Asian/Pacific-Islander Book Recommendations!

Hey hi hello friends, and welcome back to my blog! 

Happy Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, everyone!

I hope y'all are enjoying May. I personally have challenged myself to read books only from Asian/Pacific-Islander authors this month, and I'm really enjoying it! So I thought I would come on here and give you all some recommendations if you want to do the same thing. I tried to give as wide a variety of books as possible, from as many different countries and cultures that I've read from. Some of these are translated, and some are originally in English. If you've been around for a while, you'll know how much I love East-Asian fiction in particular, and how I've made it a goal to read more translated fiction this year, so this fulfills both goals! 

Okay, without any further ado, let's get into the recs.

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Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami 

I couldn't not start this list with Murakami. He's so widely known (at least in Japan and the US) and I've seen so many people praise him and his books. Norwegian Wood is the only one that I've read so far, but I have a lot more on my list. Norwegian Wood is a historical fiction set in the 1960s and follows a young man Toru and his infatuation with Naoko, his late best friend's ex-girlfriend. This book is super dark and depressing, and there are a ton of trigger warnings that I would look up before deciding whether to read it or not, but if you're able to, I hope you'll find it just as amazing as I did. 

Love from A to Z by S.K. Ali

This is a recent read for me, I actually read it last week! This book really hit me, in a good way. Love from A to Z follows to Muslim teenagers: Adam from Canada, and Zayneb from the US, as they both vacation in Qatar for Spring Break. However, they're both hiding things about themselves, from their families and from each other. At its heart this book is really a fluffy love story, but it also talks about heavier and important things, such as living with a chronic illness, Islamophobia, racism, and standing up against hatred and bigotry. I flew through this book, and cried a few times, and I absolutely would recommend this to anyone who likes to read YA contemporary. 

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

Another heavier book, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous is told in a series of letters a boy writes to his mother, who doesn't read or speak English. The narrator speaks about how he felt during his younger years, living with his mother and grandmother in the US after the three of them left Vietnam. It's very difficult to read in some parts and again has a lot of trigger warnings, but it's also heartwarming because you can feel the love that the narrator has for his mother in every letter written. 

The Silence of Bones by June Hur

The Silence of Bones is a historical fiction set in 1800 Korea, and follows 16 year-old Seol as she is sold into indentured servitude for the police station in the capital. While there she develops a master/apprentice-like friendship with one of the inspectors, until a young woman is murdered and he becomes the prime suspect. Now Seol takes it upon herself to prove the Inspector's innocence, before he is executed for the crimes. I found the setting so immersive, which is a big factor for me when it comes to historical fiction. I found Seol a captivating narrator, observant and with a natural talent for detective work, but also naive and quick to jump to conclusions, which felt spot on for her young age. Also the historical notes at the end of the story were absolutely fascinating. 

Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi

A middle-grade under the Rick Riordan Presents label, Aru Shah follows the titular character as she discovers the Hindu gods are alive in the modern world, and they're angry. I've only read the first book in the series, but there are three out so far (I'm pretty sure there are more coming but don't quote me on that). I found Aru a complicated narrator, because she is very much the kind of young child that will embellish her life if it's not up to her standards. I loved all of the mythology we got in the story, of course, and the story of the Pandari brothers led me to go in a deep dive of Hindi myths and legends. 

Anna K by Jenny Lee

Anna K is a modern-day retelling of Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, and personally I find it better. Anna K is an East-Coast Elite Korean-American teenager, living in New York City. If you're familiar with Anna Karenina, you'll know where the story goes, but for those who aren't, the story begins with Anna's older brother getting into a scandal with his girlfriend, and Anna coming to resolve that. It has a wide cast of characters, each more interesting than the last, and is just the epitome of rich people drama. It's very much rooted in 2020, what with the language, music, and media referenced, but if that isn't something that bothers you (like it does me) then I don't think you'll have a problem with this book. 

Fifty Words for Rain by Asha Lemmie

This is my favorite book of 2021 so far, hands down. Another historical fiction, set in 1950s Kyoto, Japan, Fifty Words for Rain follows a young girl Noriko, as her mother abandons her at her grandparents house...well, mansion. She is part of the imperial family of Japan, but because her father was an African-American soldier that was stationed in Japan during WWII, her illegitimacy makes her an outcast in her own home. It isn't until her half-brother, Akira, comes to live with her that she is shown love and affection, and freedom. The book follows Noriko's struggles as she grows into a young woman, with a passion for music and a deep, undying love for her brother. I cried so hard and so many times while I read this book, no joke. There is a lot about noble Japanese etiquette in here that I found fascinating, but also Noriko's life is so hard but she never stops loving her brother, and eventually, herself. Basically, I will never stop talking about this book, and you should read it. Now. Immediately. Go pick it up and read it, please I'm begging you. 

Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

I finished this book just two days ago! This YA contemporary follows Darius, a Persian-American teen who doesn't really feel like he fits in much at his Portland high school. When he and his family travel to Iran to visit his ailing grandparents, he finds he doesn't really fit in there, either. He's too Persian for America, and to American for Iran. But when he makes a friend, Sohrab, he lets himself truly turn into the person he's meant to be. Darius also has depression, a trait he shares with his father, and I thought that was so well done. Adib Khorram, the author, also has depression and wrote his own experiences into Darius and his father. It was never beat around, or anything like that. The book was very straightforward about it, and I loved that. Also, I got so hungry, which usually happens when food plays a big part in a book. And Persian food? Some of the best food I've ever had. 

American Panda by Gloria Chao

Another YA contemporary, and one I naturally had to read. (Pandas are my favorite animal and if a book mentions pandas, one way or another, I'll find a way to read it.) American Panda is about 17 year-old Mei as she tries to navigate life while also figuring out how to please her Taiwanese parents, who have a very different plan for her future. When Mei reconnects with her older brother, who was cut out of the family due to his dating a non-Taiwanese woman, she begins to wonder if going along with what her parents want from her is really the way to go. I really enjoyed this book, and can relate to the high parental expectations, so I felt a sort of kinship with Mei. And again, this book made me so hungry. 

The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water by Zen Cho

If you want something quick, this is a novella that reads like a fairytale. The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water is about a band of misfits that come together in order to protect a sacred object, and fight against those who want it for themselves. It has a wonderful found family trope and it's also very queer, with a trans main character and a f/f relationship. As I said, this is a novella, but so much happens that it feels like a complete story even though it's only 100 pages or so. 

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So there you have it! Here are 10 Asian/Pacific-Islander book recommendations for you. Have you read any of these? Have you read all of these? Let me know your favorite in the comments below! 

Until next time!