Happy Monday, bibliophiles! This is the last of my scheduled posts, so you can expect that I’ll be slowly getting back to my normal posting routine soon.
Here in the U.S., May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! As with all of the heritage and pride months, it has always been difficult to ignore how complicated of a moment it is. In particular, I think of the unspeakable violence that ICE has been inflicting on AAPI immigrants, and Asian people at large, no matter their status; combine that with the blatant racism that this administration has allowed, and it has made this time in American history exceedingly dangerous. But we have to remember that it has always been this way, in some way, shape or form—our historical treatment of AAPI people in America has been nothing short of shameful, from the conception of this country to now.
Yet as with every year, the best way to combat the government wanting to silence AAPI voices—and all marginalized voices—is having pride in one’s heritage and educating oneself. Pride and education are the two things that the government deems most dangerous in any marginalized community, and fostering them is the ultimate antidote to the continual erasure of AAPI voices from our history and literature. So I hope with this list, which draws from fiction and nonfiction and from many different backgrounds and genres, helps this effort.
For my past lists, click below:
Let’s begin, shall we?
THE BOOKISH MUTANT’S BOOKS FOR AAPI HERITAGE MONTH (2026 EDITION)
FANTASY AND MAGICAL REALISM:
- Saints of Storm and Sorrow – Gabriella Buba | Adult | high fantasy, LGBTQ+, romance | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
- She and Her Cat – Makoto Shinkai and Naruki Nagakawa (translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori) | Adult | magical realism, anthologies | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
- Sharks in the Time of Saviors – Kawai Strong Washburn | Adult | magical realism, LGBTQ+, historical fiction | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
- Red City (The New Alchemists, #1) – Marie Lu | Adult | urban fantasy, romance | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
- Katabasis – R.F. Kuang | Adult | dark academia, historical fiction | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Rebel Skies – Ann Sei Lin | YA | fantasy, steampunk | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- The Serpent Called Mercy – Roanne Lau | YA | epic fantasy | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
SCIENCE FICTION:
- Pod – Laline Paull | Adult | animal POV, disability | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
- Mad Sisters of Esi – Tashan Mehta | Adult | space fantasy | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
- Light Years from Home – Mike Chen | Adult | contemporary | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
- The Resisters – Gish Jen | Adult | dystopia | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
- Saltcrop – Yume Kitasei | Adult | dystopia | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
REALISTIC AND HISTORICAL FICTION:
- A Bánh Mì for Two – Trinity Nguyen | YA | LGBTQ+, romance, coming-of-age | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
- Tall Water – SJ Sindu and Dion MBD | YA | graphic novel, historical fiction | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
NONFICTION:
- Hijab Butch Blues – Lamya H. | Adult | memoir, religion, LGBTQ+ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Chains of Babylon: The Rise of Asian America – Daryl J. Maeda | Adult | history | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
- Ace: What Asexuality Reveals about Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex – Angela Chen | Adult | LGBTQ+, sociology | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
- Crying in H Mart – Michelle Zauner | Adult | memoir | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK! Have you read any of these books, and if so, what did you think of them? What are some of your favorite books by AAPI authors? Let me know in the comments!
Today’s song:
That’s it for this recommendations post! Have a wonderful rest of your day, and take care of yourselves!
The Bookish Mutant 