One of my duties at A.K. Smiley Public Library is ordering books for the fiction collection. When I order titles for this collection, I try to make your sure that I am creating a diverse and inclusive collection that promotes global awareness. With that being said, May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month — here are some new fiction titles to check out to celebrate AAPI month.
The genre of healing fiction is very popular amongst Korean and Japanese authors. The books have elements of empathy, compassion, cats, and a bit of magic. If you have not read any of these healing reads, I suggest the Soyangri Book Kitchen by Kim Jee Hye, A Good Day Starts with Cats & Books by Satori Satori, and The Ex-Boyfriend’s Favorite Recipe Funeral Committee by Saki Kawashiro.
If you want to read something with a deeper character development with dramatic elements, then I suggest these psychological fiction titles: The Dog Meows, the Cat Barks by Eka Kurniawan, The Valley of Vengeful Ghosts by Kim Fu, and Aviary by Maria Dong.
If you prefer books with romance, interpersonal relationships, and historical elements then you may want to check out Next Time Will Be Our Turn by Jess Q. Sutanto, One & Only by Maureen Goo, and The Pohaku by Jasmin Iolani Hakes.
If you want to read something with supernatural or horror elements then you might want to read Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker and Molka by Monica Kim.
The library also has a display featuring books written by Asian authors.
Shannon Harris is a library specialist at A.K. Smiley Public Library.