YA Picks for Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Teens, this May stop by your local Pratt Library up one of these new titles to help celebrate Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

After spending her early years in Wuhan, China, riding water buffalos and devouring stinky tofu, Laura immigrates to Texas, where her hometown is as foreign as Mars—at least until 2020, when COVID-19 makes Wuhan a household name.In Messy Roots, Gao illustrates her coming-of-age as the girl who simply wants to make the basketball team, escape Chinese school, and figure out why girls make her heart flutter.

Messy Roots, by Laura Gao, Book

Theo Mori and Gabriel Moreno have always been at odds. Their parents own rival businesses—an Asian American café and a Puerto Rican bakery—and Gabi’s lack of coordination has cost their soccer team too many games to count. From the author of Meet Cute Diary comes a delectable rom-com that’s brimming with zest and a sprinkle of sweetness. A must-read for fans of Casey McQuiston and Julian Winters.

Cafe Con Lychee, by Emery Lee, eBook | Book

Romeo and Juliet meets Chinese mythology in this magical novel by the New York Times bestselling author of The Astonishing Color of After. Hunter Yee has perfect aim with a bow and arrow, but all else in his life veers wrong. He’s sick of being haunted by his family’s past mistakes. The only things keeping him from running away are his little brother, a supernatural wind, and the bewitching girl at his new high school.

An Arrow To The Moon, by Emily X.R. Pan, Book

Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid’s Tale in this blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction for YA readers. The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the mecha aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall. It doesn’t matter that the girls often die from the mental strain.

Iron Windoe, by Xiran Jay Zhao, eBook | Book

The Silent Unseen
by Amanda McCrina
eBook
Ready When You Are
by Gary Lonesborough
eBook
Debating Darcy
by Sayantani DasGupta
eBook
Skin Of The Sea
by Natasha Bowen
eBook

Read Your Way to a Cleaner Home

Whether you are looking to declutter or refresh your home, now is the perfect time to start on Spring cleaning! Check out this collection on Hoopla to help you figure out where to get started. 

Declutter
by Skye Alexander
eBook
5 Days To A Clutter Free House
by Sandra Felton
eBook
Better Than New
by Nicole Curtis
eBook
Clear The Clutter, Find Happiness
by Donna Smallin
eBook
Decluttering At The Speed Of Life
by Dana K. White
eBook
Keep What You Love
by Irene Smit
eBook
M.O.M
by Kristi Clover
eBook
Make Space
by Regina Wong
eBook
Remodelista: The Organized Home
by Julie Carlson and Margot Guralnick eBook
Simplicity at Home
by Yumiko Sekin
eBook
The Natural Cleaning Handbook
by Natalie Wise
eBook
Sustainable Minimalism
by Stephanie Marie Seferian
eBook

Stream Free Films Celebrating Asian American & Pacific Islanders

From intriguing documentaries to award winning Indies, Kanopy has a full collection of films celebrating the rich heritage of Asian American & Pacific Islanders. You can watch up to 10 films or episodes each month with Kanopy!

Casey (Haley Lu Richardson) lives with her mother in a little-known Midwestern town haunted by the promise of modernism. Jin (John Cho), a visitor from the other side of the world, attends to his dying father. Burdened by the future, they find respite in one another and the architecture that surrounds them.

Columbus, Film

Look at the past 25 years of representation of Asian and Asian American women in U.S. visual media — from blockbuster films and network television to Asian American cinema and YouTube — to explore what’s changed, what’s been recycled, and what we can hope for in the future.

Slaying The Dragon Reloaded, Film

A charming comedy-drama about a mother and her gay son who heal, connect and grow together as the son’s Chinese restaurant faces foreclosure. As gay chef Elliot tries to find new love with Ian, perhaps his newly-separated mother (Sharon Omi) will find her way towards acceptance of her son as well.

Eat With Me, Film

Here is more to add to your watch list…

Vincent Who?, Film
Meet The Patels, Film
Painted Nails, Film
Lucky Grandma, Film

Your Ticket to Discovery Awaits!

Discover new worlds, passions and dreams through books – and earn free admission with the Ticket to Discovery Book Club! This May, Baltimore area children in fifth grade and younger can visit any Pratt location and show their library card to get a Ticket to Discovery bookmark, while supplies last.

Bookmarks are only available during the month of May, though participating children have through August 31, 2022 to complete the program and visit Port Discovery. Borrow, read, or listen to someone read any five books and record them on your bookmark.  

We hope these books spark creativity and curiosity! To learn more about the Ticket to Discovery Book Club, please visit here.

 
Hello World: Backyard Bugs
by Jill McDonald 

Play with Clay 
by Jenny Pinkerton

Baby Builders
by Elissa Haden Guest

 Boxitects
by Kim Smith
 
Sunrise Summer
by Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr

 Sunny Side Up 
by Jackie Davis

 Stuntboy, in the Meantime
by Jason Reynolds

 The Foodie Flamingo
by Vanessa Howl and Pablo Pino 

 The Firefly Fix
by Tom Watson

 Rocket to the Moon! 
by Don Brown 

 Sisters of the Neversea
by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Second Chance Romance to Download

Call us optimistic, but sometimes Cupid strikes twice! From former best friends and exes, to unfortunate meetings and frenemies, fall for one of these fun romantic comedies to see if love is truly in the cards for these characters. 

You Deserve Each Other
by Sarah Hogle
eBook | eAudiobook
Count Your Lucky Starts
by Alexandria Bellefleur
eBook | eAudiobook
A Lot Like Adiós
by Alexis Daria
eBook | eAudiobook
First Love, Take Two
by Sajni Patel
eBook | eAudiobook
I’m So (Not) Over You
by Kosoko Jackson
eBook | eAudiobook
Where the Rhythm Takes You
by Sarah Dass
eBook | Book
Twice in a Blue Moon
by Christina Lauren
eBook | eAudiobook
The Bromance Book Club
by Lyssa Kay Adams
eBook | eAudiobook
Love Her or Lose Her
by Tessa Bailey
eBook | Book
People We Meet on Vacation
by Emily Henry
eBook | eAudiobook
Talk Bookish to Me
by Kate Bromley
eBook | Book