Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Voices
Reading is one way we resist silence — it’s how we celebrate identity, share history, challenge injustice, and uplift each other.
This month, we celebrate the voices and stories of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. With help from Silent Book Club organizers and members, we’ve curated a list of recommended reads on Bookshop.org to honor the richness of AANHPI experiences.
SBC San Francisco’s long-time hosts and full-time librarians, Jen Woo and Elaine Tai, share their picks; SBC Honolulu organizer Mitchell Dwyer chimes in with some great recommendations; and Silent Book Club cofounders Guinevere de la Mare and Laura Gluhanich round up a few of their favorites. Enjoy!
Recommended by Jen Woo, SBC SF/San Francisco Public Library
Blob: A Love Story, by Maggie Su - A quirky and humorous love story involving an aimless mixed race Taiwanese American woman who pins her hopes of happiness on a blob that shapeshifts into a perfect boyfriend.
Lunar New Year Love Story, by Gene Luen Yang and illustrated by LeUyen Pham - An award-winning graphic novel rom-com about a Vietnamese American teen who makes a deal with the ghost of Saint Valentine in order to avoid a familial curse of heartbreak. The book holds with care the characters ties to culture, family, community and love.
Hula, by Jasmine Iolani Hakes - Three generations of Hawaiian women play out the conflict between colonization and Hawaiian sovereignty in a coming-of-age story about discovering your ancestry, family and oneself in relation to dance, community and belonging.
The Backyard Bird Chronicles, by Amy Tan - Tan’s growing awe and appreciation of nature, through birding from her backyard, is documented between 2017 and 2022. Brief and keen musings on birds and daily life accompany illustrations by the author.
Recommended by Elaine Tai, SBC SF/Berkeley Public Library
Living with Viola, by Rosena Fung - This award-winning middle-grade graphic novel wonderfully captures a young girl's Chinese American experience, and depicts her struggles with anxiety—aka Viola—and the trials of middle school.
How Much of These Hills is Gold, by C Pam Zhang - A multilayered story about two Chinese American siblings trying to survive and find their way through the American West, while also weaving in Chinese mythology and symbolism.
Kapaemahu, by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer, and Joe Wilson, illustrated by Daniel Sousa - This beautiful picture book presents the Hawaiian legend of the Mahu, dual male-female spirits known for their healing powers, and the sacred boulders that represent them. Colonization in the islands led to an ignorance of the Kapaemahu stones until the 1960s, and this book educates a new generation on the importance and power of indigenous stories.
Recommended by Mitchell Dwyer, SBC Honolulu
Blu's Hanging, by Lois-Ann Yamanaka - A young Hawaiian girl navigates her challenging family life and coming-of-age in a vivid, raw portrait of rural Hawaii.
Jennifer Chan is Not Alone, by Tae Keller - A lonely middle schooler tries to reinvent herself in a new town after a humiliating incident, seeking connection and acceptance.
Every Drop Is a Man's Nightmare, by Megan Kamalei Kakimoto - A collection of fierce, fantastical stories exploring the lives of Hawaiian women grappling with cultural identity, folklore, and resilience.
Recommended by Guinevere & Laura, SBC co-founders
The Invisible Wild, by Nikki Van de Car - This YA novel uses magical realism to weave together traditional Hawaiian mo'olelo (stories) with current issues of colonization, overtourism, and development. I highly recommend the audiobook to hear the Hawaiian language beautifully read by Barrie Kealoha. (GdlM)
We the Gathered Heat, edited by Franny Choi, Bao Phi, No'u Revilla, and Terisa Siagatonu - Too often, Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans are squeezed into the same story. This powerful anthology of personal narratives from leading poets, authors, and creatives offers a deeply personal and insightful exploration of AANHPI identity, connecting past, present, and future. (GdlM)
Exhalation, by Ted Chiang - I love Ted Chiang's short stories. Sci-fi is not my usual fave but his are some of the best ever, and anchored in humanity. (LG)