UNCENSORED: ASIAN AMERICAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH
Six banned books by AAPI authors you should add to your reading list today
Book bans reached an all-time high this school year and we have the receipts to prove it! PEN America found that there have been 4,000 instances of book bans for the 2023-2024 school year. There was a 65% increase in book bans in 2023 compared to 2022 according to the American Library Association (ALA).
This month we’re taking a look at how these bans and challenges have impacted the Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) community for AAPI Heritage Month. In 2022, The Asian Pacific American Librarians Association put out a statement condemning this form of censorship because it not only restricts intellectual freedom, but allows for the continued oppression of historically marginalized voices.
If you agree that book bans only silence and harm authors who work hard to make their voices heard and bring new and diverse perspectives to the marketplace of ideas, join Uncensored this AAPI month by reading one of the selections from our AAPI Banned Book reading list below!
American Born Chinese (2006) by Gene Luen Yang
This graphic novel has three separate storylines that come together in an unexpected twist! It follows the stories of young Jin Wang struggling to fit in at school where he's the only Chinese American student, the Monkey King, the most powerful monkey on earth, and Danny a 16-year-old who is embarrassed by his Chinese cousin Chin-Kee.
milk and honey (2014) by Rupi Kaur
#1 New York Times Bestselling Author Rupi Kaur not only wrote and illustrated milk and honey, but he also self-published the book! Milk and honey is a collection of poems divided into four chapters each touching on themes of survival, feminism, relationships, abuse, love, and loss.
This One Summer (2014) by Mariko Tamaki, Illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
A coming-of-age story that follows two teenage friends, Rose and Windy as they embark on a summer vacation in a small beach town. The two begin to discover more about themselves and their sexualities amidst struggling family dynamics and mental health challenges.
Private Label (2022) by Kelly Yang
This young adult novel from the mind of #1 New York Times Bestseller Kelly Yang, follows Serene, a Chinese American girl, and Lian, a newcomer in town. The two go looking for Serene’s father after her mother, a fashion designer, gets diagnosed with cancer - Serene’s father left before she was born and now she wants to know what might have happened to him in Beijing.
The Prince and the Dressmaker (2018) by Jen Wang
This award-winning graphic novel offers up a twist on a fairy tale story. The main character, Prince Sebastian, struggles to hide his secret life from everyone while his parents struggle to find him a bride. With his friend, Frances, a brilliant dressmaker by his side, the pair try on fabulous fits in Paris, while Frances makes dresses for Sebastian to wear as his alter ego Lady Crystallia.
This book has achieved many awards with one reviewer stating “an essential book that shows readers that they are never alone in their struggles." Flamer is a story about Aiden Navarro, a young boy who during summer, starts on a road of self-discovery and acceptance before he attends high school for the first time. Aidan not only struggles with his sexual identity, but faces bullying due to his Filipino heritage.
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY
By reflecting on how one of these reads inspires you to advocate for banned titles in your community by May 31, 2024, you could earn a $500 scholarship.
Make a difference in your community and add your vision to the future of our democracy