May is coming up, and that means Asian Pacific Heritage Month as well!
This post includes eight of my favorite YA books by Asian American authors. As a Taiwanese-Japanese American girl growing up in the United States, a lot of these stories resonate with me in terms of culture and identity struggles. It's been a while since I read some of these books, and I had to dig deep into my memory (and Google 😅) to remember their exact contents. But the way they made me feel is something I won't ever forget.
To learn more about this month, visit asianpacificheritage.gov.
Stacey Lee's Novels
Historical fiction
Stacey Lee is one of my favorite Asian American authors of all time. Her novels tend to be historical fiction focused on strong female characters of Chinese heritage, with sprinkles of romance throughout.
- Under a Painted Sky — Lee's debut novel. It's 1849. Samantha, a Chinese girl yearning to be a musician in New York, finds her dreams shattered by a tragic accident. She's forced to flee with Annamae, a runaway slave. Together, the two girls disguise themselves as boys and embark on a perilous journey along the Oregon Trail, encountering cowboys, danger, and unexpected friendships.
- The Downstairs Girl — Seventeen-year-old Jo Kuan navigates life as a maid for a cruel socialite in Atlanta's Reconstruction era South. Despite the limitations placed on her as a young Chinese American woman, Jo finds a clever outlet for her voice: anonymously writing scandalous society gossip for a local paper. This secret pursuit brings her face-to-face with issues of race, class, and identity, all while putting her in a precarious situation.
- Luck of the Titanic — The story of Valora Luck, a British-Chinese acrobat chasing her dream of a new life in America aboard the ill-fated Titanic. Denied entry due to the Chinese Exclusion Act, Valora must use her resourcefulness to stay on the ship while also reuniting with her twin brother to impress a circus owner for a potential job – all before the disaster strikes.
Lee is a wonderful writer and I've found each of her books to be great reads, though I haven't had the pull to reread most of her books like I do with my ultra top favorite titles. (The exception is her novel The Secret of a Heart Note.)
Loveboat, Taipei Series (Abigail Hing Wen)
Contemporary fiction, mild spice
I fell in love with Loveboat, Taipei the first time I read it. This series follows three Asian American teens on immersion programs in Taipei — disguised as cultural enrichment, but really just a place for young people to let loose. The books touch on the cultural gaps between American-born Taiwanese and their parents, the pressures of Asian society, falling in love despite the circumstances, and doing what it takes to follow your dreams. I haven't read the last book (Loveboat Forever) yet, but it's on my TBR list!
A Pho Love Story (Loan Le)
Contemporary fiction
A sweet, modern-day Romeo and Juliet (with a happy ending), following two Vietnamese American teens who find themselves drawn together despite a long-standing family feud. Bao Nguyen and Linh Mai are children of competing Vietnamese pho restaurant owners. As they grow closer and begin to fall for each other, a pressing question arises — exactly what is the guarded secret behind their families' rivalry?
We Are Not Free (Traci Chee)
Historical fiction
A poignant look at the stories of fourteen Japanese American teenagers in San Francisco during World War II. Told from each of their perspectives, this novel explores their struggles, resilience, and the deep friendships that sustain them as they grapple with the barbed wire fences, prejudice, and loss of freedom within the internment camps.
My TBR List
- Rules for Rule Breaking (Talia Tucker) — a slow-burn romance following two Korean American teens on a college visit road trip
What other books about Asian Americans would you guys recommend? Let me know in the comments!
Happy reading,
Sable 🖤