Published May 16, 2022
For the past several years, our With Good Reason staff have gathered a list of summer reading recommendations from guests based at public universities around Virginia. This year, they asked for books written by Asian American and Pacific Islander writers and the reading list that emerged is diverse, broad, and exciting!
We’re sharing it now in recognition of May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Find out more about these reading recommendations, including what makes them such good reads at WithGoodReasonRadio.org/aapi-books.
Sylvia Chong
Professor of English at the University of Virginia
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Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong -
Crying in H-Mart: A Memoir by Michelle Zauner -
The Best We Could Do: An Illustrated Memoir by Thi Bui
Juanita Giles
Executive Director and Co-founder of the Virginia Children’s Book Festival
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Almost American Girl: An Illustrated Memoir by Robin Ha -
Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things, written by Lenore Look and illustrated by LeUyen Pham
Luisa A. Igloria
Virginia Poet Laureate and Professor of English at Old Dominion University
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I Was Their American Dream: A Graphic Memoir by Malaka Gharab -
Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelley -
World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, illustrated by Fumi Nakamura
Alex Purgugganan
Assistant Professor of English and Filipino Culture at Northern Virginia Community College
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America Is in the Heart by Carlos Bulosan -
America is Not the Heart by Elaine Castillo
Wendy Shang
Author of The Great Wall of Lucy Wu, Not Your All-American Girl, and The Rice in the Pot Goes Round and Round
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Wishes by Muon Thi Van, illustrated by Victo Ngai -
Spring Moon by Bette Bao Lord
Spencer Tricker
Assistant Professor of English at Longwood University
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Mrs. Spring Fragrance by Sui Sin Far -
Bone by Fae Myenne Ng -
We Are the Ocean: Selected Works by Epeli Hau’ofa
