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AAPI Heritage Book List | Community Members

For Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we reached out to members of Spokane’s AAPI community and asked them to share some of their favorites or books they felt were important for others to read. Some responses included videos.


Recommended by Pam Tajima Praeger, Sansei, former Spokane Falls Community College educator, member of the Washington State Commission on Asian American and Pacific Islander Affairs, Commission on Judicial Conduct, currently serving on the Washington State Legislative Ethics Board, and social justice advocate. 

The Making of Asian America: A History by Erika Lee 

Book 

Fred Korematsu Speaks Up by Laura Atkins  

Book 

Asian Americans on PBS

The Hifumi En Society provides support to the Japanese-American community in the Greater Spokane Region in its pursuit of promoting cultural awareness. Videos may be seen at Omoide (hifumien.org).  


Recommended by Dr. Pui-Yan Lam, Sociology Professor, Eastern Washington University 

Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong 

Book | eBook 

The Making of Asian America: A History by Erika Lee  

Book 


Recommended by Rosie Zhou, Youth Community Organizer and Senior, Ferris High School 

Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong 

Book eBook  

Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu 

Book eBook | Audiobook

The Making of Asian AmericaA History by Erika Lee 

Book 


Recommended by Hyunki Ahn, President, Spokane-Jecheon (South Korea) Sister City Society 

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee 

Book | eBook | Audiobook

Native Speaker by Chang-rae Lee  

On order 

The Vegetarian by Han Kang 

Book | eBook

A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park  

Book 


Recommended by Charity Doyl, Publisher, The Family Guide and Event Organizer, The Family Fun Fair & Northwest Winterfest 

1421: The Year China Discovered America by Gavin Menzies  

Book 

Way of the Ancient Healer: Sacred Teachings from the Philippine Ancestral Traditions by Virgil Mayor Apostol  

On order 


Recommended by Sam SongLead Instructor/Owner, Kumon Math and Reading Center of Spokane 

Wang Xiang  – YouTube. The name of the song means “Looking at My Hometown.” It is a reminder of a small village in China and the family that was left behind. 


Recommended by Tia Moua, former Miss Washington’s Outstanding Teen and current Gonzaga University student 

Dia’s Story Cloth by Dia Cha 

Book

Jouanah, A Hmong Cinderella by Jewell Reinhart Coburn 

Book

The Most Beautiful Thing by Kao Kalia Yang 

Book


Recommended by Juan Juan, Community Educator – Lifelong Learning, Spokane Public Library 

On Gold Mountain by Lisa See 

Book 


Recommended by Miyoko Kuzutani, Spokane Public Library  

Ikigai: the Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Hector Garcia 

Book 

Spark Joy: an Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up by Marie Kondo 

Book  


Recommended by Kekaulani Garcia, Spokane Public Library 

Moana directed by Ron Clements 

DVD 

Lilo and Stitch directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois  

DVD 


Recommended by Ming Cooley, Spokane Public Library  

The Art of War by Sunzi 

Book 

Crouching Dragon, Hidden Tiger directed by Ang Lee 

DVD 


Recommended by Sean Beresford, Spokane Public Library

Minding the Gap directed by Bing Liu

DVD

The Farewell directed by Lulu Wang

DVD

Like Father, Like Son directed by Hirokazu Koreeda

DVD

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

Book | eBook

Crying in H Mart: A Memoir by Michelle Zauner

Book |  eBook |  Audiobook


Recommended by Sowmya Surapaneni, a cultural enthusiast & Founder & President of Indian Youth Club of Spokane

Siddhartha by Herman Hesse

eBook | Sound Recording

Ghandi Directed by Richard Attenborough

DVD

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