#StopAAPIHate - Middle Grade and YA Books to Support Asian American and Pacific Islander Authors

With the recent hate crimes against AAPI individuals in America, it becomes more important than ever to promote and celebrate these authors and their stories.

One of the criticisms the AAPI community, as well as other BIPOC communities, have brought up is that their culture is only celebrated during national months. AAPI Month is in May and brings with it lots of book displays, posts, and general celebrations of this community, similar to how Black History Month is celebrated in February. But, this community, like other BIPOC communities, need to be supported and promoted year-round.

So, here are some recommendations for middle grade and YA books written by AAPI authors:

The Girl and the Ghost

Hanna Alkaf

Retells a Malaysian folk tale in which a lonely girl, Suraya, inherits from her grandmother a pelesit, a ghostly demon, who proves to be a good companion, bringing both danger and hope.

American Born Chinese

Gene Luen Yang

Alternates interrelated stories about three characters, including a Chinese American trying to participate in popular culture; a Chinese folk hero attempting to be worshipped as a god; and a teenager who is so ashamed by his Chinese cousin's behavior that he changes schools.

We Are Not Free

Traci Chee

For fourteen-year-old budding artist Minoru Ito, her two brothers, her friends, and the other members of the Japanese-American community in southern California, the three months since Pearl Harbor was attacked have become a waking nightmare: attacked, spat on, and abused with no way to retaliate--and now things are about to get worse, their lives forever changed by the mass incarcerations in the relocation camps.

Front Desk

Kelly Yang

Recent immigrants from China and desperate for work and money, ten-year-old Mia Tang's parents take a job managing a rundown motel in Southern California, even though the owner, Mr. Yao is a nasty skinflint who exploits them; while her mother does the cleaning, Mia works the front desk and tries to cope with demanding customers and other recent immigrants--not to mention being only one of two Chinese in her fifth grade class, the other being Mr. Yao's son, Jason.

Stand Up, Yumi Chung!

Jessica Kim

When eleven-year-old Yumi Chung stumbles into a kids' comedy camp, she is mistaken for another student, so she decides to play the part. One lie snowballs into a full-blown double life in this irresistible story about an aspiring stand-up comedian.

When You Trap A Tiger

Tae Keller

When Lily, her sister Sam, and their mother move in with her sick grandmother, Lily traps a tiger and makes a deal with him to heal Halmoni. This fascinating take on Korean folklore was the 2021 Newbery Award winner.

They Called Us Enemy

George Takei

Actor, author, and activist George Takei recounts his childhood imprisoned within American concentration camps for Japanese Americans during World War II and the impact the experience had on his later life.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

Grace Lin

Minli, an adventurous girl from a poor village, buys a magical goldfish, and then joins a dragon who cannot fly on a quest to find the Old Man of the Moon in hopes of bringing life to Fruitless Mountain and freshness to Jade River.

Almost American Girl

Robin Ha

The author recounts how she and her mother moved from South Korea to the United States. This moving graphic novel captures the immigrant experience from the eyes of Robin Ha, only child of a single mother, who struggles with extreme culture shock and isolation, until she discovers her passion for comic arts.

More reviews and recommendations from AAPI authors and creators:

1. Books and Boba

2. Grace Lin on Instagram

3. Kitaab World