May 13, 2024 by The Editors of Fabled Films Press

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Celebrate by picking up some of our favorite middle grade reads written by AANPHI authors.

A Royal Conundrum (The Misfits #1) by Lisa Yee 
In this New York Times bestseller, follow Olive, who gets dropped off at a strange boarding school that calls itself a “reforming arts school”! When Olive arrives, she meets a group of kids like her who don’t quite fit in, and discovers that her new school is actually a cover for a crime-fighting team of misfits! Olive and her class will embark on the wacky adventure of a lifetime to save their school from closing. (Ages 8-12)

The Door Is Open by Hena Khan
The Door Is Open by Hena Khan invites readers into the fictional town of Maple Grove, NJ, to discover interconnected stories honoring South Asian American experiences. These interwoven stories of triumph, written by 11 Desi authors, follow the stories of multiple characters who all gather at their local community center. A heartwarming celebration of diverse voices! (Ages 8-12)

Lulu Sinagtala and the City of Noble Warriors by Gail D. Villanueva 
The first book in a new series follows Lulu, whose life is turned upside down when her mom is kidnapped! Lulu discovers that the creatures and deities from Filipino folklore are real, and to top it off, Lulu has superhuman strength and magical powers. Lulu, along with her sister and her best friend, set off on an action-packed quest to bring her mom home. (Ages 8-12)

It's Boba Time for Pearl Li! by Nicole Chen
Meet Pearl, a Taiwanese-American seventh-grader who loves crocheting and getting boba with her best friends. When Pearl finds out that her favorite boba shop, Boba Time, is at risk of shutting down, she vows to make money to save the shop by selling her crocheted amigurumi creations. But as she discovers the complications that come with running a small business, will Pearl be able to save the shop in time? (Ages 8-12)

Pippa Park Raises Her Game by Erin Yun
The Pippa Park series is a relatable middle school story about friendships, basketball, peer pressure, Korean American identity, and family that was inspired by Dickens’ Great Expectations. In book one, when Pippa gets a mysterious basketball scholarship to a prestigious private school, she jumps at the chance to reinvent herself with her new elite classmates. When social media threatens Pippa’s newly built persona, she wonders if she can keep it together and embrace her truest self!
 

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