Through this book, Anna Onni reaches out to comfort and reassure the queer community that there is space to hold their strengths for realising hope. A hope for a kinder, gentler world that celebrates how humans come to process and embrace queerdom. A hope that despite of struggles, humans live on with their hearts stirring with virtues and passion.

Who are these sainted aunts? I believe they are ordinary humans with extraordinary determination and courage for the ideals, principles and causes they dedicate their breathing moments to. The good they strive to do make up a persistent beacon of hope that love is possible in spite of dissents and discrimination. There is no clear indication of time in this book, for the sainted aunts seem to be with us right here and now, as they have in the past and will be in the future.

The structure of this book is simple: it archives thirteen sainted aunts’ lives,  each with a short introduction and an artefact. The myriad of content makes every turning page a surprise. Each biography begins a portraiture that etches the saint aunt in action. The range of art forms (illustration, prose and poetry) explored in this book demonstrates Anna Onni’s multi-disciplinary talents. I couldn't put ithe book down until I savoured the last page.

In each archive of the sainted aunts, Anna Onni brings us up close to the souls of their characters, their quirks and the bold lives they lead. What is most intriguing remains the sheer connection a reader has to the sainted aunts — through prayers, letters, journals, devotionals, rituals addressed directly to the weary-hearted — the aunts speak to our tired souls. As if they are keenly aware of our trials, the sainted aunts shower us with encouragement and strength we need to continue our feats.

From the aunts’ exemplary lives, we can draw inspiration and courage for our pursuits. We learn how to give, to listen, to love, and to live even when it is difficult to do so.  We pray to them not for their material assistance in our lives but seek to borrow their individual strengths in hope. In these prayers, Anna Onni asks of us to then materialise change:

“Unlike the prayers to saints of the past, the prayers to sainted aunts insist on the promise of the persons praying to commit to action. In living our own versions of action, we embody the saintliness of the sainted aunts, bringing changes to our present times.”

At the end of the book, I wonder if I could pray to the sainted aunts as a straight. I realised I could and I would. Depicted as endearing characters spanned across time, the sainted aunts feel so real to me. I found myself relating to the sainted aunts and stand with those who seek their strengths.

Of course, i have my favourite sainted aunts: Saint Taksha of Greenland, Saint Takiwatanga of the Unnameable, Saint Vinaigraitte of the Tossed Aside and Saint Umm of the Permanently Exhausted. Pardon my lame use of ‘favourite’; I just can’t decide! The thing is, Anna Onni has illustrated such a plethora of personalities that it is hard for readers to not find a sainted aunt they resonate with. All sainted aunts are not perfect humans and they are beautiful this way.

This book was truly an enjoyable and hopeful read -- one that I would keep by my bedside and return to again and again, whenever I need a ‘pick-me-up’.

Oh my sainted aunts! I hope more people get to read about you.

*To read digital book, you can find it here https://seaqcf.net/program/book-sainted-aunts-illustrated-portraits-mildly-martyred-sinners-turned-saints-queerdom , if you are base in Indonesia or Philippine and  wish to get the hardcopy please send your query to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.