Midnights with You

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Instead of opening up and talking directly with her daughter, Deedee’s mother often shares stories that she doesn’t really explain yet are rich with meaning, culture, and emotional weight. Have students choose one of the stories Deedee’s mother tells and analyze it for the message and feelings that her mother is likely trying to communicate through that story.

After writing their short analysis, get students thinking about how storytelling can be a tool for expressing something that is difficult or challenging to say outright. Ask them to think about a time someone in their life communicated with them through a story and have them write a personal reflection on what meaning they got out of it then and how they reflect on it now.

Students can also create a story of their own—something they might need to tell a friend, a younger sibling, or a future child to express something hard to say directly, a lesson learned, or an explanation of a process or tradition. Have them reflect on what the stories they tell reveal about who they are.

Questions for Discussion or Reflective Writing

1. Why do her mother’s stories mean so much to Deedee? How does Deedee deal with her mother’s emotional abuse? What does it take for Deedee to finally advocate for herself and for a better relationship with her mother?
2. What do Deedee and Jay’s late-night meetings reveal about their emotional needs and the nature of their relationship? How does their secrecy affect the way they connect with each other? 
3. How do family dynamics influence the choices Deedee and Jay make throughout the story? What role does past pain or unspoken history play in how they relate to the people around them? How do the effects of family pressure or expectations affect the decisions Jay and Deedee make?
4. How do Jay and Deedee handle the emotional weight of trying to care for each other while also struggling themselves? How does Deedee’s relationship with her mother affect the choices she makes in her relationship with Jay? What decisions do Jay and Deedee make when they start to realize that parts of their relationship may not be healthy? Do you agree with their decisions? Why or why not?
5. What role do friendships play in helping both Deedee and Jay grow? How have friendships in your life helped you to reflect and grow?
6. How is therapy or self-reflection portrayed in the book? What challenges or stereotypes still exist around getting help for mental health? How does your community or school talk about emotional well-being, and what could be done better?

Related Resources

Author Chat with Clare Osongco from Books and Boba

BANWAAN: The Philippine Journal of Folklore from the University of the Philippines Folklore Studies Program