watkins, Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia