It’s Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage month, and that means it’s a great time to make sure you’re reading and uplifting AAPI authors! I compiled a list of six great books that have been published over the past two years (and that I read in this past one) written by AAPI authors. These books span genre, time period, age range, and setting but each centers their Asian protagonist.
She Who Became the Sun
Author: Shelley Parker-Chan
Publication Year: 2021
Genre: Fantasy / Historical Fiction
Find the Book: Goodreads | StoryGraph | Review
She Who Became the Sun is the first installment in Shelley Parker-Chan’s series following Zhu, who starts the book as a young child fleeing Mongol rule and ends up pursuing the greatness that was prophesied on their brother. Parker-Chan creates an incredibly dynamic world that we see through the eyes of our genderqueer protagonist. The sequel, He Who Drowned the World, comes out in August!
Last Night at the Telegraph Club
Author: Malinda Lo
Publication Year: 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction / Young Adult
Find the Book: Goodreads | StoryGraph
This book is a quintessential coming-of-age novel that takes place in 1950s San Francisco Chinatown. I loved watching our high school aged protagonist figure out what it meant to be Chinese, and to be queer, in a time where you could only find acceptance if you were one of those things at a time. This was very well written and I most definitely cried while reading it.
All This Could Be Different
Author: Sarah Thankham Mathews
Publication Year: 2022
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Find the Book: Goodreads | StoryGraph
While I gave this book 4 stars initially, it’s been on my mind since I first read it three months ago, and I’ve been debating retroactively moving it up a star. All This Could Be Different made the bold choice of taking us along the journey of absolutely insufferable protagonist Sneha. She just graduated college, but she’s not very far along on her journey of growing up and figuring out life, and we take that journey with her. By the end of the book, I was rooting wholeheartedly for Sneha, and that made it all worth it. The fact that this was Sarah Thankam Mathews debut novel makes it all the more impressive, and I can’t wait to see what they write next!
My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding
Author: Sajni Patel
Publication Year: 2022
Genre: Young Adult Romance
Find the Book: Goodreads | StoryGraph
Enemies to friends to lovers hive rise up, this is the book for you! As you may have guessed from the title, this book takes place at Zurika Damani’s sister’s wedding. Unfortunately for her, it’s also the weekend of a big violin recital that could get her into college. Her immediate family would be irate if she missed the wedding to play hip hop violin, but with the help of some cousins—and a cute boy—Zurika tries to do it all. Hijinks ensure in this incredibly delightful YA romp.
Daughter of the Moon Goddess
Author: Sue Lynn Tan
Publication Year: 2022
Genre: Fantasy / Romance / Young Adult
Find the Book: Goodreads | StoryGraph
I absolutely loved this fantasy novel inspired by the legend of the Chinese moon goddess! This duology centers Xingyin (the titular daughter of the moon goddess) on her quest to free her mother from her exile and the punishment she would face if anyone knew Xingyin existed. I love how strong Xingyin i throughout this book, and I especially love the forbidden romance storyline!
Fiona and Jane
Author: Jean Chen Ho
Publication Year: 2022
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Find the Book: Goodreads | StoryGraph
This book was incredibly painful. Both Fiona and Jane were deeply hurting throughout this compilation of (non-chronoogical) short stories, and that comes through beautifully in the writing. You feel for them in their relationships with their parents, their boyfriends, and each other. While I would not describe this as a book about friendship, I would say that it was fascinating to see the way people’s lives diverge even when they spent most of their formative years together.
What are your favorite books by AAPI authors?
