Hello! It's been a while! I'm so sorry, I've been super busy. As some of you know, I am Lao-American and I am supremely proud of my culture. Like, extremely proud. That's one of the things I was doing during this break (namely participating in a lao cultural event). That being said, I am a very big fan of Asian representation in the media and I am dropping by-well, not really this is kinda my place, but still-to tell you about some of my favourite books in honor of may, aka AAPI history month.
1) My Life: Growing Asian in America by: various authors, with a foreword by SuChin Pak
This book is a collection of 30 works by a diverse group of Asian Americans, writing on their experience growing up Asian in America (as stated in the title) I loved reading this book and seeing myself represented in various writers. This book is diverse in perspective, and it made me feel extremely good about myself seeing experiences I had being reflected in these books. That being said, this book is a little sad, seeing as it was compiled and written mainly during covid, aka one of the hardest times to be AAPI in America due to the rise in Anti Asian sentiment during the pandemic.
2) The Stand In By: Lily Chu
I'll admit this list isn't all serious books that made me reflect on my experience, mostly because I usually just pick a book by the bright colors or font and don't read the synopsis on the back. I'm not usually on a mission, but when I am you know I am. This book is the victim of me picking a random book in Target and going...this looks cool, so when I read it and even though the likeliness of this happening to me was quite low given that 1) I do not have a celebrity lookalike, and 2) I'm a horrible actress and would have been got quickly, I found myself wishing that I could find myself in Gracie's place. Now, this novel isn't all Parent Trap style switching with your alter ego type of moments. Things such as the illness of a parent are discussed, and there is a recurring theme about Gracie's depression, but I think that Chu handled those tough topics really well. Also, Sam's just like really hot so there's that.
3) Tokyo Ever After By: Emiko Jean
*gasp* Teso likes a book about a girl who's secretly a princess! Wow! It's almost like she did a whole ramble about how much she loves things fairytale related! (link in related articles, wasn't that a great self promo?). Cheesy self promo aside, this book is like a little pick me up for me. I used both this book and it's amazing sequel for a book report in my english class and I'm pretty sure my english teacher was so confused because half of that book report was just me crying about how much I love Izumi's arc and how much I related to her, but that's besides the point. I think that the princess plot got me far too into my feels because my dream has always been to be a disney princess (Mulan has a sword and a dragon and lemme tell you 10 year old Teso was like...sign me up I want all of the above, like yes please), so reading a book with a plot so unattainable (raise your hand if your parent was ever like oh yeah by the way you're secretly royal and the family has no other kids so you're technically like really close to the throne of a whole country, if you raised your hand switch me places please) yet characters so relatable made my sad(ly still not a disney princess) heart go flutter flutter.
4) How to Be The Best Third Wheel by: Loridee De Villa
Ok, so there were points of this book where I wanted to cry and hit someone with a bat and cry some more, but oh my gosh I love this book so much and I cannot stop talking about it. As a perpetual third wheel (in other words Teso is very single) who has close friends who date people, I can say wholeheartedly this accurately represents how I feel. Like, really, who are you if you haven't gagged while your best friends being all pda near you? Not me! Coupley things aside, I loved the way these characters were written like high schoolers in the way that they may seem a little bit immature. I'm a bit immature, hence why they seem like high schoolers to me, but to others they may not be. So...if you are in high school and didn't think these characters were like anyone...oops. I am definitely a lot like the characters, since, as my friend pointed out while she was reading the book, "Carol is literally you. I can see you doing this.". And while she isn't wrong, I could see myself in all the characters. Also James can be adorable when he's with Lara, and this makes the list for that.
Happy reading!
Teso