List
Nonfiction by Authors of Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage
Our staff suggest these nonfiction titles in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage.
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Rise: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now
2022 by Yang, JeffGet this itemThis hip, eclectic work looks at the inroads Asian Americans have made in the areas of sports, entertainment, and politics over the past three decades. It offers readers a delicious mix of comics, playlists, essays, interviews, and much more. A book overflowing with contributions made by the diverse, talented, and transformative Asian American community. Suggested by Chris.
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This Country: Searching for Home in (Very) Rural America
2023 by Mahdavian, NaviedGet this itemWhen Navied and his wife move from San Francisco to rural Idaho, they discover a much different culture and pace of life. The author reflects on his often challenging interactions with his neighbors as they adjust to their new home. This graphic novel also features beautiful illustrations and descriptions of nature. Suggested by Brenna.
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To Asia, with Love
2021 by McKinnon, HettyGet this itemWith one of the most popular cookbooks of 2021 (it appeared on numerous Best of 2021 lists, including my own), Hetty McKinnon provides poignant, intimate memories of her mother's delicious Cantonese cooking as well as accessible plant-based recipes. Suggested by Chris.
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Stay True
2022 by Hsu, HuaGet this itemA poignant memoir of friendship and grief. The author reflects on his friendship with Ken, who lost his life at a young age. Their bond was deeply profound and left a lasting impact on the author. Suggested by Brenna.
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Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls
2019 by Madden, T KiraGet this itemAn honest, emotional, and at times heartbreaking memoir of childhood trauma. T Kira Madden’s writing is haunting and beautiful, her story unforgettable. Suggested by Brenna.
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Fatty Fatty Boom Boom: A Memoir of Food, Fat, and Family
2022 by Chaudry, RabiaGet this itemWe admire Rabia Chaudry's ability to be candid and vulnerable in tackling sensitive issues such as fat phobia, body shaming, abusive relationships, and her journey of self acceptance. We also recommend the audiobook, which is narrated by the author. Suggested by Farishta and Rummanah.
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They Called Us Exceptional: And Other Lies That Raised Us
2023 by Gupta, PrachiGet this itemPrachi Gupta addresses the “model minority” myth in this memoir. Sharing experiences that led to an estranged relationship with her family, the author writes with exceptional vulnerability and candor. Suggested by Brenna.
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Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion
2019 by Tolentino, JiaGet this itemA collection of original essays by one of the New Yorker's best new writers. I admit to being a little jealous of Jia Tolentino's supernova writing—both intimate and profound, seemingly off-the-cuff and deeply investigated. Suggested by Chris.
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One Mighty and Irresistible Tide: The Epic Struggle over American Immigration, 1924-1965
2020 by Yang, Jia LynnGet this item"A history of the struggle for immigration law reform in 20th-century America. In this excellent debut, Jia Lynn Yang recounts the making of the historic Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which opened the door to Asian, Latin American, African, and Middle Eastern immigrants and 'helped define America as a multicultural nation.' Until then, becoming an American was tied to European ancestry, with entry barred to nearly all Asians." (Kirkus) Suggested by Chris.
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Sigh, Gone: A Misfit's Memoir of Great Books, Punk Rock, and the Fight to Fit In
2020 by Tran, PhucGet this itemI really enjoyed this memoir. I thought the author's use of looking back on his life and self-acceptance through the prism of classical literature was really enlightening. Suggested by Rummanah.
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From A Whisper to A Rallying Cry: The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial That Galvanized the Asian American Movement
2021 by Yoo, PaulaGet this itemThis compelling, well-reviewed work of narrative nonfiction explores the brutal murder of Chinese American Vincent Chin in 1982 and its rallying impact on the then nascent Asian American civil rights movement. Suggested by Chris.
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Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning
2020 by Hong, Cathy ParkGet this itemCathy Park Hong is an award-winning poet and essayist who takes a blistering look at the psychological condition of being Asian American. Kirkus states it best: "Candid and unapologetically political, Hong's text deftly explores the explosive emotions surrounding race in ways sure to impact the discourse surrounding Asian identity as well as race and belonging in America." Suggested by Skokie staff.
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