Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPI) month is celebrated annually every May to recognize the contributions both culturally and historically, made by people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent to the United States. This month offers a much-needed opportunity to celebrate the diversity of AAPI cultures and appreciate their significant impact on American society. To honor their achievements, listed below are five book recommendations from memoirs to works of fiction, offering readers insight into the experiences that shape AAPI identities.
Fairest by Meredith Talusan
Meredith Talusan, a transgender Filipino woman with albinism, documents her life from a rural Philippine village to the United States. Faced with prejudice and parental neglect as a child, she immigrated to Boston on a scholarship to Harvard. Surrounded by the elite class, Talusan navigates trying to find a true identity and belonging while on a search of self-discovery. This memoir brings attention to the author’s experiences as a transgender woman of color but also invites readers to rethink societal norms and gender.
When I’m Gone, Look for Me in the East by Quan Barry
Twin brothers, Chuluun and Mun, are tasked with finding the reincarnation of a great lama who could be anywhere in Mongolia. Chuluun, a monk, and Mun, who has rejected the monastic life put aside their differences to embark on a voyage from the Gobi Desert to the Altai mountains. The brothers can hear each other’s thoughts which will test their relationship on a months’ hunt. Through the journey of religion in their homeland, Chuulun and Mun learn to forgive and accept differences all while rekindling their estranged brotherhood.
