Bøger om Asian American people

Get to know the inhabitants of a tiny Japanese islandand their unusual stories and secretsthrough this fascinating, intimate collection of portraits. When American journalist Amy Chavez moved to the tiny island of Shiraishi (population 430), she rented a house from an elderly woman named Eiko, who left many of her most cherished possessions in the houseincluding a portrait of Emperor Hirohito and a family altar bearing the spirit tablet of her late husband. Why did she abandon these things? And why did her tombstone later bear the name of a daughter no one knew? These are just some of the mysteries Amy pursues as she explores the lives of Shiraishi's elusive residents. The 31 revealing accounts in this book include: The story of 40-year-old fisherman Hiro, one of two octopus hunters left on the island, who moved back to his home island to fill a void left by his brother who died in a boating accident.A Buddhist priest, eighty-eight, who reflects on his childhood during the war years, witnessing fighter pilots hiding in bunkers on the back side of the island. A "e;pufferfish widow,"e; so named because her husband died after accidentally eating a poisonous pufferfish.The ex-postmaster who talks about hiking over the mountains at night to deliver telegrams at a time when there were only 17 telephone numbers on the island. Interspersed with the author's reflections on her own life on the island, these stories paint an evocative picture of the dramatic changes which have taken place in Japanese society across nearly a century. Fascinating insights into local superstitions and folklore, memories of the war and the bombing of nearby Hiroshima, and of Shiraishi's heyday as a resort in the 1960s and 70s are interspersed with accounts of common modern-day problems like the collapse of the local economy and a rapidly-aging community which has fewer residents each year.

A "graphic memoir following Eddie Ahn, an environmental justice lawyer and activist striving to serve diverse communities in San Francisco amidst environmental catastrophes, an accelerating tide of racial and economic inequality, burnout, and his family's expectations"--

"In 1972 Charles Ford, widely considered the father of American surrealism, hired 19-year-old Indra Tamang as a sort of all-purpose helper in Kathmandu, where he had rented a glorious old Rana-era house. Eventually Indra became Charles's artistic collaborator and almost a son. In 2010 Indra Tamang became the object of global fascination after inheriting two apartments in the Dakota from the actress Ruth Ford. He was her sole caregiver in her last years, as he was for her brother, Charles Henri Ford, in his. The initial story about his inheritance broke in the Wall Street Journal with the headline, "The Butler Did It-at the Dakota," and described a Nepalese butler who "grew up in a mud hut" and ended up owning two apartments in one of New York's most famous buildings. The attention that followed inspired Indra to want to write a more accurate account of his life, the real story of which is much more interesting, eccentric, and unusual than what any of the news outlets presented, beginning with the fact that he was never actually a butler. During the decades of the '70s, '80s and '90s, Indra found himself at the center of every fantastic little universe and scene, in New York, Paris, Crete, and Kathmandu, often as a quiet observer taking photographs and mental notes. There was Studio 54, Andy Warhol's Factory, the teas that Charles would host at the Dakota attended by regulars such as Tennessee Williams, Quentin Crisp, Patti Smith and Henry Geldzahler; there were special dinners at the United Nations, visits to Mary McCarthy and Leonor Fini, and chats in the elevator with neighbors such as John and Yoko and Lauren Bacall. Charles gave Indra a remarkable education, one that Indra absorbed with tremendous curiosity and enthusiasm. Nothing about Indra's life during his many years with Charles and Ruth, surrounded by their constellation of notable friends, was ever ordinary or predictable in any way. His memoir is at once delightful and surprising on many levels"--

"This picture-book biography encourages children to look to the story of Jeremy Lin, the first NBA basketball player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent, for inspiration and empowerment"--

"In 1932, Hazel Ying Lee, a nineteen-year-old American daughter of Chinese immigrants, sat in on a friend's flight lesson. It changed her life. In less than a year, a girl with a wicked sense of humor, a newfound love of flying, and a tough can-do attitude earned her pilot's license and headed for China to help against invading Japanese forces. In time, Hazel would become the first Asian American to fly with the Women Airforce Service Pilots. As thrilling as it may have been, it wasn't easy. In America, Hazel felt the oppression and discrimination of the Chinese Exclusion Act. In China's field of male-dominated aviation she was dismissed for being a woman, and for being an American. But in service to her country, Hazel refused to be limited by gender, race, and impossible dreams. Frustrated but undeterred she forged ahead, married Clifford Louie, a devoted and unconventional husband who cheered his wife on, and gave her all for the cause achieving more in her short remarkable life than even she imagined possible. American Flygirl is the untold account of a spirited fighter and an indomitable hidden figure in American history. She broke every common belief about women. She challenged every social restriction to endure and to succeed. And against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Hazel Ying Lee reached for the skies and made her mark as a universal and unsung hero whose time has come."--

In in 1930s Los Angeles Chinatown, the Chow sisters, May, Gemma, and Peony, suspect foul play in the death of Chinatown star Lulu Wong and take it upon themselves to solve the murder, revealing a conspiracy that threatens their Chinatown neighborhood.

In 1999 Texas, Lia Cope, when her grandmother Mineko moves in, connects with her over stories of the Turtle House in Japan and the secrets they both carry, and when Mineko is forced to live in an assisted living community, she and Lia devise a plan to bring a beloved lost place to life.

In the vein of The Pisces and The Vegetarian, Chlorine is a debut novel that blurs the line between a literary coming-of-age narrative and a dark unsettling horror tale, told from an adult perspective on the trials and tribulations of growing up in a society that puts pressure on young women and their bodies... a powerful, relevant novel of immigration, sapphic longing, and fierce, defiant becoming.Ren Yu is a swimmer. Her daily life starts and ends with the pool. Her teammates are her only friends. Her coach is her guiding light. If she swims well enough, she will be scouted, get a scholarship, go to a good school. Her parents will love her. Her coach will be kind to her. She will have a good life.But these are human concerns. These are the concerns of those confined to land, those with legs. Ren grew up on stories of creatures of the deep, of the oceans and the rivers. Creatures that called sailors to their doom. That dragged them down and drowned them. That feasted on their flesh. The creature that she's always longed to become: the mermaid.Ren aches to be in the water. She dreams of the scent of chlorine, the feel of it on her skin. And she will do anything she can to make a life for herself where she can be free. No matter the pain. No matter what anyone else thinks. No matter how much blood she has to spill.

Crazy Rich Asians meets The Help! From Reese's Book Club veteran Balli Kaur Jaswal comes a wildly entertaining and sharply observed story of three women who work in the homes of Singapore's elite, and band together to solve a murder mystery involving one of their own.?Tender and heartfelt, Now You See us also manages to be laugh-out-loud funny. An uplifting story of courage and hope that will keep you enthralled until the very last page.??Jean Kwok, New York Times bestselling author of Searching for Sylvie Lee"A truly irresistible read. Intricately plotted, propulsive, and provocative, NOW YOU SEE US showcases an author at the peak of her talents."--Kirstin Chen, New York Times bestselling author of CounterfeitCorazon, Donita, and Angel are Filipina domestic workers?part of the wave of women sent to Singapore to be cleaners, maids, and caregivers.Corazon: A veteran domestic worker, Cora had retired back to the Philippines for good, but she has returned to Singapore under mysterious circumstances. Now she's keeping a secret from her wealthy employer, who is planning an extravagant wedding for her socialite daughter.Donita: Barely out of her teens, this is Donita's first time in Singapore, and she's had the bad luck to be hired by the notoriously fussy Mrs. Fann. Brazen and exuberant, Donita's thrown herself into a love affair with an Indian migrant worker.Angel: Working as an in-home caregiver for an elderly employer, Angel is feeling blue after a recent breakup with the woman she loves. She's alarmed when her employer's son suddenly brings in a new nurse who may be a valuable ally...or meant to replace her.Then an explosive news story shatters Singapore's famous tranquility?and sends a chill down the spine of every domestic worker. Flordeliza Martinez, a Filipina maid, has been arrested for murdering her female employer. The three women don't know the accused well, but she could be any of them; every worker knows stories of women who were scapegoated or even executed for crimes they didn't commit.Shocked into action, Donita, Corazon, and Angel will use their considerable moxie and insight to piece together the mystery of what really happened on the day Flordeliza's employer was murdered. After all, no one knows the secrets of Singapore's families like the women who work in their homes...

Two feuding neighbors unite to resurrect a neglected city garden in this uplifting and quietly joyful novel by Sara Nisha Adams, author of the beloved The Reading List.

A California Eureka Non-Fiction Award Honor BookA compelling account of Simon Tam’s fight for free speech that ended with a landmark Supreme Court decision Music is a way to transcend cultures and divides. Simon Tam used his band’s name, The Slants®, to make a powerful statement that racist insults could no longer be hurtful to Asian Americans. But then the U.S. Trade and Patent Office tries to stop him. In his eight-year battle to win trademark protection, Simon would go all the way to the Supreme Court in a landmark case to rout out structural racism in our government systems. Mia Wenjen takes us back to Simon’s early days and the formation of the band, to the long battle to claim the name they chose to use. We learn of his motivations and the years-long struggle that leads ultimately to the Supreme Court of the United States. Told using lyrics from the band’s hit song about their trademark fight, this compelling story will keep readers riveted until the dramatic ending. We Sing from the Heart gives background and context to the significance of Simon’s quest, not just for him and his band, but for free speech rights for us all. Newcomer to children’s books, Victor Bizar Gómez, channels the indie music world with dynamic artwork that compliments the storytelling and is sure to draw in readers with his exciting graphic approach.

In the seventh book in the Jasmine Toguchi series, Debbi Michiko Florence and illustrator Elizabet Vukovic takes us on a family adventure in Kabo, Japan full of warmth, laughter, and summer fun.Japan is awesome but Jasmine is beginning to miss home and her best friend, Linnie. She's hoping her next adventure to a village called Kabo, where her grandmother grew up, is just what she needs to get out of this rut. Jasmine is pleased to find out there's a beach, tangerine grove, and even a local festival to attend.She is hoping to explore with her big sister, Sophie. But, walnuts! Sophie is no fun. All she wants to do is read her Japanese manga and stay inside. If Jasmine's best friend Linnie was there, she'd definitely play with her, so why won't Sophie?Regardless, Jasmine is determined to make the most of her time in Japan, only getting into a little trouble along the way.

A contemporary YA debut about a Vietnamese-American boy who tries to attain popularity by befriending the most beautiful girl in school, inspired by the Vietnamese-American author's teen experience.Gary Võ is one of the few Vietnamese kids in his school and has been shy for as long as he can remember-being ignored and excluded by his classmates comes with the territory. So when the most popular guy in his grade offers Gary the opportunity to break into his inner circle, Gary jumps at the chance. All he needs to do is steal the prized possession of the most beautiful and untouchable girl they know-Gloria Buenrostro.But as Gary gets to know Gloria, he's taken in by her authenticity and genuine interest in who he really is. Soon, they're best friends. Being part of the "in crowd" has always been Gary's dream, but as he comes closer to achieving infamy, he risks losing the first person who recognizes his true self. Gary must consider if any amount of popularity is worth losing a true friend.

"Real Americans begins on the precipice of Y2K in New York City, when twenty-two-year-old Lily Chen, an unpaid intern at a slick media company, meets Matthew. Matthew is everything Lily is not: easygoing and effortlessly attractive, a native East Coaster, and, most notably, heir to a vast pharmaceutical empire. Lily couldn't be more different: flat-broke, raised in Tampa, the only child of scientists who fled Mao's Cultural Revolution. Despite all this, Lily and Matthew fall in love. In 2021, fifteen-year-old Nick Chen has never felt like he belonged on the isolated Washington island where he lives with his single mother, Lily. He can't shake the sense she's hiding something. When Nick sets out to find his biological father, the journey threatens to raise more questions than it provides answers."--

"An exhilarating novel of American identity that spans three generations in one family, and asks: What makes us who we are? And how inevitable are our futures?"--

A debut collection of stories from author Daisuke Shen, wherein divine beings and humans alike must rely on omens to navigate the unpredictable lives they find themselves inhabiting.A couple employs exact clones of their partners, but then slowly begin losing their memories. Four boys with cruel intentions come across a field of statuesque women, unaware of the vengeance that awaits them. Paranoia leads a brilliant engineer into creating a language-processing machine that will tell her the truth of others' emotions.Vague Predictions and Prophecies explores the myriad ways in which desire structures (and destroys) the self, language, and love, questioning the very nature of human connection. Through beautifully written prose, Shen invokes the surreal to create gigantic worlds packed inside deceptively small packages, emphasizing a resounding truth: that our fractured understandings of each other may yet be enough.

A forensic artist confronts a crime against her own family, while MAGA politics, racism and violence rage in a small town in the Bitterroot Mountains of Idaho. Set in the fictional town of Steeplejack, nestled in the Bitterroot Mountains, Hazel Mackenzie provides law enforcement with sketch art and victim reconstruction following suspected crimes. Hazel is catapulted from observer to participant when her husband dies in an accident and then soon after, her gay twin brother Kento is shot by a member of Steeplejack's growing anti-LGBTQ community during a gender reveal party for his child. Hazel soon discovers her husband wasn't who she thought he was. She uncovers hidden family secrets about her grandparents' forced internment during World War II, mirroring the same racism and prejudice that threaten to strip Kento and his husband of their basic rights to their baby. As physical violence charges up her driveway and engulfs her life, Hazel battles for herself, her brother, and a town torn apart by hate. And somehow during all this, she stumbles on a different kind of love and a more courageous way to live her life.

"Settling St. Malo is a story of 19th and early 20th century Filipino communities in Louisiana told through documentary poetry. Through informative, descriptive, and lyrical verse the collection describes the Filipino communities of St. Malo, Barataria Bay, and New Orleans. Excerpts from oral histories, diaries, and letters enter poems to provide a community perspective and counter the bias in newspaper stories and government records that account for much of what is reported about early Filipino settlements"--

"Twelve young Asians Americans cross paths, meeting challenges and victories, in a busy airport"--

Inspired by the author's childhood, this novel in verse picks up two years after Háa and her family arrive in Alabama as refugees from the Viòãet Nam War when Mother decides to move the family to Texas for a new job.

"Set in New York and China over three decades, Paper Names explores what it means to be American from three different perspectives. There's Tony, a Chinese-born engineer turned Manhattan doorman, who immigrated to the United States to give his family a better life. His daughter, Tammy, who we meet at age nine and follow through adulthood, and who grapples with the expectations of a first generation American and her own personal desires. Finally, there's Oliver, a handsome white lawyer with a dark family secret and who lives in the building where Tony works. A violent attack causes their lives to intertwine in ways that will change them forever."--

A brand new collection from award-winning poet Marianne Chan. A coming-of-age narrative, Leaving Biddle City details one Filipina American speaker's experience of growing up amid a white, Midwestern suburbia mythologized as "Biddle City." Through prose poems, pantoums, ballads, flattened haikus, and thematic autobiographies, Chan maps a territory of intergenerational conflict, racial alienation, and memory and forgetfulness. What's achieved is a work of play and meticulous beauty, a collection that reframes how we may understand ourselves, our histories, and the places where we are from.

As hate crimes against Asian Americans continue to rise, there is an urgent need for culturally informed mental health resources for this population. Written by an Asian American psychologist, this workbook blends contemporary psychology with ancient mind-body approaches to help readers build resilience in the face of racism, overcome trauma and internalized oppression, reclaim mental health, celebrate cultural heritage, and thrive.