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Books by AAPI Authors You Need to Read

Whether you’re new to AAPI literature or looking to go deeper, these 20 books, spanning memoir, fiction, graphic novels, and more, are essential reading all year long.

By
aapi literature, anita feliclli picks
Alta

The Asian American community, constituting 17%–20% of California’s population, is made up of a beautiful multiplicity of ethnicities and experiences. The following are books by AAPI authors with ties to California. From a historical San Francisco hotel that was the site of fierce activism to a man of two faces, and from whimsical and magical tales to a racially charged and violent police raid, the stories these important books share are thrilling and rich—they are worthy additions to your to-read stack this month (and every month!).

1

HOW MUCH OF THESE HILLS IS GOLD, BY C PAM ZHANG

how much of these hills is gold, c pam zhang
Riverhead Books
2

COYOTELAND, BY VANESSA HUA

coyoteland by vanessa hua
Flatiron books
3

I HOTEL, BY KAREN TEI YAMASHITA

i hotel, karen tei yamashita
Coffee House Press
4

EXHIBIT, BY R.O. KWON

exhibit, ro kwon
Riverhead Books
5

THE SYMPATHIZER, BY VIET THANH NGUYEN

the sympathizer, viet thanh nguyen
Grove Press
6

I AM THE GHOST HERE, BY KIM SAMEK

i am the ghost here by kim samek
The Dial Press
7

MY DEAR YOU, BY RACHEL KHONG

rachel khong, my dear you
Knopf
8

THE TRANSLATOR’S DAUGHTER, BY GRACE LOH PRASAD

the translators daughter by grace loh prasad
Mad Creek Books
9

INTERIOR CHINATOWN, BY CHARLES YU

interior chinatown, charles yu
Vintage
10

SHORTCOMINGS, BY ADRIAN TOMINE

book cover for shortcomings by adrian tomine featuring characters and floral design
Drawn and Quarterly
11

A HOUSE IS A BODY, BY SHRUTI SWAMY

a house is a body by shruti swamy
Algonquin Books
12

THE CHARM BUYERS, BY LILLIAN HOWAN

the charm buyers by lillian howan
Latitude 20
13

THE ATLAS OF REDS AND BLUES, BY DEVI S. LASKAR

the atlas of reds and blues by devi s laskar
Counterpoint
14

OUR BEAUTIFUL BOYS, BY SAMEER PANDYA

our beautiful boys, sameer pandya
Ballantine Books
15

EXIT WEST, BY MOHSIN HAMID

exit west by mohsin hamid
Riverhead Books
16

WHAT LIES BETWEEN US, BY NAYOMI MUNAWEERA

cover of a novel titled what lies between us by nayomi munaweera
St. Martin's Press
17

DICTEE, BY THERESA HAK KYUNG CHA

dictÉe, by theresa hak kyung cha
University of California Press
18

THE WOMAN WARRIOR, BY MAXINE HONG KINGSTON

woman warrior, maxine hong kingston
Vintage Books
19

AMERICA IS NOT THE HEART, BY ELAINE CASTILLO

america is not the heart, elaine castillo
Penguin Books
20

TEHRANGELES, BY POROCHISTA KHAKPOUR

tehrangeles, porochista khakpour
Pantheon Books
Headshot of Anita Felicelli

Anita Felicelli is Alta Journal ’s books editor and the author of How We Know Our Time Travelers, Chimerica, and Love Songs for a Lost Continent.

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