Enjoy stories all year long from romance novels, thrillers to fantasies to celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month!
Discrimination against Asians has only increased since the disastrous election last year and the installation of the returning president. Americans of Asian descent are at risk of racism and violence as a result of the sitting president’s vitriolic rhetoric and policies against them. This has been happening since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when many Asians faced violent threats under the president’s term.
As we celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage month in May, let’s take this opportunity to empower these marginalized groups by highlighting some of their works.
Below, I’ve compiled a list of young adult books spanning several genres. Seven of the authors on the list have roots from Asia, with one from the Pacific Islands. But as much as I’d like to include more Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander authors, there haven’t been many YA books published in the last year or so that strictly fit the category, aside from Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier. There may be books in there that aren’t well-known, but I wish that there were more that are widely published in English and available to read right now. I guess this is an opportunity to urge publishers to improve the representation of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander authors in the publishing scene.
In the list, there’s a fantasy book featuring Chinese mythology, books that explore the struggles of young adult Asian immigrants, young Asians finding love and their place in the world, and a fantasy featuring a fierce heroine who wants to exact revenge against colonizers. In the list, there’s also one author who’s an Aboriginal Australian, which is classified as Pacific Islanders by the United States census, despite the fact that Aboriginal Australians don’t live in the Pacific Islands.
There are plenty of new and forthcoming YA books from authors of color, but for now, here are eight new YA books featuring AANHPI voices.
Zodiac Rising by Katie Zhao
The Descendants of the Chinese Zodiac became evil after losing their source of power, the 12 zodiac statues, which were vandalized and lost to history.
Now that these relics reappear, the Descendants have the opportunity to reclaim their magic. However, a classmate of theirs at a New York boarding school is killed, and the fae are being held responsible. To reclaim their magic, the Descendants must form a team consisting of a vampire, shapeshifter, mortal, and werewolf to stage a heist.
Midnights with You by Clare Osongco
Deedee’s strict Filipina mother forbids her from learning to drive—until Jay arrives and secretly teaches her how. He’s the handsome new neighbor who’s also unable to get a good night’s sleep due to family issues.
Together, they work through their shared family trauma while driving through their sleepless nights. But sharing Deedee’s burdens with Jay could jeopardize their blossoming relationship.
When Haru Was Here by Dustin Thao
Eric falls into such a deep depression after his best friend died that he must imagine scenarios in his head as a way to cope with his grief. Until one of them becomes a reality.
Meet Haru, Eric’s new friend who appears to be only visible to him. Eric finds comfort in even the most difficult times as they spend time together. But Eric must separate fantasy from reality. Is Haru ever real, or just a figment of his imagination?
For No Mortal Creature by Keshe Chow
Jia gains magic after being stabbed by an enemy. She’s now able to see ghosts, including Lin, her former best friend and lover, and travel to the afterlife.
When her grandmother unexpectedly dies, she’s forced to cross into the death realm to try to bring her back. But to do that, she needs the assistance of her two enemies, Lin and a certain Prince Essien Lancaster, or she becomes a ghost herself down there.
I Am Not Jessica Chen by Ann Liang
Jenna wishes to be like her more successful cousin, Jessica. She didn’t get into any of the Ivy League schools she applied to, and she feels like a failure to her immigrant parents. So she makes a wish to become Jessica, which indeed comes true.
From private journals to Jessica’s family members, Jenna gets access to Jessica’s life. And now, she attends Havenwood Private Academy, too. She soon realizes, however, that it isn’t what she expected or what it appears to be. As she continues to play Jessica, she discovers that her existence is being erased. Her mother even forgets about Jenna Chen.
Jenna must make a difficult decision: will she return to her true self, or will she forever be Jessica?
Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay
This follows four Filipino American teenagers from four generations as they deal with issues concerning their fathers. In Watsonville in 1930, Francis questions his decision to leave the Philippines after encountering violence from white men. Emil, in Stockton in 1965, doesn’t want to follow his father’s footsteps to become a union organizer even as he faces prejudice at his school and at the restaurant where he works.
Denver. 1983. Chris learns more about Filipino history during a trip to the library, despite his father’s apparent lack of interest in the subject and disregard for Chris’s education on it. In Philadelphia in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Enzo’s grandfather moves in with him and his father, who appear to be at odds. As grandson and grandfather bond over their daily walks, Emil realizes that he may be able to help his father and grandfather mend their strained relationship.
The Floating World by Axie Oh
Sunho is unable to recall his life prior to two years ago in the Under World. All he knows is that he’s a former soldier. To get by, he accepts a job that requires him to find a girl who can wield a silver light.
Ren comes from an acrobatic family. As a monster suddenly attacks them during a performance in a village, her family is hurt, and her beloved uncle is poisoned. She’s only able to save them all and the village from complete destruction by releasing a silver light that kills the monster, a secret power she had hidden since she was a child.
To save her dying uncle, Ren flees to the woods, only to meet Sunho, who, like many other mercenaries, is unaware that he’s the girl he’s been paid to capture.
Liar’s Test by Ambelin Kwaymullina
Bell is a Treesinger whose home is invaded by the Risen and their gods. She becomes one of seven competitors in the Queen’s Test, a cut-throat competition where girls vie for the crown and a chance to rule in the next 25 years. If she wins, she gets to exact revenge on the Risen and seek justice.
But along the way, Bell becomes part of a conspiracy. And she faces something far greater than the menacing Risen and the deadly games: the gods.
Want to discover more AANHPI voices? Start with these Most Influential Asian American Literature of All Time and this list of Pacific Islander and Pasifika Authors.