May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, which celebrates the unique journey of all AAPI immigrants and citizens in the U.S. and their life experiences, traditional and cultures.
The month of May was chosen for AAPI Heritage Month because it commemorates the immigration of the first Japanese people to the U.S. on May 7, 1843. In addition, May 10, 1869, marked the completion of the transcontinental railroad, which was built with significant contributions from Chinese laborers.
Today there are about 23 million people of Asian or Pacific Islander descent in the U.S. who make up the fastest growing racial group in the country.
Our collections staff has curated this list of books to read this month to help better your understanding of the AAPI experience.
Children
Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao by Kat Zhang and Charlene Chua
Eyes that Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho
A Different Pond by Bao Phi
Mindy Kim and the Fairy-Tale Wedding by Lyla Lee
Middle Grade
We Belong by Cookie Hiponia Everman
Frazzled: Everyday Disasters and Impending Doom by Booki Vivat
New From Here by Kelly Yang
That Thing about Bollywood by Supriya Kelkar
Young Adult
All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions by Navdeep Singh Dhillon
Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir of a Wuhanese American by Laura Gao
A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I Lin
Adults
Afterparties by Anthony Veasna So
Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P Manansala
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang
The Family Chao by Lan Samantha Lang
The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka
Beautiful Country: A Memoir by Quian Julie Wang
Bibliolepsy by Gina Apostol
English