Family and Friends: Asian Pacific Amercian Heritage (Middle Grades)

Family and Friends: Asian Pacific Amercian Heritage (Middle Grades)

These books explore the important and, at times, complicated relationships among family and friends -- their shared bonds, concerns, joys, and journeys. Set in diverse settings around the globe and in different periods of time, the themes of family and friendship resonate across cultures and experiences.

1001 Cranes

Young girl with origami crames
Age Level: 9-12, Middle Grade

When twelve-year-old Angela Kato arrives in L.A., the last thing she wants to do is spend the entire summer with her grandparents. But in the Kato family, one is never permitted to complain. Grandma Michi and Aunt Janet put Angela to work in their flower shop, folding origami and creating 1001-crane displays for newlyweds. At first, Angela learns the trade begrudgingly. But when her folding skills improve and her relationships with family and friends grow, Angela is able to cope with her troubles, especially her parents’ impending divorce.

A Place to Belong

A young Japanese American girl stands with suitcases
Illustrated by: Julia Kuo
Age Level: 9-12, Middle Grade

After World War II has ended, twelve-year-old Hanako feels lost.  America, the only home she's ever known, imprisoned then rejected her and her family, along with thousands of other innocent Americans, because of their Japanese heritage. Japan, the country they've been forced to move to, where they were supposed to start new and better lives, is in shambles because of America's bombs. And Hanako's grandparents live in a small village just outside the ravaged city.

American as Paneer Pie

Illustration of tween sitting on top of pizza slices
Age Level: Middle Grade

As the only Indian American kid in her small town, Lekha Divekar feels like she has two versions of herself: Home Lekha, who loves watching Bollywood movies and eating Indian food, and School Lekha, who pins her hair over her bindi birthmark and avoids confrontation at all costs, especially when someone teases her for being Indian. When a girl Lekha's age moves in across the street, Lekha is excited to hear that her name is Avantika and she's Desi, too! But as soon as Avantika speaks, Lekha realizes she’s new to this country, and not at all like Lekha.

Amira & Hamza (Book 2): The Quest for the Ring of Power

Illustration of brother and sister fighting creatures
Age Level: 9-12, Middle Grade

Amira and Hamza have returned from Qaf, the magical Jinn world, as triumphant heroes — and life has been pleasantly quiet. Too quiet. Hamza is determined to have one last monumental, epic adventure before summer ends. But when sneaking off to explore an old, abandoned castle goes from life-changing adventure to potentially deadly, Amira and Hamza find themselves in the middle of another dangerous quest to save the worlds. One they didn’t bargain for. The siblings are brought face to face with the evil dev, Ahriman, angry and out for revenge.

Butterfly Yellow

Illustration of young Vietnamese woman surrounded by butterflies
Age Level: Young Adult

In the final days of the Việt Nam War, Hằng takes her little brother, Linh, to the airport, determined to find a way to safety in America. In a split second, Linh is ripped from her arms — and Hằng is left behind in the war-torn country. Six years later, Hằng has made the brutal journey from Việt Nam and is now in Texas as a refugee. She doesn't know how she will find the little brother who was taken from her until she meets LeeRoy, a city boy with big rodeo dreams, who decides to help her. Hằng is overjoyed when she reunites with Linh.

Front Desk (Book 1)

Front Desk
Age Level: Middle Grade

Mia Tang has a secret. Actually, a lot of secrets. She doesn't live in a house like her friends. She doesn't have a dog. And her parents are hiding an even bigger secret, one that could get them all in trouble. It will take all of Mia's courage, kindness, and hard work to get through this year. Will she be able to hold on to her job, help the immigrants and guests, escape Mr. Yao, and go for her dreams? Winner of the 2019 Asian/Pacific American Award for Children's Literature.

Golden Girl

Young South Asian girl

Seventh grader Aafiyah loves playing tennis, reading Weird but True facts, and hanging out with her best friend, Zaina. However, Aafiyah has a bad habit that troubles her — she’s drawn to pretty things and can’t help but occasionally “borrow” them. But when her father is falsely accused of a crime he hasn’t committed and gets taken in by authorities, Aafiyah knows she needs to do something to help. When she brainstorms a way to bring her father back, she turns to her Weird but True facts and devises the perfect plan.

Golden Mountain Chronicles #5: Dragonwings

Son and father fly a kite together
Age Level: Middle Grade

Moon Shadow is only eight years old when he sails from China to join his father in San Francisco's Chinatown in the early 1900s. Readers travel through history, gaining insight about being Chinese in America in this thoroughly researched, riveting novel. Written for young adolescents, this Newbery Honor winner is part of the Golden Mountain Chronicles.

Maizy Chen’s Last Chance

Illustration of Maizy Chen at a family restaurant
By: Lisa Yee
Age Level: Middle Grade

Maizy has never been to Last Chance, Minnesota . . . until now. Her mom’s plan is just to stay for a couple weeks, until her grandfather gets better. But plans change, and as Maizy spends more time in Last Chance and at the Golden Palace — the restaurant that’s been in her family for generations — she makes some discoveries. For instance:
 

Patron Saints of Nothing

Young man with white flames behind him
Age Level: Young Adult

Jay Reguero plans to spend the last semester of his senior year playing video games before heading to the University of Michigan in the fall. But when he discovers that his Filipino cousin Jun was murdered as part of President Duterte's war on drugs, and no one in the family wants to talk about what happened, Jay travels to the Philippines to find out the real story. Hoping to uncover more about Jun and the events that led to his death, Jay is forced to reckon with the many sides of his cousin before he can face the whole horrible truth — and the part he played in it.

Red, White, and Whole

Young woman with a long braid
Age Level: 9-12, Middle Grade

Reha feels torn between two worlds: school, where she's the only Indian American student, and home, with her family's traditions and holidays. But Reha's parents don't understand why she's conflicted — they only notice when Reha doesn't meet their strict expectations. Reha feels disconnected from her mother, or Amma. Although their names are linked — Reha means "star" and Punam means "moon" — they are a universe apart. Then Reha finds out that her Amma is sick. Really sick.

Starry River of the Sky

Starry River of the Sky
By: Grace Lin
Age Level: 9-12, Middle Grade

Rendi, a self-centered, unhappy boy runs away from home and winds up in a sad town. Storytelling, however, instigated by a mysterious newcomer allows Rendi to mature and help the villagers. The rich narrative incorporates tales inspired by Chinese tales in this worthy companion to Where the Mountain meets the Moon.

That Thing about Bollywood

Tween girl dancing
Age Level: Middle Grade

You know how in Bollywood when people are in love, they sing and dance from the mountaintops? Eleven-year-old Sonali wonders if they do the same when they’re breaking up. The truth is, Sonali’s parents don’t get along, and it looks like they might be separating. When Sonali gets upset during a field trip, she can’t bury her feelings like usual — instead, she suddenly bursts into a Bollywood song-and-dance routine about why she’s upset! The next morning, much to her dismay, Sonali’s reality has shifted.

Troublemaker

Older boy in city street
By: John Cho
Age Level: Middle Grade

In this debut novel from actor John Cho, 12-year-old Jordan feels like he can't live up to the example his older sister set, or his parents' expectations. When he returns home from school one day hoping to hide his suspension, Los Angeles has reached a turning point. In the wake of the acquittal of the police officers filmed beating Rodney King, as well as the shooting of a young Black teen, Latasha Harlins, by a Korean store owner, the country is at the precipice of confronting its racist past and present. An Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Honor Book.

Unsettled

Young woman with everyday objects flowing from her head scarf
Age Level: Middle Grade

When her family moves from Pakistan to Peachtree City, all Nurah wants is to blend in, yet she stands out for all the wrong reasons. Nurah’s accent, floral-print kurtas, and tea-colored skin make her feel excluded, until she meets Stahr at swimming tryouts. And in the water Nurah doesn’t want to blend in. She wants to win medals like her star athlete brother, Owais — who is going through struggles of his own in the U.S. Yet when sibling rivalry gets in the way, she makes a split-second decision of betrayal that changes their fates.