This edition of Cold Tea Reads is made possible by the support of Penguin Random House and their dedication to celebrating stories that represent Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Stories. Learn more here.
Throughout history, much has been written about the struggles and hardships faced by Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. While it is important to acknowledge systemic inequality and discrimination, it is also important to remember that the AAPINH community is so much more than their experiences of suffering.
There are also stories of joy, resilience, and triumph. There are tales of families coming together to celebrate cultural traditions, of individuals overcoming adversity to achieve their dreams, and of communities banding together to support one another in times of need.
To close out this month, we are reading and recommending books written by Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander authors by Penguin Random House authors that Represent Asian Stories.
These books explore the complexities of cultural identity, family relationships, and the immigrant experience. Whether you’re interested in romance, suspense, creativity, or otherworldly adventures, there are plenty of books to add to your bookshelf in May and beyond.
Gods of Want – K-Ming Chang
Representing Creativity
Gods of Want explores power and memory across three surreal parts: mothers, myths and moths. K-Ming Chang mixes myths with migration, ghosts with the physical world, and queer themes with everyday life. In “Resident Aliens”, a former slaughterhouse now is home to widows, who all have unusual pasts. In “Auntland,” a group of aunts assimilate to America in peculiar ways, like secretly kissing women at temple, and planning to give their daughters the name “Dog” because Americans love dogs.
Chang’s writing style in Gods of Want feels more poetry rather than fiction, as every word holds power. Her book is also a queer read, which would be great to read to celebrate Pride.
See also: Of animals, magic, and mothers: K-Ming Chang’s world of Bestiary
Falling Back in Love with Being Human – Kai Cheng Thom
Representing Truth
Kai Cheng Thom grew up as an Asian Canadian transgender girl and now works as an activist, psychotherapist, conflict mediator and spiritual healer. She believes that every human being is sacred, no matter how hateful or horrible. Over time, Thom was overwhelmed by how viciously people treated one another.
Instead of giving up on hope, justice, love, and healing, she takes control of her own narrative. The book is a blueprint for falling back in love with being human as she takes us on reflections and thought exercises that allow us to wander our inner worlds. Her book Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars is a trans memoir to add to your Cold Tea Reads list while you wait for Falling Back in Love with Being Human to release in August.
Almost Brown – Charlotte Gill
Representing Identity
Charlotte Gill’s mother is English and her father is Indian. Her parents moved to Canada and then to the United States in search of a better life. As the author grows up, she becomes embarrassed by her father. She doesn’t know if it’s because of his personality or his race. Is this her own unconscious bias favoring one parent over the other in the racial tug-of-war that plagues our society?
This family memoir explores the author’s journey to understand where this embarrassment stems from.Gill’s book explores themes of forgiveness and acceptance, highlighting how love can overcome differences. It delves into the complexities of growing up mixed-race and how it can be both confusing and difficult to navigate.
See also: Expect the unexpected from Soon Wiley’s highly anticipated debut book, When We Fell Apart
Ever-Green Vietnamese – Andrea Nguyen
Representing Flavor
Ever-Green Vietnamese is a cookbook filled with healthy and delicious plant-based Vietnamese recipes, such as Sweet Potato and Shrimp Fritters, Fast Vegetarian Pho, Green Mango, Beet and Herb Salad, Oven-Fried Crispy Shiitake Imperial Rolls, Nuoc Cham Cabbage Stir-Fry, and many other Vietnamese dishes the author empowers you to cook at home.
One great way to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is learning healthy recipes from cultures around the world. Books like Ever-Green Vietnamese will add a range of delicious foods and flavors to your meal planning rotation.
Love, Decoded – Jennifer Yen
Representing Romance
Gigi Wong is a brilliant and smart high school junior. However, she is also a perfectionist and feels the need to compete with her equally ambitious and perfect classmates. One day, Gigi discovers an app-writing contest that offers a prestigious tech internship to the winner. With the help of her aunt Rose, a professional matchmaker, Gigi decides to create a friend-making app. When Gigi’s app becomes popular at school, it causes a scandal that hurts her friends Etta and Kyle. Gigi must help her friends and prioritize what matters the most to her instead of solely the ambition to excel and to be perfect in an affluent Asian community in New York City.
This coming-of-age story has everything an ambitious young adult reader will love: romance with food as a love language, wholesome, tight-knit friendships, and an elite and tech-savvy cast that are science, technology, engineering and math-focused.
Blackmail and Bibingka – Mia P Manansala
Representing Suspense
This is the third book of Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery Series. Lila’s estranged cousin Ronnie has returned after fifteen years, claiming to have purchased a local winery and wanting to help their community. Tita Rosie is happy her son has returned, but Lila knows that Ronnie brings trouble wherever he goes. Lila’s suspicions are confirmed when Ronnie is suspected of murder. But Ronnie is family, so Lila tries to prove his innocence. Throughout her investigations, she has to constantly remind herself—and others—that he’s innocent until proven guilty.
Arsenic and Adobo was the first Filipino foodie-focused cozy mystery to be released in North America. The book has also won several awards, including the 2021 Mystery and Thriller Book of the Year Award from the American Booksellers Association, amongst many other accolades. The novel’s success led to its sequel being published, Homicide and Halo-Halo. The next installment of the series, Murder and Mamon, is set to be published this September.
Lei and the Fire Goddess – Malia Maunakea
Representing Youth
Anna Leilani Kama’ehu, a part-Hawaiian 12-year-old, believes in her grandmother’s stories of sacred flowers and family guardians. However, her friends in Colorado don’t believe in such legends and often make fun of Anna’s family stories.
During a visit to Hawaii to see her Tutu, Anna accidentally destroys a lehua blossom, which angers Pele, the fire goddess. Anna’s best friend gets kidnapped by a giant hawk, and Anna realizes that the stories are real. To remove the curse, Anna must embrace her entire Hawaiian heritage.
The mix of mythology and reconnecting with your roots will resonate with both young and older readers.
Her Radiant Curse – Elizabeth Lim
Representing Other Worlds
Channi’s father sacrifices her to the Demon Witch, which curses her with a serpent’s face. Her sister, Vanna, is the only one who sees past her appearance and loves her. When Vanna is to be married off in a contest to enrich the village leaders, Channi defends her against the cruelest suitor.
This makes her the target of his wrath, beginning a battle royale, a quest over land and sea, a romance between sworn enemies, and a choice that tests Channi’s heart. Lim weaves threads from Asian folk tales and Beauty and the Beast.
For those wanting a break from the usual romance tropes of the fantasy genre, the novel’s strongest relationship is the infinite love between the two sisters. Get a box of tissues ready for the bittersweet ending.
Reading books by Asian American and Pacific Islander authors is not only important during May, but year-round. AAPINH Heritage Month is a good way to start a lifelong practice of inclusive reading for generations to come. Which book will you start or continue this journey on?
See the growing library of Penguin Random House’s AAPINH stories here.
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