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.
Publication year 1999
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Courage
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Japanese Literature, Action / Adventure
The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn (1999), by Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler, is the first novel in the Samurai Detective young adult series, currently comprised of seven books. The novel follows Seikei, the son of a merchant who aspires to be a samurai, as he helps the judge investigate the theft of a ruby from a samurai lord. It explores the themes of Personal Ambition Versus Societal Expectations, The Deceptiveness of Appearances, and The Importance... Read The Ghost In The Tokaido Inn Summary
Publication year 1986
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Fate
Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, Mythology, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Asian Literature, History: World
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Immigration, Values/Ideas: Equality, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Society: Class
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Race / Racism, Love / Sexuality, Class
Publication year 1931
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Natural World: Environment, Society: Class, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Place, Society: Community
Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, History: Asian, Education, Education, History: World, Chinese Literature
A measure of the quality, prescience, and veracity of Pearl S. Buck’s The Good Earth is that, nearly a century after its first publication, the book remains required reading in literature, world history, and social science courses. The novel is a simple, straightforward narrative about 50 years in the life of Wang Lung, an uneducated farmer in eastern China in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While this era period was one of continual... Read The Good Earth Summary
Publication year 1973
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Anthropology, Sociology, Philosophy, Science / Nature, Psychology, Politics / Government, Education, Education, Anthropology, Social Science, History: World, Philosophy, Arts / Culture
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Self Discovery
Tags Romance, Disability, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2000
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Siblings, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Nation, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos
Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Korean Literature, Agriculture
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Fathers, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Asian Literature, Children's Literature, Asian Literature
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, WWII / World War II, Asian Literature, Military / War, Asian Literature, History: World, Chinese Literature
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Society: Immigration
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Immigration / Refugee, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature, Historical Fiction
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Music
Tags Chinese Literature, Asian Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature, Parenting
The Leavers, author Lisa Ko's debut novel, won the 2016 PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction. Inspired by a 2009 New York Times article about an undocumented Chinese woman held in predominantly solitary detention for 18 months, The Leavers tells the coming-of-age tale of Deming Guo/Daniel Wilkinson’s loss and eventual reconciliation with his birth mother, Polly Guo. In his journey to find his mother, Daniel learns of Polly’s challenges and comes to terms with his... Read The Leavers Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Society: Immigration
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Historical Fiction, Asian Literature
Publication year 2020
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Identity: Sexuality
Tags LGBTQ, Fantasy, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Asian Literature, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2015
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Immigration, Society: Community, Society: Colonialism, Society: Globalization
Tags Asian Literature, History: World, History: U.S., Race / Racism, Social Justice, Politics / Government, Immigration / Refugee
Publication year 1998
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Food, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Identity: Gender, Identity: Indigenous, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Aging, Natural World: Flora/plants, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Immigration
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature, Magical Realism, Fantasy, Romance, Indian Literature, Food, Asian Literature
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Society: Immigration
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Arts / Culture, Indian Literature
Publication year 2015
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Economics, Natural World: Environment
Tags Science / Nature, Anthropology, Anthropology, Business / Economics, Philosophy, Philosophy, Food, Politics / Government
Publication year 2003
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Immigration, Relationships: Marriage
Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Immigration / Refugee, Diversity, Race / Racism, Relationships, Indian Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature
The Namesake is a novel by the distinguished American writer Jhumpa Lahiri, who is known for her traditional narrative style often dealing with sensitive issues of immigrant life and culture clash. First published in 2003, this is her first novel, originally published in The New Yorker in shorter form, and it follows an immigrant Bengali family in America and the way its members adapt to a culture and society very different to their own. The... Read The Namesake Summary
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction
The Orphan Master’s Son is the story of Jun Do, an “everyman” caught up in high-stakes politics in a fictionalized version of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. As the son of the orphan master, Jun Do grows up among orphans and bears a martyr’s name, experiences which follow him throughout his life. During a period of national famine, Jun Do and the orphans are sent to join the army. As the head of an... Read The Orphan Master's Son Summary