Half-Bads in White Regalia: A Memoir

by Cody Caetano

A family tries to learn from the mistakes of past generations in this whirlwind memoir from a wholly original new voice. The Caetanos move into a doomed house in the highway village of Happyland before an inevitable divorce pulls Cody's parents in separate directions.

His mom, Mindimooye, having discovered her Anishinaabe birth family and Sixties Scoop origin story, embarks on a series of fraught relationships and fresh starts. His dad, O Touro, a Portuguese immigrant and drifter, falls back into "big do, little think" behaviour, despite his best intentions.

Left alone at the house in Happyland, Cody and his siblings must fend for themselves, even as the pipes burst and the lights go out. His protective big sister, Kris, finds inventive ways to put food on the table, and his stoic big brother, Julian, facilitates his regular escapes into the world of video games.

As life yanks them from one temporary solution to the next, they steal moments of joy and resist buckling under "baddie" temptations aplenty. Capturing the chaos and wonder of a precarious childhood, Cody Caetano delivers a fever dream coming-of-age garnished with a slang all his own. Half-Bads in White Regalia is an unforgettable debut that unspools a tangled family history with warmth, humour, and deep generosity.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Indigenous, Canada, Audiobook, Biography, Family

288 pages, Paperback

Published May 31, 2022

Reviews

[Brandon Forsyth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really remarkable memoir - Caetano invents a language and style all of his own here, and the result is unforgettable. I grew up in an area and culture very close to his, but our experiences couldn’t be more different, and for every cultural touchstone that felt ripped from my childhood, there was a real reckoning with the privilege and the safety of my upbringing. The style and substance really reminded me of a Canadian The Glass Castle - the term “poetic memoir” has almost lost all meaning for me at this point, but this one actually delivers on that promise. For that reason, readers should know it’s more of a challenging read than your standard fare, but it can be so much more rewarding because of it.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

You'll rarely come across a book like this in your lifetime. Cody Caetano's debut memoir is truly special.

I wish I could package up the essence of this book and share it with every one of you. It was truly breathtaking, and simply stunning at every turn of the page.

You need to read it, and as Cody might say, “telling you.” It won't let you down.

Avocado Diaries

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a moving memoir, debut author Cody Caetano shares his tumultuous childhood, living on the margins of society, in a series of unsafe conditions (mold, food scarcity, etc) with his siblings and their absentee parents.

I really enjoyed the style of the audiobook production with music interspersed throughout the verse. Caetano is of Anishinaabe and Portuguese immigrant descent and both his parents struggled with their own personal traumas leaving the children on their own much of the time.

The book is fast paced and lyrical, told with humor and heart amidst the hardships. It reminded me a lot of The glass castle by Jeanette Walls too. Definitely a book I'd recommend and I look forward to seeing what's next from this talented new writer.

[Jolynn Robins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although we didn’t know each other, Cody and I both grew up in “The Sunshine City” and went to the same high school. Many times in my youth I felt like there was no one like me - no one with a poor, dysfunctional, and (at the time) embarrassing family. Like Cody, I moved around a lot and never felt like any of those places were home. But Orillia itself was home. His descriptions of the mall, downtown, the Island Princess, Brewery Bay and more paired with his relatable childhood events made this a really powerful read for me. What I thought would be an easy read between novels turned out to be a book I’ll be recommending for a long time.

[Jeff Leiper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't normally write reviews but know a few friends and neighbours follow me on this platform. For those who do: read Half-Bads in White Regalia. It's one of the best books I've read in years and I believe moves the yardsticks on literature from this country. It's a stunning achievement that I think is accessible and rewarding to any reader.

[Annie MacKillican · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was originally drawn to this book because I’m a fan of the writers who Caetano is the literary agent for (Belcourt, Whitehead), and so I thought I’d give his memoir a shot.

It is a touching story, and a moving account of family and what happens when the people who are supposed to take care of you aren’t necessarily doing enough. The relationship Caetano has with his siblings warms my heart.

That being said, and this is no discredit to the book, but I think I’m becoming bored with this genre of memoir. I think maybe I need to switch it up a bit (and I do think I’ve been doing that). So no discredit to Cody! The book is still good! And for a debut at that.

[Kiddo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A memoir like nothing else, with rhythms that jump off the page, percussive language, and steadfast humour. It's one that I'll want to revisit in audio, hopefully to hear the author reading it himself.

[Magdelanye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Your story is the one thing in life that is truly yours. p236

And when a child can't cry, that cry can stay inside and hide for a long time. That cry will make its way into the organs and brainpics and into the amygdala and make scrambled eggs of the senses. p164

Half-bads in White Regalia is an exuberant cry, and Cody Caetano, unscrambles his unique story with compassion and panache. Half-bad leaves room for half-good and their chaotic family circumstances instill him and his brother and sister with a certain confidence and an insurmountable creative resilience.

...the elasticity of childhood possibility capsized by the hard crush of life, which began to feel more and more out of one's control. p220

Half-bad is also connected to half-breed, and a lot of CC's effort goes into the attempt to make sense of the grand passion of his Native-Canadian mother and Portuguese father. When that turns out to be too difficult, CC takes the high road of forgiveness to love them anyways.

White regalia is an impossibly perfect silhouette. p181
Anything paid in advance is white regalia....Above all, white regalia is a red herring...yet another cautionary tale full of hasty generalizations....p182

But no amount of boats or playboys or tequila sunrises..would change the fact that we were just a couple of half-bads in white regalia. p139

[Tessa Spicer]

This book... this book is very sad. Don't let the funniness fool you.
But/and! Cody Caetano is an interesting and fun writer with a creative way of describing reality; I would venture to say that Cody Caetano is actually a poet!
I especially appreciated the Interlude about white regalia, and the Epilogue where Caetano encourages everyone to own their own story, be mindful of who they're sharing their story with, and to not allow others to overwrite their story.

[Lauren McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of my first memoirs that felt like non-fiction only in the sense that it was all straight facts and did not dive into many internal thoughts or feelings. It almost reads like a play in that sense, but still remains a very raw and powerful account of Cody's life story.

[Rachyl MacPhail · Rating 4 out of 5]

This poetic memoir is unique…it was hard to read and hard to put down. There were bursts of humour and heartbreaking honesty weaved throughout. 4.5 stars.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is raw, truthful and bare. The writing is incredible, pure talent to write a memoir with such beautiful prose.

[Omerine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a captivating and emotionally charged literary gem. This memoir is a powerful and passionate exploration of identity, belonging, and the intricate complexities of the human experience. Caetano's writing is nothing short of poetic, as he shares his personal journey with an unapologetic honesty that is both refreshing and heart-rending.

The author's passion shines through in every word, painting a vivid picture of the challenges and triumphs of growing up as a "Half-Bad" – a term that encapsulates the struggles of someone with mixed Indigenous and white heritage. This memoir is a heartwrenching and inspiring testament to resilience, highlighting the beauty that can emerge from the most painful experiences.

Cody Caetano's narrative is a tribute to the strength of the human spirit, and his passionate storytelling will leave an indelible mark on your heart. "Half-Bads in White Regalia" is a must-read for anyone who seeks a powerful memoir that touches the soul and confronts issues of race, culture, and personal growth with profound passion and authenticity.

:)

[Carolyn Whitzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tough read, but a lyrical one. Cody Caetano spent a lot of his childhood abandoned by his parents: his mom Mindi, dealing with the aftermath of being a Sixties Scoop kids, and his dad O Touro, who has some serious addiction issues. His big sister Kris has to step up but there were times Cody and his brother Julian had nothing to eat, and all three siblings bounced from one rotting house to another. Caetano has an idiosyncratic language he develops - the buckle is about violence but also about promises coming up short, again and again. He recreates the landscape of Orillia and surrounds very effectively, and writes with extraordinary compassion about his parents. Worth sticking with the often very depressing memoir.

[Laurie Sterritt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing memoir with a combination of humour and tragedy - I connected deeply to this story. There is some language that non-Indigenous people might not understand and there was certainly some language that a person who didn’t grow up with video games (like me) may not understand. But the story of the dark skinned kids growing up in poverty with multi-generations of trauma…love, abandonment and survival…well that hit a chord. Beautifully told.

[Cooper Lee Bombardier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this poetic, tender, funny, defamiliarized memoir. A great read and instructive in how the author reconstructs childhood memories and voice.

[Brad Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written and heartbreakingly honest.

[Colleen Earle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read
Well written
I liked this more than some of the other indigenous memoirs I have read because it was in chronological order, but I wish some parts of the story had been expanded on a bit.

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so beautifully well-written and even poetic. It frequently flips back and fourth between lighthearted, funny or lovely moments and tragic or difficult scenes— which is what makes it such an effective depiction of the author’s life, I suppose. Overall a great book, and I think everyone could draw something from it.

[Vsevolod Vodonenko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was an enjoyable memoir. While I can’t say I had the same experience growing up as the author, the little gaming references brought me back and felt like a bit of growing up that we both shared.

[HanSolo Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

maybe a 3.5! I appreciate Cody sharing his story, and I think this is an important read. I found the writing style difficult to follow, and there was a lot of heavy content.

[Madeline Jarvis-Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

An instant favourite. Every page is stunning.

[Buffyisbest · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is not often I resonate so deeply with a piece of literature but this one sure exceeded my expectations. An amazing read through and through. For my own sanity, I appreciated how the author balanced the tough content of the story with a some dark humor. Poetry weaves in an out of the narration painting a thoughtful and artistic view of his family's journey like you are hearing the story straight from that kid in Happyland. A must read.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very powerful, loved Cody's way with words.

[Kelly (miss_kellysbookishcorner) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Half-Bads in White Regalia
Author: Cody Caetano
Genre: Memoir
Rating: 4.25
Pub Date: May 31, 2022

T H R E E • W O R D S

Memorable • Original • Rewarding

📖 S Y N O P S I S

The Caetanos move into a doomed house in the highway village of Happyland before an inevitable divorce pulls Cody’s parents in separate directions. His mom, Mindimooye, having discovered her Anishinaabe birth family and Sixties Scoop origin story, embarks on a series of fraught relationships and fresh starts. His dad, O Touro, a Portuguese immigrant and drifter, falls back into “big do, little think” behaviour, despite his best intentions.

Left alone at the house in Happyland, Cody and his siblings must fend for themselves, even as the pipes burst and the lights go out. His protective big sister, Kris, finds inventive ways to put food on the table, and his stoic big brother, Julian, facilitates his regular escapes into the world of video games. As life yanks them from one temporary solution to the next, they steal moments of joy and resist buckling under “baddie” temptations aplenty.

💭 T H O U G H T S

I added Half-Bads in White Regalia to my TBR when it was chosen as one of the titles on the 2023 Canada Reads longlist. It was certainly one of the selection I was the most interested in and I'd been expecting it to find its way onto the shortlist, but that was not the case.

Written with humour and heart, this coming-of-age memoir from an up-and-coming voice in Canadian literature uses a language and style that is all his own. It takes some time to adapt to, yet each word is carefully and expertly selected. His story covers a lot of ground in a fairly short amount of pages, but it never felt rushed.

The audiobook was incredibly well done. The author's own narration adds emotion and layers to his story. It also allowed for an easier interpretation/pronunciation of the slang used throughout the narrative. At times there is also music interwoven with the verse, which creates an engaging experience overall.

Half-Bads in White Regalia unpacks much of Cody Caetano's family history and life thus far. It many ways it reminded me of North of Normal and how intergenerational trauma impacts many lives. With such an original voice it has been a standout memoir for me this year, and I'd be interested in reading more from this young author in the future.

📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• The Glass Castle
• exploring intergenerational trauma
• unique voices

⚠️ CW: domestic abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, child abuse, abandonment, drug use, mental illness, racism, racial slurs, rape, sexism, sexual assault, sexual content, suicide, poverty, addiction, alcohol, alcoholism, colonization, divorce

[Lorielle Giffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Did you ever do that when you were a kid? Just jumped into your imagination and that was the real world, if only for a brief moment?”- Cody Caetano
•••

I’m a big fan of memoirs and Cody Caetano’s debut memoir “Half-Bads in White Regalia” is no exception. Perhaps my favourite thing about memoirs is that they provide a medium where authors really get to craft and use their own voice in a very personal way. In Caetano’s memoir, his voice is unique, playful, wise, and immersive. Reading this memoir felt like being transported back to the early 2000s—I appreciated the references to illegally downloading music on Limewire, wearing AirWalk shoes, and reading Jerry Spinelli’s Maniac Magee. But it also felt like being inside the mind of a young boy as he comes to age while navigating and reconciling his own identities with those of his family and his family’s circumstances. It was a true journey in perspective taking and I loved every minute of it.

Without giving too much away, I would describe this memoir as a casual tragicomedy: Casual because of the way Caetano uses the naïveity of his past child self to frame heavy themes and experiences from his childhood. Throughout the book, it feels as if young Cody isn’t always aware of the harshness of his reality—he states the often shocking “goings-on” in his life in a matter-of-fact way, as if the weight of what he and his family are going through hasn’t quite hit him yet. And it’s tragicomic because, despite the weight of some of his early experiences, there are also many moments of humour, absurdity, and love sprinkled throughout his childhood that make their way into his memoir.

I think the mixing of heaviness with levity is what Caetano does best and it’s a good reminder that a life is rarely ever limited to one kind of experience. We experience tragedies and traumas—even intergenerational ones—but we also experience joys and laughter and light, sometimes all at the same time. It may sound a bit cliché to say that Caetano’s memoir “finds the lightness in the dark,” but it is the most apt description I can think of. Overall, I give “Half-Bads in White Regalia” 4.5/5 stars

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the author’s memoir on his childhood, growing up with absentee parents, with two older siblings that tried their best to take care of him when their parents couldn’t. Told through the eyes of a child trying to understand what everything meant. This also dived deep into coming to learn of his heritage, as his mother was adopted as a baby, after a lot of perseverance to learn about her birth parents, she found out she’s Indigenous, making him half Indigenous, half Portuguese. This was a whirlwind of a book to read, in a good way. Even though it dealt with a lot of hard times and heavy topics, while reading it, the reader realized that Caetano as a child never really perceived his situation as bad. He was focused on being a kid and wanting kid things. His references to places and things felt very nostalgic for this reader as they grew up in the same province around the same time. His writing was also really lively and dramatic, but it worked so well because it helped tell the story of his life and to paint a picture that we might not have completely gotten otherwise. The way he had knick-names for people also left this childlike aspect to his writing; it gave the more intense moments a sigh of humour and it balanced very well. There were so many things happening at once in his life that it made sense he wrote a memoir. It was so easy to get through, with short chapters mixed with the chaos that was his life, the reader found themselves zipping through it all in a wind-sweeping blur. Between all the harder moments, there were also really beautiful and warm moments too; Caetano has a story worth telling and listening to. This memoir was different and unique in the way it was told and that’s what really stood out to the reader. This was a fast-paced and intriguing read.

[Niknaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a life-story. This is a memoir about Cody Caetano's life, growing up with neglecting parents who did not get along, and siblings who did everything in their power to take care of each other. The content of the book is really heartbreaking. Reading about the horrible living conditions (mold, food scarcity, etc) that Cody and his siblings had to grow up in was not easy, but the casual and humorous tone made it easier to get through. For instance, Child-Cody used a lot of nicknames for locations and people (like Canada being "Little Miss Dominion" or calling her mom's friend with a soul patch Soul Patch). There were also a lot of mentions of video games and gamer slang which made the writing more authentic. I liked the way that he sometimes compared the problems in his life to difficult bosses he had to beat in video games!

It was really easy to get sucked into the lives of these people. Reading memoirs like this one reminds me that every single person on this planet has a story, no matter how insignificant we think our life is. "Your story is the one thing in life that is truly yours".

Wishing Cody and his siblings all the best!

[Virginia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love reading memoirs - in fact they’re probably my favourite genre of all - and I’ve been both delighted and destroyed by a number of Indigenous writers over the past few years. This one however sounded like the diary of an overly articulate teen who has no real insight into, or understanding of, his own life or actions. I shamefacedly struggled to find some depth to the author’s experiences, or further, some sympathy for him as he tells and tells and tells everything that happened to him, every word that was said to him, every event he was involved in within his memory. After the non-explanation of what white regalia was, and 4 pages of teacher comments from the author’s report cards, I skipped to the end. Admittedly, my reading of this was overshadowed by two other outstanding Canadian books I’d just finished, and the promise of several more on my TBR list. There are some gobsmackingly wonderful books out there by young Indigenous writers but this isn’t one of them. I won’t be giving this one a second reading to recalculate. 1 1/2 stars.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This memoir put my life in perspective for me. How would my life be different if I had been born First Nations or half First Nations? How would my life be different if my parents didn't know their true past? Growing up with parents who aren't fully grown themselves means that you have to be resourceful and often have to figure things out for yourself. Cody's stories and memories he shared were so touching and so were his relationships with his brother and sister. Their strength and resilience is inspiring.

I admire that Cody can look back on his childhood and find fond, happy memories, despite moving around so much and being tossed between family members. I definitely recommend this book to anyone. I felt like I was reading a script Cody would have used to tell his stories, that's how organic it felt. I appreciated the Ojibway language throughout as well - I took the time to research their meaning and found Mindimooye and Miakoda's names having such beautiful translations.