116 Essential New Books to Read for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
It’s May, and in the U.S. that means it’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, dedicated to celebrating the culture, history, and contributions of those with Asian and Pacific Island backgrounds.
In honor of the monthlong celebration, we’ve compiled this collection of essential books from authors of Asian and Pacific Islander heritage, published within the last decade. This list features a mix of beloved reader picks, critical darlings, and books that busted open their genres for other API writers. Given the size of the API diaspora across the globe, this is by no means a comprehensive list but rather a sampling of books to discover from across genres: historical fiction, nonfiction, mysteries, romance, horror, short stories, etc. So if you can’t find what you need, keep scrolling down! Of course, some books are hard to categorize, but we did our best.
A few quick highlights: Author Alka Joshi transports readers to 1950s Jaipur in The Henna Artist, nominated for two Goodreads Choice Awards in 2020. R.F. Kuang upends the fantasy genre’s magical academia template with the cerebral adventure of Babel. Admirers of the clever cozy mystery will definitely want to check out Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers. And let's all take a moment to admire the title of Hawaiian author Megan Kamalei Kakimoto's short story collection: Every Drop Is a Man's Nightmare.
Scroll over the covers to learn more about each book, and be sure to add the books that pique your interest to your Want to Read shelf!
Historical Fiction
Contemporary Fiction
Romance
Fantasy & Science Fiction
Mystery & Thriller
Horror
Young Adult
Nonfiction
Short Stories
How many of these books have you read? What other titles would you recommend for AAPI Heritage month? Let us know in the comments below!
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May 01, 2024 12:16AM
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I saw that too. Where's Shatter Me? A YA Sci-fi and Fantasy section could've added to this list.
I honestly don't care if some of these books are new anymore. It doesn't say at any point these are new books. Anyway. No Our Missing Hearts? Where is it? I've read Yellowface, All My Rage and To All the Boys I've Loved Before, and I want to read Babel.
Little Fires Everywhere and Disorientation look intriguing. Please do not delete my comment. Also, no Memory Piece, Hollow Fires or Shanghailanders? If YA romances are on here, then perhaps When Dimple Met Rishi or A Taste for Love would've been great choices to add to the YA section.
I saw that too. Where's Shatter Me? A YA Sci-fi and Fantasy section could've added to this list."
I thought, "Doesnt' Shatter Me have an awful rating, one of the lowest on Goodreads?" Turns out I was thinking of Shatter Girl. Not the same thing.
I saw that too. Where's Shatter Me? A YA Sci-fi and Fantasy section could've added to this list."
I thought, "Doesnt..."
Shatter Girl is an entirely different book from an entirely different author. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi has an average rating of 3.86/5, compared to Shatter Girl's rating of 1.44/5.
No Longer Human, Flowers of Buffoonery, and The Setting Sun by Osamu Dazai
A Vietcong Memoir by Truong Nhu Tang
Last Night I Dreamed of Peace by Dang Thuy Tram
The Art of Peace by Morihei Ueshiba
A Vietcong Memoir by Truong Nhu Tang
Last Night I Dreamed of Peace by Dang Thuy Tram
The Art of Peace by Morihei Ueshiba"
A memoir from a Vietnamese author? It sounds intriguing? What is Last Night I Dreamed of Peace, also by a Vietnamese author?
I saw that too. Where's Shatter Me? A YA Sci-fi and Fantasy section could've added to this list."
Shatter Me was published in 2011, so it is out the parameters of this list. Her other series are newer and would have qualified if the editors had so chosen, but out of a wealth of books, how to choose?
I also wonder if she was left out because people may not consider Iran to be Asia, even though it technically is.
I have the first two of these, keep meaning to read them. I really need to get to them.
So he is British Asian. Why is he on this list then? Goodreads could've called it Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, to include Asians and Pacific Islanders living outside of America.
I saw that too. Where's Shatter Me? A YA Sci-fi and Fantasy section could've added to this list."
Shatter Me was pub..."
This Woven Kingdom would've made the list, as it was published in 2022.
It’s May, and in the U.S. that means it’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, dedicated to celebrating the culture, history, and contributions of those with Asian and Pacific Island backgrounds.Note that they did not say they picked American authors, just those with Asian/Pacific Islander backgrounds. This is a very normal way to celebrate the month (look at withcindy's annual Asian readathon as an example: "A month-long readathon in May hosted by @_withcindy to celebrate Asian characters & authors." @asianreadathon)
In honor of the monthlong celebration, we’ve compiled this collection of essential books from authors of Asian and Pacific Islander heritage, published within the last decade.
Not Indonesian and not really fantasy but Sri Lankan and fantastical: The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida was my favorite book last year. Dark, funny and queer.
Thanks. Added to my tbr. I am doing Storygraph reads the world and I can't find anything Indonesian that'd interested me. 😭
YES! I really like this cozy mystery series!
Aspara Engine is a Queer Sci- fi- fantasty graphic short story collection that might be interesting to you
I saw that too and was just checking the comments for anyone noticing it. They should've double-checked... Makes me wonder which other authors might be on the list in error.
If you look at the name of the list, it specificallly says "Asian American & Pacific Islander", not just Asian.
Aspara Engine is a Queer Sci- fi- fantasty graphic short story collection that might be interesting to you"
Thanks.
Hi, that's not specifically the name of the list; that's the naming convention of the month (the same way we also celebrate Black History month but are not excluded from celebrating Black Present or Future within that month).
As mentioned in my previous comment, most people do not make "American" a criteria for how they recognize and celebrate (especially for folks celebrating AAPI month outside the US), and the Goodreads article explicitly states that in how they selected books to populate this list.
I've read the first and intend to read #2 this month and see how it goes!
2011 isn't "within the last decade." as per the blurb at the top.
Nonfiction is under-represented - while not necessarily AAPI authors, there's "Facing the Mountain" (Brown) "Three Year Swim Club" (Checkoway) and "Bruce Lee: a Life"
2011 isn't "within the last decade." as per the blurb at the top."
Yes, but This Woven Kingdom was published in 2022, so it can go on the list.
No Longer Human, Flowers of Buffoonery, and The Setting Sun by Osamu Dazai"
Those are not Asian American, Dazai Osamu lived and died in Japan, and wrote in Japanese
Thanks. Added to my tbr. I am doing Storygraph reads the world and I can't fi..."
I hope that helps at least a little
https://www.goodreads.com/genres/indo...
Why are you dragging B&N into this?
Please, don't start taking from one minority to give to another. Asian people and Pacific Islanders shouldn't need to give more space to other people, there's plenty of room for everyone. If it bothers you, remember that Israel is in Asia. Read books written by Israelis and celebrate both Asian and Jewish heritage.
No Longer Human, Flowers of Buffoonery, and The Setting Sun by Osamu Dazai"
Those are not Asian American, Dazai Osamu lived and died in Japan, and wrote in Japanese"
It still counts as Asian, though. But this list only has AAPI books, so the author can't go on this list.
Asian American and Pacific Islander HERITAGE Month. meaning it's about their HERITAGE, which lies in Asia and the Pacific. which is why non-American authors are included. it really is not that deep. Several of these authors are just good ol' Asian/Pacific Islander, living in their countries, not writing in English.
No Longer Human, Flowers of Buffoonery, and The Setting Sun by Osamu Dazai" Those are not Asian American, Dazai Osamu lived and died in Japan, and wrote in Japanese"
This list does not only have Asian American authors - Bora Chung for example is Korean, living in Korea, writing in Korean
Did you look at the list? There is YA there. Goodreads rarely makes lists about middle grade books, but Front Desk by Kelly Yang is a good MG AAPI book though.
I didn't enjoy Yellowface as much as you. I'll read Babel when I can, though. I hope it's better than Yellowface.