Bless Me, Papi: A Novel
Written by Ayendy Bonifacio
Published by Curbstone Books/Northwestern Univ.
Between the looming buildings of Brooklyn, a young Dominican American boy only ever called mijo by his family has just lost his father to brain cancer. In the wake of his grief, he begins to see his deceased father take the form of a pigeon and ghost, acting as protector and advisor in moments of duress and confusion. Determined to find out the truth behind his father’s appearances, he sets out on the streets of Brooklyn with his outspoken friend Naño, and in the hills of the Dominican Republic with his cousin Matias, in search of answers, only to discover more ghostly apparitions and inexplicable occurrences. In a world of lost things and in-betweens, the grief-stricken son must choose whether he can bear to let go of his father or accept the consequences of what we let haunt us.
Primary ISBN:
Publication Date: August 2026
Available As: Paperback
Young Adult, Age 14 or older
Community Represented: Dominican/Dominican American
Themes: Accolades & Awards, Accolades & Awards: Starred Review, Coming of Age, Cultural Empowerment, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Family, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Food, Family Relationship: Extended, Family Relationship: Parents, Genre: Magical Realism, Identity: Multilingual, Multilingual: Spanish Featured Words, Own Voices/Lived Experience, Setting: Home Country, Trauma & Healing, Trauma & Healing: Death of Family or Friend, Trauma & Healing: Illness
Setting: United States (Brooklyn NY), Dominican Republic
Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Immigrant
Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience
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