Reuniting with Strangers
Winner of the Excellence in Arts and Culture Award, Golden Balangay Awards 2025
Toronto Book Awards 2024 Finalist
Longlisted for Canada Reads 2024
Silver Medal for Multicultural Fiction, Independent Publisher Book Awards
Best Books of 2023: CBC Books
Now available worldwide. Order your copy today!
When five-year-old Monolith is taken from the Philippines to live with his mother in Canada, he immediately lashes out. Unable or unwilling to speak, he attacks her and destroys his new home.
Everyone wants to know why—and everyone has a theory. But unlike the solid certainty his name suggests, the answer isn’t so simple.
From a cliffside town in the Tagaytay highlands of the Philippines, to the Filipino communities in the desert of Osoyoos, the Arctic world of Iqaluit, the suburbs of southern Ontario, Sarnia's Chemical Valley, Montréal’s Côte-des-Neiges, and Toronto’s Little Manila, Austria-Bonifacio takes readers into the kaleidoscope of the Filipino diaspora, uncovering the displacement, estrangement, resilience and healing that happen behind closed doors.
As each chapter unfolds, truths are revealed in humorous, joyful, devastating and surprising ways: through an incisive caregiver's instruction manual, a custody battle over texts and e-mails, a disarmingly direct self-help guide, a series of desperate résumés, a kundiman songbook, and more.
Monolith appears again and again, as a misbehaving boy in a store, the subject of town gossip, a face in a fundraising campaign, a client in questionable care, a dying man’s beacon of hope—and an unlikely new friend.
Compellingly readable, incisive and resonant, Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio’s stunning debut opens a window into the homes and hearts of the Filipino-Canadian community.
“The author is a rare and powerful talent with a knack for channeling different voices.”
Episode of EPIC Generation at FTV
OMNI News Toronto book launch coverage
“A polyphonic chorus focusing on the lives of reunified Filipinx families—this collective of interlacing stories sings in a minor-major key of sorrow and joy, hurt and hope. Austria has invented a dazzling form of literary kundiman where all forms of love are present and invited. The result is a truly moving exploration of the psychic costs of separation, buoyed by a giant courageous heart.”
“In these astonishing stories from the perspectives of migrant Filipino caregivers and their families, Austria-Bonifacio forces us to witness the emotional truths of those in servitude, and desperate to get a foot in the door.
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With Pluma members featured at the Toronto launch of Reuniting with Strangers: Jaisa Sulit, Shirley Camia, Eric Tigley (missing: Motzie Dapul).
Vancouver book launch at Massy Arts Society with fellow Filipino-Canadian authors Vincent Ternida, Kawika Guillermo, Leah Ranada, and Christine Añonuevo.
“Reuniting with Strangers is expertly told, a collection of stories that explores the pain of migration and the bottomless hope of family. Sacrifice threads through the community—A good parent is a good provider, and a good provider is one who leaves. But when a child is abandoned over and over again, his screams are “…the only sound the heart wants to make.” This is the truth Austria-Bonifacio tells in language that is alive, contemporary, vivid. Read this book. You will see the world with fresh compassion.
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These are stories that love you, leave you, and come back to you. These stories return jagged, complicated by their departure, and grown in your absence. Austria-Bonifacio documents the Filipino Canadian diaspora with the eyes of a camcorder and the heart of a Filipino surviving outside of the Philippines—holding everything. Here, there is the heat of home and the wrath of winter sticking to your skin and sincerely asking, “How have you been made a stranger in your own life?””
At the Montréal book launch with Centre Kapwa director France Stohner, and the evening’s featured writers: Lorina Mapa, Allan Matudio, and Deann Louise C. Nardo.
At CBC Vancouver with Michelle Eliot. Photo by George Baker.
““Why do we call it ‘the motherland’ when it isn’t where our mothers are?” With these words, Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio begins her extraordinary novel, inviting readers out onto the bridge that so many Filipino families navigate every day, for years, for decades, a crossing-over place of longing, confusion, anger, and complicated love.
Here’s the real deal, a novel that opens up the world in a new way. Be prepared for goosebumps, tears and laughter. People everywhere, and in Canada, too, have benefited from the love, labour and often blatant exploitation of Filipino women (and men) working abroad, separated from their own beloved families. This book is a double testament—to the heartbreaking human cost of such a system and to the tenacity, humour and strength of the people who survive it.”
For full video, click here.
Features (English)
-CBC - The Next Chapter with Ali Hassan - “Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio’s fiction tells the stories of Filipino immigrants in Canada”
-CBC Vancouver - BC Today with Michelle Eliot - “A newly published novel explores a family's emotional adjustment as they immigrate to Canada. We speak to author Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio and ask viewers for their immigration experiences”
-CBC Books - “How Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio translated decades of work with Filipino newcomers into powerful fiction” - Alice Wu
-CBC Books - “Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio, Maurice Vellekoop among 5 authors on 2024 Toronto Book Awards shortlist”
-CBC - Here and Now - “Tuesday Book Club: Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio” - Talia Schlanger
-CBC - All in a Weekend with Sonali Karnick - “Filipina-Canadian community worker writes novel that highlights issues for her community”
-CBC - Daybreak Alberta with Paul Karchut
-CBC - Fresh Air with Ismaila Alfa
-CBC - In Town and Out (Ottawa) with Giacomo Panico
-CBC - North by Northwest with Margaret Gallagher - “Jenilee Austra-Bonafacio [sic] on her book "Reuniting With Strangers”
-CBC - Saskatchewan Weekend with Peter Mills
-CBC - The Weekend Morning Show Manitoba with Nolan Kehler
-CBC - The Weekender (NWT/YT) with Jared Monkman
-CBC - Weekend AM Gander with Melissa Tobin
-CKNW - The Jas Johal Show - “Reuniting with Strangers: Documenting the Filipino-Canadian Experience”
-Desi News - “Bookworm - Near and Should Be Dearer”
-EPIC Generation Table Talk - “Turning Pages: A Bookish Conversation with Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio” - Christine Santos
-Filipino-Canadian Social & Community Workers Network - “Tayo Na! Social & Community Worker Perspective: Live Recording with Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio” - Monica Batac, Esther Dimalanta, and France Stohner
-Foreword Reviews - “Reviewer Interviews Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio, Filipino Author of Reuniting with Strangers” - Eileen Gonzalez
-Good News Pilipinas - “Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio Honors Fil-Can Diaspora With Debut Book Reuniting With Strangers” - Qjiel Mariano
-Halo Halo Review - “Post Book: Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio” - Eileen Tabios
-Oh Canada - “Arts and Entertainment: Reuniting with Strangers by Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio”
-Ottawa Citizen - “Finding Connections”
-Philippine Canadian News - “Jennilee Austria’s story on reunification is second runner-up” - Charmaine Rodriguez Kara
-Philippine Canadian News - Book About Filipino Diaspora in Canada Launched” - Charmaine Rodriguez Kara
-Philippine Consulate General: Vancouver, Canada - “Filipino-Canadian Author Launches a Novel on Reunification of Filipino Caregiver Families in Canada” - Ma. Lyra Ocampo
-Postmedia News - “Finding Connections” - Pat St. Germain
-Radyo Kapwa - “Jennilee Austria Bonifacio, Founder of Filipino Talks” - Centre Kapwa
-Ricepaper - “Interview with Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio” - Sophie Munk
-The Commentary - “The writer, community worker and mentor Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio discusses her debut novel Reuniting with Strangers” - Joseph Planta
-The North American Filipino Star - “Jennilee Austria Bonifacio’s story- Empowering Newcomers to Canada”
-The Post - “Meet this writer who’s shining the spotlight on the Filipino-Canadian experience” - Johanna L. Añes-De La Cruz
-The Source - “Novel notions for community building at the LiterASIAN Writers Festival” - Drew Stewart
-Toronto Metropolitan University - On the Record - “Author Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio uses her writing to reflect on her Filipino-Canadian Community” - Zoie Karagiannis
-Trent Alumni Magazine - “Bridging Two Worlds” - Elizabeth Bower-Gordon
Features (Pilipino)
-Mabuhay Canada - “Chikahan with Pinay author Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio: Why we need to preserve our culture” - Yona M. Harvey
-OMNI News Filipino - “Bagong libro ng Pilipinang may-akda na Reuniting With Strangers mababasa na” - Keisha Balatbat
-OMNI News Filipino - “Nobela ng isang FilCan author, kabilang sa longlist sa 2024 Toronto Book Awards | OMNI News Filipino” - Paula Saraza
-OMNI News Filipino - “FilCan creatives ibinahagi ang karanasan sa pagpasok sa creative fields”
-Philippine Times - “Ang fiction ni Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio ay nagsasalaysay ng mga kuwento ng mga Pilipinong imigrante sa Canada”
-RCI: Mga balita sa Canada sa 7 wika - “Isang nobela tungkol sa muling pagsasama ng pamilya ng mga Pilipinong caregiver” - Catherine Dona
-RCI: Mga balita sa Canada sa 7 wika - “Sa loob ng Little Manila, ang nagkokonekta sa Filipino Canadians sa Toronto”
-RCI: Mga balita sa Canada sa 7 wika - “Pinay author Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio nasa longlist ng Toronto Book Awards”
Keynote speech at P2P 2024. Photo by P2P.
Lists
-CBC Books - Canada Reads 2024 Longlist
-CBC Books - Former Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi shares 6 books to build your empathy
-CBC Books - CBC Books’ writers to watch: 30 Canadian writers making their mark in 2024
-CBC Books - The Best Canadian Fiction of 2023
-CBC Books - 18 books by past CBC Short Story Prize winners and finalists from 2023
-CBC Books - 30 Canadian books to celebrate Asian Heritage Month
-CBC Books - 55 books by past CBC Literary Prizes winners and finalists that came out in 2023
-CBC Books - 74 works of Canadian fiction to read in fall 2023
-Douglas & McIntyre - Outstanding Literature by Women
-Mabuhay Canada - 7 Must Read Filipino Books
-Massy Books - Filipino Heritage Month Reading List: Filipinx/o/a Content- Pasalubong: Gifts from the Journey
-Read Local BC - Nine Reads for Canada History Week
-The 49th Shelf - 10 Editors’ Picks for September 2023
-Tina May Reads - 2023 CanLit Fiction Faves
-Toronto.com - Our books editor on the 30 (plus!) new reads we can’t wait to cosy up with this fall
-Toronto Metropolitan University - The 2023 TMU Alumni Book List
-Toronto Star - Our books editor on the 30 (plus!) new reads we can’t wait to cosy up with this fall
-Writers in Trees - Debut Authors Spotlite
Reviews
-Broadview - Robert Liwanag
-Canadian Filipino Net - Maria Veronica Caparas
-Foreword Reviews - Eileen Gonzalez
-Inquirer Manila - Jelou Galang
-Mabuhay Canada - Yona M. Harvey
-Maganda Bookshelf - Dani Alcalde-Sidloski
-Pages on the Train - Dani Magsumbol
-Quill & Quire - Emily Mernin
-Ricepaper - Rachel Calabia Epp
-The Ampersand Review - Sahar Golshan
-The British Columbia Review - Valerie Green
-Tina May Reads - Tina May
-Whistler Writers Festival - Angela Bueno
Highlights
Speaking on a panel with with moderator Waynes Manalang, Dr. Ethel Tungohan, and Wilma Delo for an IWD event by Kapisanan Philippine Centre for Arts and Culture, Migrante Ontario, and Kamalayan Konsciousness.
Delivering the keynote speech for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada.
With Toronto Book Awards finalists Connie Gault, Paul McLaughlin, Maurice Vellekoop, and Kristen den Hartog. Photo by City of Toronto.
With the Galing Bata Filipino Education Centre, San Francisco
To watch a video of the panel, click here.
With E.P. Tuazon, C.E. Gatchalian, Nathalie De Los Santos, Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio, and Maria Bolaños at Bel Canto Books- KUBO LB.
With Mayor Olivia Chow
With Sheila Murray and Janika Oza, fellow graduates of the Immigration and Settlement Studies MA program at Toronto Metropolitan University.
With Saskatchewan Festival of Words co-presenters Cara-Lyn Morgan, David A. Robertson, and Jael Richardson.
With fellow Filipino Canadian Book Festival panelists CE Gatchalian, Christine Añonuevo, and Vincent Ternida.
With Angelo Santos, Grace Sanchez MacCall, Maribeth Manalaysay Tabanera, Jose Romelo Lagman, Carolyn Fe, Patria Rivera, CE Gatchalian, Rachel Evangeline Chiong, and Isabel Palanca Aureus at A Different Booklist.
Presenting with Lindsay Wong, Julia Lin, Keiko Honda, and Ujjal Dosanjh at the Chinatown Storytelling Centre for LiterASIAN.
Reading alongside Joy Kogawa, Angie Wong, Keiko Honda, Ujjal Dosanjh, and Lindsay Wong at Dim Sum with Authors
Moderating at the North York Central Library, and joining the Salaysay literary collective in welcoming Gina Apostol to Toronto.
Some of the writers and readers at Canada’s first Filipino/a/x Literary Arts Festival. Organized by Salaysay at the Toronto Public Library.
With Ann Y.K. Choi and Shelly Kawaja at gritLIT. Photo by Tena Laing.
gritLIT workshop: Social Media for Writers
Moderating at HotDocs for Kalinga & Tesfaye
Group photo at the Burlington Public Library
With Ali Hassan and Ryan B. Patrick after recording The Next Chapter.
With Cayley Brightside, Moez Surani, Sofia Mostaghimi, and Alison Gadsby at Junction Reads, TYPE Books.
At the Hamilton Public Library Central with Filipinas of HamOnt, the Filipino McMaster Student Association, and more.
With Centre Kapwa at the SHIFT Centre for Social Transformation for the Reuniting with Strangers Montreal book launch and local Fil-Can author showcase featuring Allan Matudio, Lorina Mapa, and Deann Louise C. Nardo
Onstage with Kevin Chong, Erum Shazia Hasan, William Ping, and Tom Stewart at the Whistler Writers Festival.
At Massy Arts Society for the Reuniting with Strangers Vancouver book launch and local Fil-Can author showcase featuring Vincent Ternida, Kawika Guillermo, Leah Ranada, and Christine Añonuevo.
Onstage with Brooke Lockyer, Carey Sookocheff, and Craig Shreve at the Toronto International Festival of Authors for “Write the Neighbourhood.”
At the Eden Mills Writers’ Festival signing table with Sahar Golshan and Michelle Porter.
With Salaysay members featured at the Toronto launch of Reuniting with Strangers and local Fil-Can author showcase featuring Jaisa Sulit, Shirley Camia, and Eric Tigley (missing: Motzie Dapul).