Helena Rho was six years old when her family left Seoul for America. For decades, she fulfilled the expectations of others―marrying a doctor, raising children, and working as an assistant professor of pediatrics. All the while, she was keeping silent about the personal and professional traumas that left her determined to escape this life. Then, at 40, when a catastrophic event strikes, Helena decides to abandon her career, break away from the path that was laid out for her, and undertake a journey of self-discovery on her own terms. Read this powerful and inspiring memoir of being Korean again. Of course, “Asian American and Pacific Islander” is a term that encompasses a widely varied group of people from different cultures and backgrounds and with different life experiences. And that means the stories these authors are telling are just as varied. With that in mind, this could not possibly be an exhaustive list of every AAPI memoir. And of course it doesn’t even begin to encompass the entirety of the Asian American and Pacific Islander experience. No one collection of books could. But the following ten books are some of the noteworthy titles that have come out in recent years that are absolutely worth the read. So as you consider how to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, add these books to the top of your list. These stories are emotional, heartwarming, and sometimes even funny. They’re the stories of family, identity, finding one’s place in the world, finding community, and much more. Wanting more Asian American and Pacific Islander stories to help you celebrate this month? Here are 12 middle grade Asian historical fiction books by authors of color. Here are 18 great YA books by AAPI authors. And last but not least, here are 25 AAPI authors everyone should know. Happy reading!
