13 Stories That Celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Voices

May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, also known as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. 24 million people in the United States identify as Asian with 1.6 million identifying as Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander or a combination. This month is a time to honor their rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to recognize their important contributions to the United States.

Below you'll find books by Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander authors, recommended by middle and high school ELA teachers, for you to feature in your classroom library. 

Below each book you'll find the Instagram handle of the person recommending the book. 

1. Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Rigby

Recommended by @secondaryurbanlegends

2. Troublemaker by John Cho

Recommended by @theliterarymaven

3. Frankly in Love by David Yoon

Recommended by @Lauralee_moss

4. When Lola Visits by Michelle Sterling 

Recommended by @loveteachbless

5. Listen, Slowly by Thanhha Lai

Recommended by @theteachertrailhead

6. Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean

Recommended by @donutlovinteacher

7. Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai

Recommended by @erinbeers

8. They Called Us Enemy by George Takei

Recommended by @exceptionalela

9. Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

Recommended by @mrsorman

10. Warcross by Marie Lu

Recommended by @makingmeaningwithmelissa

11. Well That Was Unexpected by Jessie Q. Sutanto

Recommended by @samanthainsecondary

12. Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao by Kat Zhang

Recommended by @alauerman 

13. The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman

Recommended by @diversebooksgiveaway