The Mango Tree: A Memoir of Fruit, Florida, and Felony

The Mango Tree by Annabelle Tometich is a witty, heartfelt memoir about growing up as a mixed-race Filipina in Florida and finding belonging amid family chaos and cultural roots. When Annabelle’s mother is arrested for shooting at a man “messing with her mangoes,” Annabelle is forced to confront her family’s complicated past. Tracing her journey from the daughter of a fiery Filipino mother and a deceased white father to a med-school-reject-turned-food-critic, she reflects on identity, heritage, and love. Both poignant and humorous, the book is a tribute to her mother Josefina, her Filipino American community, and the mango tree that symbolizes home and resilience.