Hey hi hello friends, and welcome back to my blog!
May is Asian-American/Pacific-Islander Heritage Month, and I wanted to share some amazing books written by Asian authors! I also did this last year, so if you want 10 more books to read, click here. This time, I have twelve recommendations for you! I could've given you more, but I wanted to try and highlight a bunch of different countries, so I tried to pick a book by an author of a different nationality. I have two repeats (from Japan and Korea) because I just couldn't choose between the two books I had chosen. So I have ten countries to highlight!
I also want to note that this list includes both translated works as well as books originally published in English. We all know that I really try to prioritize translated fiction from all over the world, so I wanted to highlight some amazing books. I will include whether or not the book is translated.
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For Japan
Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Romance
Age range: Young Adult
Author location: Lives in US
This is an adorable "Princess Diaries" kind of book where the main character finds out her estranged father is actually the Crown Prince of Japan! This is a series, with the sequel being published this year.
I Want to Eat Your Pancreas by Sumino Yoru (Translated by Beni Axia Conrad)
Genre: Slice-of-life, Contemporary Fiction
Age range: Shoujo (Young Adult)
Author location: Lives in Japan
A very heartbreaking manga about a teenage girl living with pancreatic cancer, and the boy who found out her secret by accident. It's also a movie.
For Korea
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir
Age range: Adult
Author location: Born in Korea, Lives in US
This is Michelle's memoir about losing her mother to cancer, and how she connected to her mom through Korean food and their shared heritage. It will make you cry, just a heads up.
Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Hard-Hitting Fiction
Age range: New Adult
Author location: Born in Korea, Lives in US
Another hard-hitting book about estranged sisters coming back together when one of them gets a cancer diagnosis. Trigger warning for eating disorders.
For Iraq
Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi (Translated by Jonathan Wright)
Genre: Horror, Science Fiction, Literary Fiction
Age range: Adult
Author location: Lives in Iraq
This is the one book on this list that I haven't finished yet, but I'm reading it right now! In the midst of US-occupied Iraq, a junk dealer begins to salvage body parts from the aftermath of explosions in the hopes of getting them recognized as people. But when his creation wanders off and a string of murders happen around the city, he begins to realize he meddled with things he should not have.
For Vietnam
Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Age range: Adult
Author location: Lives in US
A fantasy novella with a non-binary main character as they travel the world and learn various stories and myths from the people they encounter. This is a series, with the third novella being published this year.
For Iran
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (Translated by Mattias Ripa)
Genre: Graphic Novel, Nonfiction, Memoir
Age range: Adult (any age really, there are adult themes explored however)
Author location: Born in Iran, Lives in France
Another memoir, though this time in comic format, about Marjane's life growing up in Iran amidst the Islamic revolution. It's poignant and talks about a lot of things you never learned about in school (if you went to school in the US, that is).
For Lebanon
The Prophet by Khalil Gibran
Genre: Philosophy, Poetry, Classics
Age range: Adult (though I could argue for all ages)
Author location: Born in Lebanon, Lived in US (died in 1931)
This is a collection of poetic essays that delve into the intricacies of the human heart and mind. It's something you can read in a day but it will leave you feeling scrubbed raw, but most of all loved beyond imagination.
For India
The Girl and the Goddess by Nikita Gill
Genre: Poetry, Mythology, Feminism
Age range: Adult
Author location: Born in Ireland, Lives in England
Half poetry collection, half mythology retelling, this is a semi-autobiographical account of a young girl learning about Hindu myth from the goddesses themselves, as they follow her throughout her growing up into a young woman.
For China
Tidesong by Wendy Xu
Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Coming-of-age
Age range: Middle-Grade
Author location: Lives in US
This is my most recent read, having finished it just a few days ago! A very cute graphic novel following a young witch as she trains her ocean magic and befriends a young dragon. This is heavily inspired by the legends of Chinese dragons. It also deals with anxiety and intrusive thoughts.
For the Philippines
Wicked As You Wish by Rin Chupeco
Genre: Fantasy, Mythology
Age range: Young Adult
Author location: Lives in Philippines
This is one of the more unique urban fantasy stories I've read, as it takes place in our own world but there are little additions, such as magical continents that have been lost. This has a found family as well as not knowing who exactly is a bad guy. This is a series and the sequel is coming out this year.
For Malaysia
The Girl and the Ghost by Hanna Alkaf
Genre: Coming-of-age, Fantasy, Horror
Age range: Middle-Grade
Author location: Lives in Malaysia
This is a fun semi-horror book about the unlikely friendship between a young girl and a dark spirit named Pink. It explores toxic friendships, family inheritance, and loyalty between friends.
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So there you have it! 12 amazing books to read during AAPI Heritage month, or whenever you want a good read! Have you read any of these? Have you read all of these? Let me know in the comments or tweet at me @AllyEmReads.
Until next time!
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