AAPI Heritage Month: New & Noteworthy

Amil and the After is a heartwarming story about finding joy after tragedy, and a companion to the award-winning The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani. Set in 1948, twelve-year-old Amil and his family are adjusting to life in independent India, after a difficult journey from what is now Pakistan. With the memory of loss and uncertainty weighing on him, Amil begins to tell his story through drawings for their late mother, finding hope as he navigates a new world and a new home.

Butter is a cult Japanese bestseller about Manako Kajii, a gourmet cook and serial killer, and Rika Machida, a journalist determined to crack her case. Convicted of murdering lonely businessmen she seduced with her cooking, Kajii refuses to speak—until Rika writes asking for a beef stew recipe. As their interactions unfold, Rika is drawn into a culinary world that begins to change her in unsettling ways. Inspired by the true story of the "Konkatsu Killer," Butter explores misogyny, obsession, and the transgressive pleasures of food in Japan.

In Darkmotherland, Nepali author Samrat Upadhyay crafts a dystopian tale set in a quake-ravaged reimagining of Nepal. The novel intertwines two stories: Kranti, the revolutionary's daughter who becomes entangled in her plutocratic in-laws' politics, and Rozy, the dictator’s mistress who transforms into a powerful figure. A sweeping narrative of love, politics, and identity, Darkmotherland explores the collision of East and West, personal ambition, and social pressures.

From the author of Kaikeyi comes a powerful reimagining of the river goddess Ganga and her mortal son, Devavrata. Cursed to live as a mortal, Ganga marries King Shantanu, determined to regain her freedom—only to be forced to abandon her newborn son. Years later, Devavrata makes a fateful oath that sparks a tragic war, unknowingly fulfilling the curse that binds them both. In Goddess of the River, Vaishnavi Patel weaves a moving tale of destiny, sacrifice, and the enduring bond between mother and child.

The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le is a gripping YA fantasy set in a lush, Vietnam-inspired world where medical magic is both feared and coveted. Nhika, a bloodcarver who can alter human biology with a touch, is captured and forced to heal a witness in a high-profile murder case. As she’s drawn into a deadly mystery and an uneasy alliance with the enigmatic Ven Kochin, Nhika must choose between becoming the monster society fears or risking everything to protect her kind. Perfect for fans of Cinder and Divine Rivals, this thrilling debut blends sci-fi, fantasy, romance, and moral intrigue.

The Liberators by E.J. Koh is a sweeping family saga spanning two continents and four generations. In 1980s South Korea, Insuk marries her college classmate Sungho, but their world is upended when Insuk’s father disappears amid political unrest. Fleeing to California with Sungho and his mother, Insuk is drawn into an affair that leads to life-changing consequences. This debut novel explores the lasting effects of love, war, and trauma, beautifully depicting how family legacies shape generations.

West: A Translation by Paisley Rekdal explores the cultural impact of the transcontinental railroad and its connection to the Chinese Exclusion Act. Through a mix of poems, essays, and historical documents, Rekdal examines race, identity, and national history, including a poignant elegy from the Angel Island Immigration Station. The book is complemented by an interactive website (www.westtrain.org) that invites exploration of the railroad’s history. A compelling work of resistance and resilience, West challenges how history is told.

A girl and her grandmother spend the day making mochi together in this gentle and joyous "storytelling treat" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) celebrating family, tradition, and the memories that matter most. Emi and Obaachan are making mochi. It's a recipe that's been passed down for generations. Obaachan brought it with her when she first came to America from Japan and now, Emi is about to become her family's newest mochi maker! They mix and pound and twist and wrap. The Japanese rice cakes are sticky and chewy, colorful and tasty, and--most importantly--made with love. For Emi and Obaachan, making mochi becomes a way to remember those they've lost, make lots of new memories, and have a fun and family-filled day.

The thirteen stories in this collection are vintage Can Xue. Similar to her novels (The Last Lover, Frontier) and other collections (Vertical Motion) the focus is less on what happens and more on the experience of reading. Mother River is a short bildungsroman of a young man who decides to become a fisherman (and crafter of spherical maps) and discovers that performing the role itself is more important than the number of fish they catch. Surreal, provocative, and unique, Mother River reinforces Can Xue's status as one of the most rewarding and complex writers working today - and a perennial favourite to win the Nobel Prize.

From acclaimed author Anita Desai, Rosarita is a haunting, beautifully written exploration of love, memory, and identity. While studying in Mexico, Bonita meets an elderly woman who claims to have known her mother as a young artist there—an impossible story, or so Bonita believes. Drawn into a web of secrets and half-truths, Bonita begins to question everything she thought she knew about her family and herself. Through mysterious encounters and a shifting sense of reality, Rosarita examines the ties between mothers and daughters, art and history, and the lingering impact of the past.

In A Vaisakhi to Remember by Simran Jeet Singh, a young girl navigates life in a new country while missing her home in India. As her family prepares to celebrate the Sikh spring harvest festival, she finds comfort in familiar traditions, new friends, and the joy of community. With vibrant illustrations by Japneet Kaur, this heartfelt picture book honors heritage, resilience, and the power of connection.

After a minor 14th-century battle in southern India, nine-year-old Pampa Kampana becomes the vessel of a goddess following her mother’s death. Gifted with divine powers, she is tasked with bringing forth Bisnaga—"Victory City"—a magnificent empire born from magic seeds. Over 250 years, Pampa shapes the city’s destiny, striving to empower women in a patriarchal world. But as rulers rise and fall and ambitions grow, the story she creates begins to slip beyond her control. Framed as a lost epic, Victory City is a sweeping tale of myth, power, and the enduring force of storytelling.

This book sets out to amend the superficial treatment of Asian America histories in U.S. textbooks and curriculum by providing elementary teachers with a more nuanced, thematically driven account.

A concise new history of a century of struggles to define Asian identity and express alternatives to European forms of universalism. The balance of global power changed profoundly over the course of the twentieth century, above all with the economic and political rise of Asia. Asia after Europe is a bold new interpretation of the period, focusing on the conflicting and overlapping ways in which Asians have conceived their bonds and their roles in the world. Tracking the circulation of ideas and people across colonial and national borders, Sugata Bose explores developments in Asian thought, art, and politics that defied Euro-American models and defined Asianness as a locus of solidarity for all humanity.

Xiongnu examines the world’s first nomadic empire, highlighting the sophisticated social and economic systems of mobile pastoralists. The book traces the rise, challenges, reforms, and legacy of the Xiongnu Empire, showcasing how its focus on controlling movement rather than territories created a powerful political economy. Combining archaeology with historical analysis, Bryan K. Miller presents a complex narrative of the Xiongnu's influence across central Eurasia, illustrating how their empire shaped geopolitical landscapes for centuries.

Islam and Citizenship in Indonesia examines the evolving relationship between Islamic traditions, democracy, and citizenship in Indonesia. It explores how Islamic ethics have developed alongside democratic values since the 1998 transition from authoritarian rule, focusing on the rise of Islamist militias and the conflict between inclusive citizenship and Islamist majoritarianism. The book offers key insights into the challenges of democracy and citizenship in the Muslim-majority world.

Extravagant Camp by Chris A. Eng explores the dual meaning of "camp" as both a historical space of racialized confinement and a queer performance mode. The book examines how Asian American cultural expressions, from literature to theater and film, use camp to reframe histories of violence, such as Chinese railroad labor, Japanese American incarceration, and Vietnam War refugee resettlement. Eng theorizes Asian American camp as a form of resistance, reclaiming marginalized racial roles and transforming abjection into a source of joy, beauty, and power. This approach challenges dominant narratives and reimagines social possibilities for racialized communities.

In Revolutionary Becomings, Ying Qian explores how documentary film shaped and reflected China’s revolutionary movements throughout the twentieth century. From the fall of the Qing Empire to the post-Mao era, Qian examines media as both a participant in and a record of political upheaval. Through detailed historical research and analysis of rarely studied works, she shows how documentary practices bridged Marxist theory with Chinese realities, influencing campaigns from the Communist Revolution to the Cultural Revolution and beyond. This groundbreaking study redefines the role of media in China's revolutionary history.

Making the Human: Race, Allegory, and Asian Americans by Corinne Mitsuye Sugino uses the lens of racial allegory to explore how media, law, and culture construct and reinforce a white, Western conception of the human. Sugino examines how Asian American racialization and gendering uphold abstract societal concepts like "meritocracy," "family," and "justice," naturalizing hierarchical structures. The book draws on various academic fields to analyze anti-Asian racism and its intersections with colonialism, capitalism, and gendered violence.

Body Image and the Asian Experience explores the body image concerns of Asians, Asian Americans, and Asian diasporas, challenging the stereotype that such issues only affect white women. The book introduces a new theoretical framework focused on decolonization and intersectionality, examining how racialized views, colonial histories, and globalization shape body image. It also explores the mental health, identity, and social implications of body image, with a focus on underrepresented groups like sexual and gender minority Asians.

This book explores the cultural Cold War in Asia, focusing on the role of cinema in the geopolitical struggle between the US, Europe, and Asia during the Cold War. From CIA-backed espionage films in Hong Kong and South Korea to Sino-Indian co-productions, cinema became a key battleground in the fight for influence in Asia. The collection of fifteen essays examines how film cultures and industries in Asia were shaped by the Cold War, shedding light on the often-overlooked impact of political and military tensions on Asian cinemas and societies. By shifting the focus to Asia, the contributors challenge dominant Cold War narratives and highlight the unique ways Asian countries navigated the cultural and political dynamics of the era.

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In this heartfelt exploration of race and identity, OiYan Poon, a mother and race scholar, answers her daughter’s questions about race and racism, particularly through the lens of affirmative action. Reflecting on the Supreme Court's 2023 decision against affirmative action, Poon delves into the diverse ways Asian Americans view their identity, blending personal essays, interviews, and research. Through conversations with individuals involved in debates over race-conscious policies, Poon uncovers the tensions between those who align with whiteness and those seeking justice through cross-racial solidarity. This insightful narrative offers a hopeful look at how understanding the complexities of Asian American experiences can shape a more equitable future.

This anthology features selected and translated Chinese legends and tales, organized into four sections: Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist, and other cultural topics. Spanning from the Han (206 BCE-220 CE) to the Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, it includes legends, fictional works, historical, and philosophical texts. With an introduction and reading guide for each piece, the collection immerses readers in the rich traditions and values of ancient China, making it an invaluable resource for students, scholars, and general readers interested in Chinese literature, culture, and history.