Another Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is upon us, as well as yet another spring finals season. While it may be a busy time for us all, don’t forget to make some time for yourself. While decompressing from studying and final projects, perhaps take some time to read through one of these books by AAPI authors.

What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo

This emotional memoir, written by journalist Stephanie Foo, takes you through her life as she recalls a traumatic childhood and a diagnosis of Complex PTSD in her adulthood. Due to the lack of research and awareness surrounding C-PTSD, she embarks on her journey of healing, creating an account meant to decrease the stigma surrounding people like her. She also unpacks the generational trauma that affects her community, consisting largely of immigrant families.

This memoir is a hard read at times. Foo does not hold back on describing her childhood under very abusive parents and how that affected her. This book is as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking, with valuable lessons about healing and vulnerability that Foo gains from her experiences. Ultimately, this book is about not letting your trauma define you.

Warning

This book does include detailed descriptions of child abuse, verbal and physical, and also discusses suicidal ideation. If you find those topics to be triggering, please tread with caution.

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Persepolis is a graphic memoir detailing Satrapi’s own childhood growing up during the Islamic Revolution in Iran, as well as her experience having to leave to study in Austria and eventually returning later in her life.

This memoir’s cartoonish style is in direct contrast with the atrocities that Satrapi and her family witness during this period in history. However, the art style does not take away from the story and still manages to highlight the goofy, fun moments of Satrapi’s daily life, showing that there can still be joy even amid adversity. Satrapi herself is also a fun protagonist to follow, a daring girl with a rebellious spirit. This is a book to pick up if you love graphic novels or memoirs.

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

In this satirical thriller, we follow protagonist June, a white author who is struggling in the publishing industry. When her colleague Athena dies suddenly, June impulsively steals her manuscript about Chinese laborers during World War I and claims it for herself. Through this one action, her life takes a chaotic spiral as she must keep up this charade.

This book is quite a journey, and if satire is your thing, you’ll find yourself chuckling at June’s delusions and denial of her own racist prejudices and resentment of Athena. There’s something so bizarre about reading about a white woman committing yellowface, and through this story, you learn a little more about the publishing industry, and just how much race plays into it.

Crying in H-Mart by Michelle Zauner

Another lovely memoir, this time by Michelle Zauner, also known as the primary vocalist, guitarist and songwriter of indie pop band Japanese Breakfast. This is the story of her upbringing and rocky relationship with her Korean mother, through which she also reflects on her insecurities of being half-white, half-Korean. When her mother is diagnosed with cancer, it leads her to reflect on her history and their relationship.

This memoir is full of lovingly crafted and mouth-watering descriptions of food that served as points of connection between Zauner and her mother, even following her mother’s death. Zauner’s grief hits hard, even if you haven’t lost a loved one. It can also hit hard if you’ve ever felt insecure in your identity, as Zauner struggles with being Asian American in the U.S. and a growing departure from her Korean heritage.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

The last book on this list is a more lighthearted contemporary fantasy that will have you smiling so hard your cheeks may hurt. This book follows protagonist Mika Moon, an orphan witch living in Britain. While she hides her magic in real life, she posts videos online pretending to be a witch. For her, this is just a fun hobby, until someone requests her services to train three young witches in a remote location. When she takes the job, she doesn’t expect to find a family and a potential love interest in Nowhere House’s brooding librarian, Jamie.

This is a fun, heartwarming read that enthusiasts of low fantasy or found family stories will love. No matter who you are, Mika’s desire to find companionship in her lonely life is a journey that anyone can connect to. A nice, feel-good story to wind down from the stress of finals season.

As we head into the end of the semester, consider giving one of these books a read. Wishing everyone good luck with their finals.