Nonfiction for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Explore these nonfiction and memoir titles that highlight AAPI history and lived experience, selected by a librarian at The Seattle Public Library.
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Louder Than the Lies
Camp envisages a reality that allows Asian Americans to center - and care for - themselves. A personal and impassioned look at Asian American life. (Kirkus)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Water Mirror Echo
Journalist Chang recounts the life of martial artist and actor Bruce Lee in this panoramic biography. Peppering the narrative with rich historical details and poignant analyses, Chang persuasively argues that Lee’s presence on screen helped shape the idea of what it means to be Asian in America. (Publishers Weekly)
Format: Book
Availability: All copies in use
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Clam Down
Novelist and Columbia University creative writing professor Chen serves up an offbeat memoir inspired by her mother’s habitual misspelling of “calm down” as “clam down” in text messages. After the end of Chen’s marriage, her mother’s inadvertent typo prompted introspection about Chen’s tendencies to retreat, self-protect, and stay silent. For readers willing to take the plunge, it’s a treat. (Publishers Weekly)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Authority
This brilliant collection from Chu showcases the Pulitzer Prize-winning critic's reflections on literature, television, and the art of criticism. (Publishers Weekly)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Connie
Pioneering journalist Chung takes an entertaining look back at her career in this winning autobiography. (Publishers Weekly)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Take My Name but Say It Slow
A provocative memoir of personal essays exploring race, identity, and queer love. In his debut essay collection, first-generation Chinese American writer Dai crafts an intricate tapestry of memory and reflection through lush, impressionistic prose. (Kirkus)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Maybe the Body
Drake's cerebral, polyphonic debut explores the confines of assimilation and her ambivalent patriotism as a second-generation Filipina. These poems reverberate with an infectious joy, celebrating the revolutionary act of enduring day after day. (Publishers Weekly)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Background Artist
You might not know the name Tyrus Wong, but you probably know some of the images he created, including scenes from the beloved Disney classic Bambi. ... Background Artist shares the inspiring story of Tyrus Wong’s remarkable 106-year life and showcases his wide array of creative work. (NoveList)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Giant Robot
Nakamura debuts with an exuberant tribute to the zine he and fellow UCLA student Martin Wong cofounded in 1994 with the aim of “writing about stuff we liked.” The result is both a rousing ode to a vibrant period in pop culture history and an intriguing look at shifting notions of Asian American identity. (Publishers Weekly)
Format: Book
Availability: All copies in use
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Kuleana
Journalist Goo writes about her family's journey to keep their ancestral Hawaiian lands in the face of massive increases in property taxes. She traces the colonial history of the islands alongside her own efforts to reconnect with her past. (Library Journal)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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