8 New Middle Grade Books Featuring AANHPI Voices

This is a heart-wrenching middle grade novel about a South Asian American kid, Mo, struggling with rage and overwhelming emotions as his father’s schizophrenia worsens. The family moves from New York City to Houston to live with Mo’s aunt and cousin, who are so very kind to him, which makes Mo worry even more about his father’s outbursts. Mo finds comfort in South Asian folklore and the mosque he attends with his aunt and cousin.

This is a compelling, fascinating middle grade biography about a Filipino guerrilla fighter and WWII spy—Josefina “Joey” Guerrero. During WWII, Joey was diagnosed with Hansen’s disease, known then as leprosy. Thinking she would soon die and had nothing to lose, she joined a group of guerrilla fighters and became a spy when Japan occupied the Philippines. Because of her chronic illness, no one would search her or get too close, so she was able to transport secret messages and map out mine fields without interference. This is an amazing story about a woman, I’m sad to say, I’d never heard of until reading this.

This is the second book in the middle grade graphic novel series Parachute Kids, about a group of undocumented Taiwanese immigrant siblings living on their own in California. In this second book, a cousin stays with the Lin siblings for a couple of weeks while her mother, their aunt, takes care of an ill relative. She’s the same age as Feng-Li/Ann, but constantly bullies her. Meanwhile, Jia-Xi/Jesse is working at a restaurant where the owner is ripping her off for being an undocumented worker, while Ke-Gang/Jason has a crush on Jesse’s best friend’s brother. There are lots of high stakes for these siblings who are trying to do their best as they hide from immigration authorities while navigating friend drama and doing well in school.

This is a lovely middle grade verse novel about a mother and daughter immigrating from India to Rhode Island after a divorce. Geeta misses everything about her old home: her family, the pet dog she had to leave behind, the food. Geeta has trouble making friends at school, and one popular girl mocks her for her accent and clothes. She does befriend a kid named Miguel, who lives in a neighboring apartment. The two find an injured seal on the beach, and Miguel calls the Marine Animal Rehab Center to help. Geeta enjoys visiting the seal, and she sees her own turmoil mirrored in the seal. It makes her angry about how others treat the environment, spurring her to action. It’s a wonderful book about immigration, environmentalism, mental illness, and friendship.

Clara lives on a small family farm with her Tūtū (grandmother) on O’ahu. Her father lives in Arizona, and she longs to join him and start her life over with a new school. Some of the boys at school tease and bully her, and her former best friend Leo is the worst. When she wishes to understand what boys are thinking while holding her family’s umeke, she finds she can suddenly hear their thoughts! She can also see into the past while holding objects. She and a friend try to figure out how to leverage this new power, but it seems hopeless. However, the more she learns about her heritage, the more she wonders if she should stay. This is such a fun middle grade by and about Native Hawaiians.

This funny middle grade switches perspectives between two Korean American twins, Phoebe and Dexter Bae. Phoebe is a pairs figure skater who plans to compete in a big competition, until her partner is injured. Dex loves hockey, but doesn’t make the team when a new Canadian player tries out, with more expensive skates. Their mother agrees to buy Dex new skates, but only if he pairs with his sister in the figure skating competition. Meanwhile, two years ago, the twins’ father died of cancer, and the family still grieves. I love the many healthy relationships portrayed in this book.

Ollie and her younger sister have moved around a lot because their dad is a diplomat. Which is fine by Ollie; she gets a fresh start every school year and can leave all her past embarrassing moments behind. But now her parents have decided to stay in Virginia, and Ollie will have to make and keep friends. Meanwhile, she refuses to be the perfect Thai daughter her mother wants and instead leans into her anime joy, and experiences her first period. This story has so much depth, yet it’s so fun, too!

Former Book Riot contributor Karina Yan Glaser’s latest middle grade is an expansive historical fiction told in dual timelines. In 731 China, tween Han Yu, who is beloved by all animals, travels on the Silk Road after his family falls ill to find mythic healing grasses. In 1931 Chinatown, NYC, Luli and her family are trying to make ends meet during the Great Depression. Luli decides to help her family by creating a museum with Chinese artifacts that have been passed down through generations, but the artifacts attract a thief. The short, punchy chapters and delightful characters make this hard to put down! It’s my favorite book of the year so far.