Lucky Creatures

Winner of the inaugural 2024 Saraband Prize in the Essay, selected by Alexander Chee and for readers of Ocean Vuong's The Emperor of Gladness

Lucky Creatures by Joseph Trinidad is a bold and playful essay collection exploring identity, displacement, and the complexities of immigrant life. Through the author’s experience as a Filipino immigrant in New Zealand, Lucky Creatures delves into the vibrancy of his home and the thriving Filipino community in rural Hawke’s Bay, his family’s struggles with systemic and structural racism, and his personal journey of coming out as queer while grappling with the desire for a child. Drawing from the creatures of Filipino folktales and New Zealand fauna, Lucky Creatures reflects on the intersections of culture, colonization, and self-discovery, answering every immigrant’s question: "Was the move worth it?" With humor, wit, and grace, Lucky Creatures offers an unforgettable exploration of life as a queer, Brown, transnational hybrid. View Less