Staff Picks Updates: AAPI List

Anzu's family just moved to a new town, and it happens to be Obon as well; Anzu isn't adjusting well to the move and doesn't want to participate in Obon. Some strange things happen, and suddenly, she's in Yomi, the underworld of her deceased grandmother's stories. Anzu suddenly has to face the very real possibility of never seeing her family again while also being confronted with the fact that all the stories are real and while trying to stay alive to get home and process her grief for her grandmother, among other things. High action and high feelings, Anzu and the Realm of Darkness is a thrilling read.

The supernatural and spooky theme of the story could appeal to fans of ghost comics, like Ghost Roast or Ghost Book. Because it also discusses identity and grief, it's a good suggestion for readers of Pilu of the Woods or Lion Dancers.

Shannan Prukop

Lai tells the story of when all of her siblings got chickenpox through the eyes of her older sister, Abby. The year is 1994, and Abby is 11 years old. She loves hanging out with her two best friends and trying out makeup, and she actually likes going to school because it gets her away from her four siblings. Then her friends come over her house after school one day, and unbeknownst to anyone, one of them brings the chickenpox virus into the house. Soon, her little siblings start showing signs of chickenpox, and all the kids need to stay home for 2 weeks to prevent spreading the virus to anyone else. Abby wonders if she can last 14 days cooped up with her siblings without losing her mind.

Older sibling will relate to Abby struggles with her siblings and the pressures that are put on her as "the oldest".

Tayla Cardillo

Nao decides after high school to study in Japan to reconnect with her Japanese heritage and shake up her life. What she gets is the experience of living in Himawari House, where students from all around the world live together while studying in Tokyo. So, the story becomes not just about Nao but also about the friends she makes in Hyejung and Tina and the perspectives they bring to the House. The story has that dreamlike quality that living on your own in your early adulthood can have, and it is full of ups and downs as well. It's also a multilingual story, with parts told in Japanese, Korean, and Singlish, which helps immerse the reader in these girls' lives.

This is one of those comics that has a fairly wide range of appeal; some readers might come to it for the story of identity and connecting to heritage, while others might come to it for the experience of life as a young adult. Some might want it for the depiction of studying abroad, and yet others for the reminders of those times. It's sad, sweet, funny, and thoughtful, all told with lovely art.

Shannan Prukop

Indu was found alone on a moon, but his mom- a spaceship pilot- offered him a loving home. Now, Indu is leaving the safe, familiar spaceship to go to New Earth and be with his mom’s new husband and children. Indu soon struggles to fit in on this new planet and with his new family. Then, a voice offers to take him away from it all.

With beautiful illustrations and a compelling story, Lunar Boy is perfect for readers seeking more queer sci-fi/fantasy stories, or anyone who has ever struggled to belong.

Transphobia; misgendering

Megan Rupe

Valentina thinks her family is cursed to never have happiness in love. Her father never moved on after the loss of her mother, and she feels like him, that she is destined to be alone. When 2 potential suitors come into her life, the outgoing Leslie and the distant Jae, her idyllic version of St. Valentine as a joyful cupid-like figure turns into a haunting vision that tells her that she has one year to find love, or she will be alone forever. Will Leslie or Jae be the person who touches her heart and saves her from this fate?

Fans of "Heartstopper" and "All the Boys I've Loved Before" will enjoy this story about fate, family, and falling in love.

Estranged parents, discussions of the death of a parent.

Tayla Cardillo

Laura Gao lived with her family in Wuhan and knew a different one than the one shown in media coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic. After Laura moves to the United States, she grapples with her family's expectations, her own goals, and her sexuality. Told in a heartfelt, honest manner, Messy Roots is a wonderful coming-of-age tale.

Readers who enjoy memoirs that explore themes of immigrant identity and coming of age will likely like Messy Roots.

Racism, homophobia

Tayla Cardillo

The story, told through snapshots and moments, flashbacks and flashforwards, is a wandering tale about hunger, both physical and creative, eating, and food. We follow Rubin Baksh, secretly the demon Baksura, and Mohan, a college student with abandoned dreams and lost hunger. Through scenes of vivid color and winding stories, we learn about them and the foods around them, culminating in the documentary Baksh said he wanted Mohan to create. It's hard to describe the story precisely because it takes its time and goes on tangents that don't seem like they'll be related, ending in a very beautiful and unusual tale.

The incredible visuals of this one bring to mind comics like Somna or The Great Beyond, where the art is so present in the story. It is also a travelogue, stating on the page that part of Rubin's inspiration was Anthony Bourdain's death and is very much about food. This is one to pick up for the experience of having read it.

References to cannibalism

Shannan Prukop

Twins Zeeshan and Zara constantly fight, so their parents confiscate their phones during a family trip to Florida. Unable to pursue their interests independently, Zeeshan and Zara explore the beach and discover a beached sea turtle that Zara names Sunshine. Can they band together and bring kindness to an often cruel world?

With a brave animal rescue and exploration of a fraught sibling dynamic, Saving Sunshine is perfect for readers seeking family stories or stories featuring animals.

Islamphobia

Megan Rupe

13 year old Aria travels to San Francisco to spend the summer with her grandmother. While she loves spending time with her Nainai (paternal grandmother), she also tries to handle some drama with her friends. She especially loves helping her Nainai with the boba cafe and spending the summer coming up with ideas to get more customers. Her grandmother resists some of these changes because they might get in the way of her sneaking away at precisely 6 o'clock every night. Aria tries to figure out what her grandmother is up to and why it is so important that she be kept out of it.

Fans of Be Pepared by Vera Brosgol and Mabuhay! by Zachary Sterling will love this story about summer adventures, food, and family.

Tayla Cardillo

Tiến and his mother love to read fairy tales together, but Tien can’t find the words in Vietnamese to explain to his parents that he’s gay. As Tiến wrestles with his secret, his mother is struggling with the fact that her mother is ill and far away in Vietnam.

With gorgeous artwork and a wonderfully woven story, The Magic Fish will appeal to readers who believe stories can help them explore difficult topics.

Homophobia

Megan Rupe

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the United States government forcibly removed Japanese Americans from the West Coast and imprisoned them in internment camps. We Hereby Refuse tells the story of three Japanese Americans who resisted their incarceration and unjust treatment.

These stories deftly capture the context and injustices Japanese Americans faced and the bravery of the three individuals (and others!) who resisted. Teen and adult readers looking for stories about Japanese American resistance to the camps or a more in-depth look into the internment camps will want to pick up We Hereby Refuse.

Violence; suicide; inhumane conditions in camps; racism

Megan Rupe