Reviewed by Alija Turkovic for Readers' Favorite

David Haldane’s A Tooth in My Popsicle is a fascinating look at what happens when an American expat packs up and moves to the Philippines. The book begins with a major financial crisis that costs Haldane his job at the Los Angeles Times, leading to a very ambitious relocation plan with his wife, Ivy. After traveling from the United States to his new home in Northern Mindanao, Haldane opens up about his daily life, everyday encounters, and the genuine challenges of getting used to a very different lifestyle. By using a collection of deeply reflective personal essays, he walks us through everything from complex immigration rules to the random surprises of late-stage fatherhood on provincial soil. This is a striking look at how losing a career can lead someone to find an entirely new sense of purpose across the ocean.

David Haldane’s A Tooth in My Popsicle is an engaging memoir that does a fantastic job of showing what it means to adapt and protect the ones you love. Haldane has a sharp journalistic eye and an easygoing way of telling his story that makes the vibrant local landscapes pop right off the page while you laugh along with his cultural mix-ups. There’s a lot of gentle humor scattered throughout the pages, especially when he talks about his early panic over local bugs or having to spend a few unexpected nights in a hospital room. Seeing how his family handles rigid lockdowns and a terrifying health emergency during a pandemic reveals a strength that runs deep in their adoptive province. The writing is smooth, funny, and full of quick daily thoughts, making every essay an easy read with great pacing throughout. Watching Haldane celebrate the birth of his daughter and fit right in with local family traditions shows a huge transformation in his outlook. Overall, it’s a very heartwarming journey about a family building a real life in a part of the world they never expected.