May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! So today, we’re going to be talking about some great books by authors from the AAPI community. There’s been a rise in anti-Asian hate crimes since the COVID pandemic began, mostly because of the racist idea being spread that it’s a “Chinese virus.” A lot of this was swept under the rug, but the organization Stop AAPI Hate has been working to make it more well-known.
Of course, we should be uplifting these voices year round, but if you’re looking for some great books for this month, this is a great place to start! There are also a lot of great book lists floating around Bookstragram as well. I encourage you to seek out Asian voices on Instagram as well and don’t rely on them to do research you can do yourself! Check out this article if you want some tips on being a good ally.
Anyway, on to the book list! And stay tuned to my Instagram for more book recs throughout the month.
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Asian American and Pacific Islander Book Recs
Parachutes by Kelly Yang
Parachutes are teenagers who are dropped off to live in private homes while their wealthy parents remain in Asian. Suddenly, Claire finds herself in this situation, leaving Shanghai to go live in California with Dani and her mom. Meanwhile, Dani is determined to fight her way to Yale through the debate team. At least, until her coach starts giving her private lessons. This book definitely packs a punch, not only discussion immigration but also sexual assault and other issues high schoolers face. It’s a heavy read, but an important one!
Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
In Fennbirn, the crown is decided through a competition between three sisters. In every generation, a set of triplets are born. To take the crown, they must kill their sisters. Mirabella, Katharine, and Arinsoe are getting ready to start their fight as they turn 16. Will they have what it takes to fight for the crown? The first book in a series, this is dark and slow moving, but worth the wait! The characters 100% propel this story forward.
The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen
Tiến enjoys reading fairytales with his parents every night as they work to learn English. However, Tiến is struggling with his own language barrier in how to tell his parents that he’s gay. Is there even a way to say it in Vietnamese? This graphic novel goes between the stories Tiến reads, his parents’ backstory, and his own struggles with coming out as gay. And the art is gorgeous. This is one of my favorite graphic novels from last year, and it comes highly recommended!
Yolk by Mary HK Choi
Jayne and June are only three years apart, but they couldn’t be more different. June has a path for her life, working in finance with a fancy New York apartment. Jayne is struggling with where her own life is going, floating from place to place, running out of money. Once close, Jayne and June have drifted apart. At least, until June is diagnosed with cancer. And Jayne is the only one who can help her. Another heavy book, but there are some great discussions in this book about mental health and complex family relationships.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
If you’re looking for a more light-hearted rom-com, definitely check out Jenny Han! Lara Jean keeps her love letters to past crushes her mom’s old hatbox. When they’re all mailed out, Lara Jean’s love life suddenly becomes a lot more interesting. This was adapted into a Netflix movie that is also a fun watch, once you finish the book! Jenny Han is an expert at writing cute teen rom-coms.
Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
Darius knows more about Star Trek than his Persian culture, but that’s about to change when his family goes to Iran for the summer. At first, Darius isn’t he has the confidence to go to a new country, until he meets Sohrab, the boy next door. Sohrab helps Darius to find the confidence he was always lacking. This is such a touching story about friendship, with a sequel that is just as good as the first book.
Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar
Sheetal is the daughter of a star and a mortal, always pretending to be normal. If she doesn’t, her life could be in danger. When a burst of star fire accidentally lands her dad in the hospital, going to visit her mom’s court is her only chance to save him. But once she’s there, she’s roped into a competition to decide the next ruling family. This is a unique fantasy with lots of court intrigue, if that’s something you like in your fantasy!
Frankly In Love by David Yoon
Frank Li’s parents want him to end up with a nice Korean girl, even though he’s currently dating the girl of his dreams. So, he turns to his friend Joy to make a pact: they pretend they’re dating so they can both date who they actually want. But what happens when feelings start to develop between them? What seems like a rom-com on the surface actually delves deep into what it means to be the child of immigrants and different expectations Korean parents can have.
Meet Cute Diary by Emery Lee
Meet Cute Diary is Noah’s popular blog about trans meet cutes. The only problem? None of them are real. When another blog threatens to expose Noah, he starts fake dating Drew to save the blog. But what happens when real feelings begin to develop? I already wrote a review for this last week, but there’s so much to love about it! A great, queer cast of characters that you’ll definitely be cheering for.
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
This book is getting a ton of buzz this year! Amreica in 1954 isn’t the safest place for two girls to fall in love, but Lily and Kathleen can’t help it. When Kathleen brings Lily to the lesbian club, the Telegraph Club, she knows that that’s where she’s supposed to be. As a Chinese-American with deportation hovering over her father, Lily can’t afford to make a mistake. There isn’t much historical fiction that covers this topic, but this one does it with grace.