Books to Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

A magical tour through the past three decades (and more) of Asian American history and culture, a journey of sweat, tears, sacrifice, inspiration, disappointments, innovation and breaking through. Chock full of discoveries and hidden histories, told with a visual panache that keeps us turning pages, Rise is a celebration and revelation, a vastly important American story, and undeniably a blast to read.  

David Chang is much more than just a chef, and his memoir set in the food world is much more than the Momofuku restaurants or Ugly Delicious TV travels he’s known for. Energetically told with lots of hard edges, it is an incisive, funny, audacious and achingly urgent look at mental illness, cultural alienation and prejudice. Balancing ambition, fear, success and coming into one’s own, David Chang serves up a portrait of a modern American. 

An exploration of what it is to be American while also being otherized, this brilliant memoir will strike you to your core while simultaneously making you laugh out loud. Wajahat Ali grew up in Fremont, California with roots in Pakistan where his parents had left half a century ago. His writing challenges Islamophobia, white supremacy, and utilizes personal stories to explore themes like national security, immigration, and pop culture, and while it recognizes the flaws of America, it is also boldly hopeful. 

A reimagining of The Brothers Karamazov, The Family Chao successfully combines a propulsive literary mystery, a generational family drama, and the American immigrant story into one can’t-put-it-down novel.  

Who doesn’t love a magical twist on an American canon?! Vo’s debut captures the glittering excess of a Gatsby retelling while layering in commentary on gender, race, sexuality … and MAGIC! This is Gatsby reinvented with stunning illusions and revolution. It is a dreamy interpretation that draws you into a world filled with mystery and drama. It is surreal and haunting and will leave you utterly spellbound throughout. 

This captivating fantasy seamlessly weaves ancient Chinese mythology into a sweeping adventure of immortals and magic. Inspired by the legend of the Chinese moon goddess, Chang’e, this debut is the first in a romantic duology. With its lush world-building, strong female protagonist, and vivid characters, this tale of love, sacrifice, and honor is topping all the fantasy must-read lists. 

We have another debut for the new “cozy mystery” movement with Dial A for Aunties. Jesse Q. Sutanto combines her sense of humor, blending rom-com with cozy mystery for a family wedding escapade. This is a perennial favorite amongst Barnes & Noble readers — and if you love it, and we are sure you will, Sutanto just released another book in March! (Four Aunties and a Wedding) 

Lyrical, hysterically funny, complex and entertaining, The Bad Muslim Discount is a timely and comic coming-of-age novel about two very different families, arranged marriages, Muslim identity and being true to yourself. A brave debut novel from a fresh new voice. 

How far would you go for the American dream? Sanjena Sathian’s brilliantly original debut follows first-generation Indian immigrant neighbors Neil and Anita as they straddle the line between their ambitions and their parents’ pursuit of the American dream — all with a touch of magic. Anita has her sights set on Harvard, and Neil has his sights set on his rivalry with Anita and making it through his summer math class. One summer night, he discovers the secret to Anita’s recent successes; it’s pure gold and he wants in. What happens next in this page-turning debut is all at once mystical, tragic and, at times, really funny. 

As the winner of the 2007 Michael L. Printz Award and a 2006 National Book Award Finalist for Young People’s Literature, this book helped elevate and redefine graphic novels as a literary force. This modern fable seamlessly tells the story of Jin Wang, the only Chinese American student at his new school, the great Monkey King, and Chin-Kee, a cringe-worthy personification of the negative Chinese stereotype. Together, these stories make a powerful statement about racism, the American dream, and staying true to yourself. 

It’s been a long time since a book as powerful and relevant as Ribay’s third novel has come along, telling the story of a boy named Jay whose entire plan for his final semester of high school is to play video games, until he learns his Filipino cousin Jun was a victim of President Duterte’s war on drugs. No one else in the family wants to discuss it, but Jay needs to find the truth behind his cousin’s murder, even if it means traveling to the Philippines to get it. He isn’t at all prepared for what he learns there, especially the fact that Jay himself had his own part in Jun’s death. 

Swoony and bingeworthy, A Show for Two is a YA romance that will have you crinkling your nose and smiling like a dork the entire time. With a celebrity attending high school under a secret identity and an aspiring screenwriter luring him into her film competition, this must-read is sure to be your new favorite romance! 

Set in 1954 San Francisco, Last Night at the Telegraph Club is a must-read coming-of-age story about a Chinese American teenager learning to understand herself, her sexuality, and her culture during a time and place where she is seen as less than. This important work of historical fiction is sure to resonate for years to come. 

Wildly different sisters Jayne and June Baek have been avoiding each other for years. Then, June is diagnosed with cancer and finds herself reaching out to her estranged little sister for support. Through screaming fights, calculated jabs and laugh-out-loud moments, we watch their relationship evolve into something resembling sisterhood. Emotional and multilayered, Yolk is a heartfelt story about the messy, complicated power of family in the face of the unknown. 

The fake dating storyline is nothing new, but this sapphic spin feels fresh and joyful. Alternating points of view between Hani and Ishu will draw readers in and have them rooting for the couple until the very end. Heartfelt and fun, Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating also deftly touches on issues like Islamophobia and biphobia while still focusing on the happily ever after.

When Lily’s family moves to Washington to be with her ailing grandmother, or Halmoni, the last thing she expects is to encounter a magical tiger she’s heard about in Halmoni’s Korean folktales. She soon learns that the tiger is the key to uncovering Halmoni’s past and possibly saving her life. When You Trap a Tiger is a powerful story about one of our greatest powers — storytelling and the effects those stories have on who we become. 

This first book in Graci Kim’s A Gifted Clans series infuses Korean folklore with magic, humor, and heart to create a fantastical adventure story about sisterhood and the power of belonging. This enchanting debut is a brilliant addition to the Rick Riordan Presents line. 

This big-hearted novel follows Mia, a young immigrant who lives at a motel where her parents are employed. Mia works at the front desk and uses her new-found writing voice to stand up for herself, her family, and the other immigrants and guests at the motel. 

Perfect for fans of Rick Riordan, Aru Shah and the End of Time follows 12-year-old Aru who tends to stretch the truth. When three classmates try to catch her in a lie, she lights a lamp that releases an ancient demon whose job it is to awaken the God of Destruction. With her classmates and her mother frozen in time, Aru must work to save them all by finding the reincarnations of the five Pandava brothers, protagonists from the Hindu epic poem, the Mahabharata. Full of magic and mayhem, this book is one you won’t want to miss!  

Eleven-year-old Sonali loves watching Bollywood movies but knows that people don’t break into song and dance in real life. Or do they? With a twist of magical realism, That Thing About Bollywood is a sweet story that teaches readers the importance of expressing emotions even when you would rather bottle them up. 

Breathtakingly illustrated by Dung Ho, Eyes that Kiss in the Corners is Joanna Ho’s love letter to not just Asian children, but all children. Her debut picture book gloriously celebrates individual beauty and confidence and highlights how precious a supportive family can be. The perfect book to read at any age and a piece of art that will be shared for years to come. There’s also a fantastic companion, Eyes that Speak to the Stars, that you won’t want to miss!  

The Name Jar is a tender story of a young Korean girl and her concerns about acceptance and identity upon joining an American school. Unhei tells her new classmates that she will choose an American name from the ones they suggest and imagines what life will be like as a Suzy or Amanda. Throughout the book, Unhei experiences many conflicting pressures from wanting to be like her classmates to desiring to please her family. Ultimately, Unhei realizes the beauty and value of her own name, and she chooses to keep that name even with her new, American friends Unhei means “grace” or “graceful.” 

This adorable story is all about Danbi, a young girl who has recently immigrated to the United States and is so excited to start school, but when she does start school, she finds that she can’t get anything right. As she works to navigate her two cultures and with the help of her imagination, Danbi finds her way and leads her classmates on a fun and memorable parade! You won’t want to miss this fantastic story! 

This precious picture book follows a young Indian American girl, Laxmi, who never paid much attention to the tiny hairs above her lip until one of her friends points them out saying that they’d help her pretend to be the perfect cat since they look like whiskers. Laxmi starts to notice body hairs all over, and this body positive story is all about celebrating heritage and learning that hair isn’t just for heads! It grows everywhere!