Super Short Summary

America Is Not the Heart by Elaine Castillo tells the story of a Filipino immigrant family in late twentieth-century United States, following the journey of Hero, who moves in with her uncle Pol, his wife Paz, and their daughter Roni in California. Hero’s bond with Roni grows as they slowly integrate into their community, while Hero grapples with past traumas and secrets from her time with the New People’s Army. The novel poignantly explores themes of cultural identity, familial ties, and the immigrant experience. This book includes depictions of torture and imprisonment which may be sensitive for some readers.