Children's Book Suggestions | Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Celebrate Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month with these chapter books for readers in Grades 2-7!

Updated February 15, 2024
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The secret of the jade bangle
Trinh, Linda
Paper Book
"Engaging and empowering"--STARRED review, Nonstop Reader A charming early chapter book series that explores Vietnamese culture and identity through the eyes of the Nguyen siblings, with elements of the supernatural, spirituality, and social justice woven in. 

Three siblings inherit magical gifts from their late Grandma Ná»™i, who recently passed away, that teach them more about their Vietnamese heritage. (Bridging Fiction Grades 2-4)

Much ado about baseball
LaRocca, Rajani
Paper Book
"Much Ado About Baseball is the best children's book I've read in the past 10 years!" -Brad Thor, New York Times bestselling author of the Scot Harvath series "A moving tale of baseball, magic, and former rivals who come together to solve a problem." -Kirkus...
Math nerds on their quirky Connecticut town's baseball team discover that the snacks provided by their sponsor are magically improving their sports skills. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)
The tryout
Soontornvat, Christina
Paper Book
STAND TALL. BE LOUD. GAME FACE ON. This pitch perfect graphic memoir about courage and competition, friendship and belonging is perfect for fans of Smile, New Kid, Rollergirl, and Real Friends. "A captivating...

Based on a true story from the author's childhood, this novel about trying out for the middle school cheerleading squad is a perfect fit for friends of Smile and Real Friends. (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)

Front desk
Yang, Kelly
Paper Book
Four starred reviews and over ten best-of-year lists!* "Many readers will recognize themselves or their neighbors in these pages." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred reviewWinner of the Asian / Pacific American Award for Children's Literature!* "Many readers will recognize themselves or their...

Mia, an aspiring writer and recent immigrant from China, helps her parents run an Anaheim motel in 1990s LA. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Prairie lotus
Park, Linda Sue
Paper Book
Prairie Lotus is a powerful, touching, multilayered novel about a girl determined to fit in and realize her dreams: getting an education, becoming a dressmaker in her father's shop, and making at least one friend. Acclaimed, award-winning author Linda Sue Park has placed a young half-Asian...

A biracial Asian girl who longs to be a dressmaker settles in a small South Dakota town inspired by the Little House on the Prairie books. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Maizy Chen's last chance
Yee, Lisa
Paper Book
NEWBERY HONOR AWARD WINNER . NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST . ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN AWARD FOR YOUTH LITERATURE Twelve year-old Maizy discovers her family's Chinese restaurant is full of secrets in this irresistible novel that celebrates food, fortune, and family. NAMED...

After her grandfather falls ill, a young teen from LA spends a summer in the Midwest helping out at her grandparents' restaurant and learning more about her heritage. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

The spirit glass
Chokshi, Roshani
Paper Book
Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents a standalone quest adventure based on Filipino mythology by Roshani Chokshi, author of the best-selling Aru Shah series. Corazon yearns to finally start training as a babaylan (a mystical healer and spirit guide) under her powerful...

A vengeful ghost steals the key that allows a Filipino girl to speak with the spirits of her parents in this fantasy adventure story based on Filipino mythology. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Haru, zombie dog hero
Oh, Ellen
Ebook
"Tender character relationships between both pup and human, and the myriad fully realized animals Haru meets along his journey, combine for a multilayered and thoroughly heartfelt must-read."--Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Oh covers heavy, relevant topics in this tense middle-grade...

A beloved dog helps his human boy unmask the evil corporation bent on destroying their town. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Unsettled
Faruqi, Reem
Paper Book
A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year · Kid's Indie Next List · Featured in Today Show's AAPI Heritage Month list · A Kirkus Children's Best Book of 2021 · A National Council of Teachers of English Notable Verse Novel · Jane Addams 2022 Children's Book Award Finalist · 2021...

In this novel in verse, a Pakistani girl struggles to adjust to life in America after her father gets a new job in Peachtree, Georgia. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Stargazing
Wang, Jen
Paper Book
Stargazing is a heartwarming middle-grade graphic novel in the spirit of Frizzy and Mexikid, from New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Jen Wang. Moon is everything Christine isn't. She's confident, impulsive, artistic . . . and though they...

Compulsive rule-follower Christine is drawn to impulsive, artistic Moon, but Moon's free-wheeling ways are related to a burgeoning health crisis. (Children's Graphic Novels Grades 3-5)

Keep it together, Keiko Carter
Florence, Debbi Michiko
Paper Book
Fans of Wendy Mass and Lisa Greenwald are sure to fall head-over-heels for this sweet story about first crushes, friendship drama, and finding the courage to stand up for yourself.Seventh grade is supposed to be a game changer. And Keiko thinks she's got it covered, especially with Audrey and Jenna...

Keiko finds herself stuck in the middle between two best friends, one who throws herself headlong into makeup and dating and one who doesn't. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Pahua and the soul stealer
Lee, Lori M.
Paper Book
Pahua is a lonely 11-year-old Hmong girl with the unique ability to see spirits. She spends her summer days babysitting her little brother and playing with a cat spirit no one else can see. One day she accidentally untethers an angry spirit from the haunted bridge in her neighbourhood. When her...

A Hmong teen discovers she's a legendary shaman warrior when she rescues her brother's spirit from the underworld in this Rick Riordan Presents fantasy adventure. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Awesome orange birthday
Ruths, Mitali Banerjee
Paper Book
In this full-color early chapter book series, Priya starts a party-planning business to help save the planet -- one party at a time! Pick a book. Grow a Reader! This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line, Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to...

An animal-loving kid uses her organization and arts & crafts skills to plan parties that raise funds for a good cause! In the first book, she kicks off her business by planning an orange-themed birthday for a family friend. (Bridging Fiction Grades 2-4)

Living with Viola
Fung, Rosena
Paper Book
"unforgettable . . . will shake middle grade readers to the core"--School Library Journal, starred review "Beautifully illustrated, relatable, and genuine." --Molly Brooks, creator of Sanity & Tallulah "Everyone needs to buy this book now. ...

A graphic novel that explores anxiety and mental illness from the perspective of a Chinese Canadian middle schooler. (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)

More to the story
Khan, Hena
Paper Book
From the critically acclaimed author of Amina's Voice comes a new story inspired by Louisa May Alcott's beloved classic, Little Women, featuring four sisters from a modern American Muslim family living in Georgia. When Jameela Mirza is picked to be feature editor of...

A retelling of Little Women starring a Pakistani Muslim American family living in modern-day Georgia. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

The last fallen star
Kim, Graci
Paper Book
Riley can't wait to see her sister Hattie get initiated into a powerful lineage of Korean healing witches their family has belonged to for generations. Although Riley is desperate to follow in Hattie's footsteps, she's a saram - without magic. Then Hattie gets an idea: what if the two of them could...

A Korean American girl attempts to include her adopted sister in the family's magic with disastrous results. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

The unbeatable Lily Hong
Ma, Diana
Paper Book
A smart, funny, and heartfelt middle grade novel about Lily Hong's attempts to save her parents' Chinese school and the town's community center using all the resources she has--devoted friends, ingenuity, a passion for filmmaking, mediocre dance moves (at best), and perhaps even her...

A Chinese Muslim teen is torn between pursuing her own dreams of filmmaking or helping to save her family's traditional dance business during a reality TV competition. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

When you trap a tiger
Keller, Tae
Paper Book
WINNER OF THE NEWBERY MEDAL . WINNER OF THE ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN AWARD FOR CHILDREN'S LITERATURE . #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Would you make a deal with a magical tiger? This uplifting story brings Korean folklore to life as a girl goes on a quest to unlock the power of...

A young teen girl learns about her family history through the power of stories when she goes to stay with her aging halmoni. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Inside out & back again
Lai, Thanhha.
Paper Book
Inside Out and Back Again is a #1 New York Times bestseller, a Newbery Honor Book, and a winner of the National Book Award! Inspired by the author's childhood experience as a refugee--fleeing Vietnam after the Fall of Saigon and immigrating to Alabama--this coming-of-age debut novel told...

A novel in verse inspired by the author's childhood, when her family settled in Alabama in 1975 following the Vietnam War. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Ghost book
Lai, Remy
Paper Book
Perfect for fans of Spirited Away, Coco, and Ghosts comes a spooky fantasy graphic novel about the friendship between a girl who can see ghosts and a boy who is stuck between the worlds of the living and the dead. An Indie Bestseller! An Amazon,...

A girl who can talk to ghosts befriends a spirit during Hungry Ghost month in this funny graphic novel from Chinese Australian author Remy Lai. (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)

Troublemaker
Cho, John
Paper Book
An instant New York Times bestselller! An Indiebound bestseller! 12-year-old Jordan feels like he can't live up to the example his older sister set, or his parent's expectations. When he returns home from school one day hoping to hide his suspension, Los Angeles...

A Korean American middle schooler experiences the 1992 LA riots while crossing the city to help his dad at their family store in Koreatown. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Shakti
Sindu, SJ
Paper Book
A fierce, feminist, and fun middle grade fantasy graphic novel about a twelve-year-old Indian American girl named Shakti who must learn the power of her ancestral magic if she wants to save her family and town from a dangerous curse. Written by Stonewall Honor Book recipient and Lambda Literary...

After an attempt to use ancient magic to stop a group of bullies accidentally curses her town, an Indian American tween must make peace with herself in order to save it. (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)

Mabuhay!
Sterling, Zack
Paper Book
*Nominated for the 2024 Eisner Awards for Best Publication for Kids* From rising star Zachary Sterling comes a humorous and heartwarming middle-grade graphic novel that celebrates food, family, and folklore. Can two kids save the world and work their family food...

Two teen who are less than enthused about helping with their family's Filipino food truck find themselves cursed by monsters from Filipino folklore. (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)

A sky of paper stars
Yi, Susie
Paper Book
A Sky of Paper Stars is a heartrending middle-grade graphic novel by Susie Yi about a girl's ill-fated wish to fit in, perfect for readers of Stargazing and Pashmina. All Yuna wants is to belong. She wants to go to sleepovers, have a smart...

A Korean American girl struggling to fit in with her classmates navigates grief while mourning the death of her grandparents. (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)

You are here : connecting flights
Oh, Ellen
Ebook
A powerful and engaging exploration of contemporary Asian American identity through interwoven stories set in a teeming Chicago airport, written by award-winning and bestselling East and Southeast Asian American authors including Linda Sue Park, Grace Lin, Erin Entrada Kelly, Traci Chee, and...
Try a bunch of different Asian American authors in this book of short stories set in an airport, edited by We Need Diverse Books co-founder Ellen Oh. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)
Finding Junie Kim
Oh, Ellen
Paper Book
For fans of Inside Out and Back Again and Amina's Voice comes a breathtaking story of family, hope, and survival from Ellen Oh, cofounder of We Need Diverse Books. When Junie Kim is faced with middle school racism, she learns of her grandparents' extraordinary...

Learning about her Korean family history helps a bullied middle schooler gain confidence. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)


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