30 Recommended Titles By or About Asian Americans

abcrane: In this wordless graphic novel, Shaun Tan allows the reader to participate in this immigrant story in a new fantastical world. Recommended by: Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Excellence in Children's Literature - 2008 Special Citation United States; Cybil Award - 2007 Finalist Graphic Novels Teen/Young Adult United States; Mind the Gap Award - 2008 Winner Best foreign language book United States; New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of the Year - 2007 Winner United States

abcrane: Korean history and forklore is woven together in this fun, fantasy adventure. Recommended by: Book Sense Children's Picks - Summer 2006; William Allen White Children’s Book Award - 2008-2009 Master List; Exceptional Review from KLIATT Review.

abcrane: Follow Jenna, an Asian girl, and Lucas, a delinquent, as they are packed off to summer camp guaranteed to turn these underachievers into overachievers. Strange things are happening in this science fiction graphic novel... Recommended by: 2011 YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens; 2013 YALSA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults

abcrane: Thung, an Indonesian-born Australian, intrigues readers in this science fiction fantasy with deep emotional undercurrents. Recommended by: Recommended Reviews from Booklist (106)16, BoingBoing, and BookDragon.

abcrane: This fantasy interweaves a classic Asian fairytale with a modern-day immigrant story. Recommended by: Recommended reviews from The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (65)9 and A Backwards Story blog.

abcrane: A collection of short ghost stories chronicling the Chinese immigrant experience in Canada and the US ranging from the 1800s to the 1950s. Recommended by:Book of the Year Award for Children - 2003 Nominee Canada; Kiriyama Prize - 2002 Notable Book Fiction United States; White Ravens Award - 2003 Winner Canada International; 2003 Booklist Top 10 Historical Fiction for Youth

abcrane: Reminiscent of the movie 'Space Jam', this science fiction novel is every alien-obsessed kid's dream. Recommended by: Recommended Review from Library Media Connection (30)4, Associated Content, and Charlotte’s Library blogs.

abcrane: This fantasy, anchored in the Chinese immigrant experience in Canada, follows a girl tasked with returning home the souls of her father and other railroad workers. Recommended by: Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award - 1997 Winner Canada; Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award - 1997 Winner Canada; Governor General's Literary Awards - 1996 Winner Children's Literature (Text) Canada; Ruth Schwartz Children's Book Award - 1997 Winner Picture Book Canada; White Ravens Award - 1997 Winner Canada International

abcrane: A fun science fiction satire on the American Wild West, following Louie Hong, an Asian American cowboy. Recommended by: Young Adults' Choices, 1991 International Reading Association; Booklist Young Adult Editor's Choice for 1989; The American Library Association List of Best Books for Young Readers - 1990; 1990 Books for the Teen Age recommended by The New York Public Library

abcrane: Japanese mythology collides with the modern-day experience of a Japanese American boy in this graphic novel. Recommended by: Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature - 2013 Honor Young Adult Literature United States; YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens - 2013

abcrane: Kean Soo, born in Britain, raised in Hong Kong, and living in Canada, brings to life this adorable graphic novel about a lost purple dragon. Recommended by: Shuster Award - 2009 Best Kids Comic; Cybil Award - 2008 Finalist, Graphic Novels (Elementary/Middle Grade) United States; Canadian Children's Book Centre’s Best Books for Kids and Teens - 2009

abcrane: This manga follows Kiichi, a half demon boy, as he learns that being different doesn't mean he can't by accepted by others. Recommended by: Top Ten Best Manga for Children - iFanboy; Recommended Review from Library Media Connection (27)5.

abcrane: This collection of comic stories chronicles the adventures of Long Tail Kitty, including a playdate with some alien friends. Recommended by: Prize for Design and Printing - 2010 First Place Graphic Novel Juvenile United States; Recommended Reviews from Stacked and Comicsgirl blogs.

abcrane: Devastated by his Indian grandfather's death, Anu works to maintain their connection through a variety of mystically means. Recommended by: Capitol Choices 2007; Nene Award 2008 - Nominee; Sasquatch Reading Award 2009 - Nominee

abcrane: Yang, author of the award-winning 'American Born Chinese', brings to life this unique story of sibling rivalry featuring tiny peace-loving aliens. Recommended by: YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens, 2011; Booklist Book Review Stars (106)14.

abcrane: Accidentally recruited by the Space Patrol, this story follows 6th grade Class President Corona on her various silly adventures complete with swan-shaped spaceships. Recommended by: iFanboy’s Top Ten Best Manga for Children; Recommended review in Good Comics for Kids blog by the School Library Journal.

abcrane: Written by a 7th grade Chinese American girl, this fantasy story chronicles the fight of different bird groups against an evil would-be ruler. Recommended by: Book Sense Children's Picks - Spring 2007; Recommended review from Reading to Know blog.

abcrane: This collection of short stories brings the fantastical eccentricities of suburbia to light. Recommended by: Los Angeles Times Book Prize - 2009 Finalist Young Adult Literature United States; New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of the Year - 2009 Winner United States; Parents' Choice Award - 2009 Gold Fiction United States; School Library Journal's Battle of the Kids' Books - 2010 Nominee United States

abcrane: This graphic novel crossover, follows Taro as he tries to save Doodledom from the evil King Crossout. Recommended by: Recommended reviews from School Library Journal (Oct. 28, 2010 and Jul. 1, 2011), Back to Books (Jan. 29, 2011), Kuriousity (Mar. 24, 2011), and Book Dragon (Nov. 2, 2010).

abcrane: An introductory graphic novel, this collection of adventures follows a young witch and her new human friend. Recommended by: Recommended Reviews from Library Media Connection (28)2, Kirkus Reviews (77)13, and Booklist (105)15.

abcrane: Written by a German-Japanese lawyer turned author, living in Texas, this time travel adventure is the book young dino fans would write themselves. Recommended by: Recommended Reviews in Kirkus Reviews (79)24, School Library Journal (58)3, and Booklist (108)18.

abcrane: This fantasy, reminiscent of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, follows a young Indian boy as he returns a sacred conch shell to a community of healers in the Himalayas. Recommended by: Society of School Librarians International Book Awards - 2003 Honor Book Language Arts-Grades K-6 Novels United States; Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books - 2003 Publishers Weekly; Top 10 Fantasy Books for Youth - 2004; Children's Literature Choice List - 2004

abcrane: As this Chinese Australian girl struggles to fit in, she is given a set of magical pastels which she uses to draw the Garden of Empress Cassia. Adventures abound in this magical street drawing. Recommended by: Aurealis Award, 2002 Winner Ages 8-12 Australia; Queensland Premier's Literary Awards, 2003 Shortlist Children's Book Australia; Recommended review by Library Media Connection (30)5.

abcrane: This Chinese American boy and grandfather duo must work together to defeat an evil imp. Recommended by: Georgia Children's Book Award - 2000 Winner Grades 4-8 Georgia; Best Children's Books of the Year - 1999

abcrane: This comic based story brings new life to this legend of the Korean Robin Hood. Recommended by: Aesop Prize - 2007 Winner United States; Asian Pacific American Award for Literature - 2006-2007 Winner Illustration United States

abcrane: This fun adventure story interweaves aspects of Hindu mythology and Indian religion to create a thrilling read of dual identities. Recommended by: School Library Journal Book Review Stars - January 2013; Recommended review from The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (66)5.

abcrane: Part graphic novel, part myth, and part beginning reader, this story follows the son of the Shark King as he struggles to find his place in the world. Recommended by: Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature - 2013 Honor Children's Literature United States; Recommended reviews from the Hawaii Book Blog and Good Comics for Kids blog by the School Library Journal.

abcrane: Part fantasy and part manga, this adventure story follows Emily as she is pulled into a magical world to save her mother and learn the secrets of a magical amulet. Recommended by: Children's Choice Book Award - 2009 Finalist Grade 5-6 Book of the Year United States; Cybil Award - 2008 Finalist Graphic Novels (Elementary/Middle Grade) United States; Young Reader's Choice Award - 2011 Winner Junior Pacific Northwest

abcrane: This adventure fantasy weaves Chinese mythology and modern-day setting San Francisco, as 12 year old Tom Lee takes on the protection a precious phoenix egg while learning the needed magical skills from an old tiger. Recommended by: Georgia Children's Book Award, 2005-2006 Nominee; Recommended review by Guys Lit Wire blog.

abcrane: This Newberry Honor Book, themes of traditional Chinese forklore are woven together as a young girl seeks to improve her family's fortune. Recommended by: Cybil Award - 2009 Finalist Middle Grade Fantasy & Science Fiction United States; E.B. White Read Aloud Award - 2010 Honor Book Older Reader United States; Indies Choice Book Award - 2010 Honor Book Middle Reader United States; John Newbery Medal - 2010 Honor Book United States; Josette Frank Award - 2010 Winner United States; Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature - 2010 Winner Children's Literature United States; Prize for Design and Printing - 2010 Third Place Young Adult Illustrated Novel United States