Asian American & Pacific Islander Literature

In May, we celebrate the vital contributions of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Explore this collection to find texts related to AAPI history and culture, including works by Ted Chiang, C Pam Zhang, and Ha Jin, among others.

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Fairy Tale / Folklore


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Mothers, Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Parenting, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Bullying


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Relationships: Family

Tags Race / Racism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Depression / Suicide, Realistic Fiction, Christian literature, Grief / Death, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2022

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Science / Nature, Health / Medicine, History: World, Technology


Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Relationships: Marriage

Tags Historical Fiction, Relationships, Poverty, Class, Indian Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature, Arts / Culture


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Spy / Espionage


Publication year 2008

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Fame

Tags Romance, Modern Classic Fiction, Sports, Contemporary Literature


Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Romance, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Asian Literature


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Tags Military / War, History: World, Historical Fiction, Politics / Government

The Sympathizer is an historical spy novel told in the first-person by an unnamed half-French, half-Vietnamese narrator. The story unfolds as the narrator’s confession to a man referred to as the Commandant. The narrator begins his story with the fall of Saigon, where he is the aide-de-camp to a high-ranking General in the Special Branch, the central intelligence organization of the anti-Communist South Vietnamese Army. Quickly, we learn that the narrator is not all he appears... Read The Sympathizer Summary


Publication year 1998

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness

Tags Health / Medicine, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Sports, Mental Illness, Biography

The Tennis Partner: A Story of Friendship and Loss (1998) is a memoir by physician Abraham Verghese. It follows his friendship with David Smith, a medical student recovering from drug addiction, and the regular games of tennis that lie at the heart of their relationship. The book explores the themes The Disease of Addiction, The Power of Ritual, and Navigating Loneliness and Conflict in Relationships.Verghese is a physician, professor, and best-selling author. His first book... Read The Tennis Partner Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Graphic Memoir , Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Relationships: Teams, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Relationships: Family

Tags Children's Literature, Sports, Race / Racism, Bullying, Realistic Fiction, Biography


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Marriage, Identity: Gender, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags History: World, Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Indian Literature


Publication year 2019

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race

Tags History: U.S., Japanese Literature, Asian Literature, Social Justice, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World, Biography

They Called Us Enemy is a 2019 graphic memoir written by author, actor, and activist George Takei and illustrated by Harmony Becker. The story chronicles Takei’s childhood experience in the Japanese concentration camps created by the United States during World War II. Takei frames the narrative with a modern-day talk delivered at the home of Franklin D. Roosevelt, who presided over the country during the war and issued Executive Order 9066, which empowered the US... Read They Called Us Enemy Summary


Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Immigration

Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Arts / Culture


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Self Discovery, Relationships: Family, Society: Immigration, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Society: Community, Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, LGBTQ, Immigration / Refugee, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Bullying, Love / Sexuality, Grief / Death, History: Asian, Natural Disaster, Parenting, Military / War, Race / Racism, Religion / Spirituality, Relationships, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World


Publication year 1991

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Business / Economics, Self Help, Science / Nature, Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology, Psychology, Politics / Government