Discover great books by Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Authors in every genre
May 3 2023

How are you celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month? Start with a few book clubs reading AAPI authors.BookTok creator Books.with.Lee founded the Diversify & Amplify Book Club to uplift marginalized voices. The club is reading “Four Treasures of the Sky,” Jenny Tinghui Zhang’s dazzling debut novel about a Chinese girl fighting to claim her place in the 1880s American West. Nearly 250 readers joined Books.with.Lee’s Reading Across Asia challenge this year, collecting more than 700 books from authors around the world. “I hope to challenge harmful stereotypes that are wrongfully perpetuated by media as well as build empathy,” she concluded about this reading marathon, helping us “read outside of your comfort zone.” TikTok creator Selene Velez (moongirlreads) runs Fable's YA Book Club, and launched her club on Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month with "Last Night at the Telegraph Club," a novel by Asian American author Malinda Lo. You can join Selene's book club, or check out others, here.Lo's writing is especially important this month. She co-founded Diversity in YA, a site that championed inclusion in young adult books, from race to sexual orientation to gender identity and disability. That site published a number of essays about the AAPI community, all excellent reading for AAPI Heritage Month!And if you'd like to see more content on Fable from Selene, watch her conversation with Yang-Sze Choo and Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni hosted by Fable's own Padma Warrior on our events page.
Mallika Chopra curated this Folio with books that inspired her to follow her own teachings to find balance in her life and live in the present moment. These books also influenced her own book “Living With Intent.”Chopra is a mom, media entrepreneur, author, and public speaker. Along with “Living With Intent,” she also wrote the “Just Be” series.
Mimi Lok curated this Folio with books of short stories providing numerous perspectives, thoughtful transitions, and life-altering ideas.Lok is the author of the story collection “Last Of Her Name.” She is the winner of a Smithsonian Ingenuity Award and the 2020 PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize.
Chitra Divakaruni curated this Folio with the American immigrant experience in mind, showcasing the hardships and triumphs that shaped a young and diverse country.Divakaruni is an award-winning author, poet, activist, and author of 18 books.
Padmasree Warrior curated this folio with the intent of featuring a wide genre of books, giving readers a sense of the Fable experience.Warrior is a businesswoman and technology executive, and the founder of Fable.
Publishing needs diverse voices
May gives us an opportunity to celebrate a community of diverse ethnicities and cultures, but we should be reading AAPI authors all year long.Young adult fiction author Stacey Lee recalled how hard it was to find books by AAPI voices as a young reader:“Many of us have grown up trying to downplay our heritage. When you grow up lacking books or other media that represent you, you start thinking that being anything other than white is a drawback...I think it’s important to show Asian Americans where you don’t usually see them. If we don’t do that, we erase them.”
This month, we rounded up book recommendations from AAPI authors, activists, entrepreneurs, and readers. These books highlight the AAPI community and its stories for all readers, opening new horizons and empowering new voices.Book Recommendations from the AAPI Community
To help the Fable and AAPI community discover great books, we regularly share Fable Folios—exceptional books handpicked by tastemakers, experts, acclaimed authors, world-class athletes, and industry titans.This month, a few of these creative collections will guide you through great stories written by AAPI authors, ranging from classic novels to heartbreaking love stories. Each curator offers you a unique and inspiring reading journey.Living With Intent: Mallika Chopra

“A few years ago, I was giving tips to a group of women on how to live a more balanced life. As I spoke about the benefits of being present, my mind wandered to my to-do list...As a busy mom of 2 preteens and an entrepreneur, I was preaching balance, but not living it.”
Short Story Masters: Mimi Lok

“A great short story is like a great song—it has the power to be an instant mood changer.”
The Immigrant Story is an American Story: Chitra Divakaruni

“For centuries, people from many nations have arrived in America, carrying in their hearts excitement and trepidation — and memories of the cultures they have left behind. America has transformed them, and they, in turn, have transformed America.”
Padma’s Picks: Padmasree Warrior
