Exploring Filipino-Canadian History and Trauma in Catherine Hernandez's "Behind You"

Behind You by Catherine Hernandez is a gripping and affecting novel that draws inspiration from a horrifying chapter in Canadian history. This compelling story features fictional characters terrorized by a fictional perpetrator and is a must-read for fans of Filipino-Canadian literature.

Alma, a Filipina woman, works as a film editor for a cheesy True Crime series called Infamous, which features the most notorious killers of the 20th century. On the surface, Alma appears to live a good life with her wife Nira and teenage son Mateo, but there is much left unsaid. The final episode of Infamous focuses on the Scarborough Stalker, triggering Alma's memories of coming of age during the time when the serial rapist and killer was terrorizing women and girls in Scarborough in the late '80s and early '90s.

The novel unfolds through two intertwined storylines. In the past, young Alma witnesses an entire city consumed by the manhunt for an elusive and terrifying suspect while facing her own dangers. In the present, adult Alma must confront her own ideas of consent to stop her son's dangerous behavior towards his girlfriend.

Weaving back and forth in time, Behind You is a powerful narrative of one girl’s resilience into adulthood and a chilling portrayal of the insidiousness of rape culture. It daringly turns the Whodunit genre on its head by asking, "Who hasn't done it?"—highlighting the pervasive complicity in sexual harm.

Behind You is a moving story by a Filipino-Canadian author, reflecting on important themes and showcasing the talents of a Filipino author. This novel is a significant addition to the body of work by Filipino-Canadian authors, offering a unique perspective on Filipino experiences and history in Canada. Don't miss out on this extraordinary contribution to Filipino-Canadian literature.