Book Recommendations Vol. 1
Submitted by Jamie Wen Weiner
American Like Me
by America Ferrera (Simon and Schuster)
This is a new and informative collection of short, first person stories on their accounts of being or becoming “American.” Famous actors and authors, such as Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jenny Zhang, and Padma Lakshmi document their own stories on facing racism and injustice growing up. These reflections are a perfectly relatable, up to date, satirical collection calling out a relevant, yet conflicted current topic in our country.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
by Jenny Han (Simon and Schuster)
Prior to becoming a hit show Netflix, Jenny Han’s novel is all about a young, Korean American teenage girl named, Lara Jean and her struggle to maintain her fake relationship with her popular (white) boyfriend. Having written and addressed several letters to the all boys she once had crushes on in the past and no intention of ever sending them, each letter is mysteriously received by each crush. While attempting to forget about them and profusely apologizing to each, she captures the heart of her old crush, (white) bad boy, Peter Kavinsky and they embark on a manipulative and ultimately romantic relationship.
Everything I Never Told You
by Celeste Ng
Lydia, the middle child of an interracial couple, Marilyn and James Lee, is shockingly found dead in a nearby lake. Inheriting her mother’s blue eyes and father’s jet black hair, she strived to fulfill both of her parent’s dreams for her, given their own inabilities to achieve those desires as children. While trying to treat her mother’s strong desires of becoming a doctor and her father’s dreams for her to be popular, this story reveals how much pressure parents place on their children when given a harsh upbringing themselves- whether due to racism or sexism. Throughout this deeply captivating and saddening novel, secrets unfold between the family and the true stories of racism, sexism, and identity are shared.
Girl in Translation
by Jean Kwok
This novel follows a young, Chinese immigrant girl, Kimberly Chang and her story of assimilation in America. Growing up extremely poor with her mother, she must maintain perfect grades while working in a sweatshop at night. Kwok touches on key aspects of the complexity of maintaining and honoring two different identities and translating a coming of age story.
Follow AAPC’s Instagram!
