"Abundance" by Jacob Guanzon and "Where the Dead Sit Talking" by Brandon Hobson are both literary works that explore themes of identity, family, and coming-of-age. While the novels differ in terms of setting and characters, they share several similarities in terms of narrative structure, character development, and the portrayal of marginalized voices.
One of the key similarities between the two novels is their use of a first-person narrative perspective, allowing readers to intimately engage with the protagonist's thoughts, emotions, and experiences. In "Abundance," the story is told through the eyes of the unnamed narrator, a young Filipino-American boy growing up in a working-class neighborhood. Similarly, in "Where the Dead Sit Talking," the narrative is presented from the viewpoint of Sequoyah, a fifteen-year-old Cherokee boy in foster care. By employing a first-person narrative, both Guanzon and Hobson provide readers with a deep understanding of the characters' inner lives, enabling them to navigate the complexities of their identities and the challenges they face.
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In "Abundance," the protagonist grapples with his biracial heritage and struggles with finding a sense of belonging. As a Filipino-American, he is caught between two cultures, trying to navigate the expectations and stereotypes imposed on him by society. Similarly, in "Where the Dead Sit Talking," Sequoyah, as a Native American in foster care, wrestles with questions of his own cultural identity and the impacts of intergenerational trauma. Both novels shed light on the complexities of identity formation, highlighting the difficulties and internal conflicts experienced by marginalized individuals in a society that often marginalizes and erases their