AANHPI Books | Briana, Stephanie, & Christy

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month and with it comes a plethora of fantastic reads! Celebrate the diverse voices and stories within the AANHPI community. Whether you're drawn to historical fiction, romance, horror, memoir, or fantasy, you'll find books written by AANHPI authors that you simply can't put down. In today's conversation, Briana chats with Christy and Stephanie about some of their favorite titles within the AANHPI diaspora. There's no doubt that readers are hungry for more representation in literature; the significant surge in AANHPI books published in 2026 is a hopeful indicator for the future. 

Book Recommendations 

Next Time Will Be Out Turn by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker 

https://www.oceanvuong.com/

Intro Music by nikitsan

Transcript

Asian Pacific Islander Books

Briana: [00:00:00] Cheers. Welcome to Top Shelf with the librarians of Russell Library. I'm Brianna, joined by Christy Billings. 

Christy: Hello. 

Briana: And Stephanie Rush. 

Christy: Hi. 

Briana: Thank you for joining us today. On Top Shelf, you'll hear about compelling reads from the people who know books best. Our librarians will share titles that connect to a unique theme each episode.

Briana: We're very excited to turn the page with you. The focus of today's show is AAPI, AKA Asian American and Pacific Islander, books. We've decided to cover this topic because May is AAPI month. Originally a week-long celebration established in 1978, it was expanded to a full month in 1990. The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7th, [00:01:00] 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad on May 10th, 1869.

Briana: The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants, and I actually didn't know that until- I didn't either ... I did some research for this episode, and I was like- Me neither ... "Oh, that's so cool." 

Stephanie: I just wanna make a note about the acronym. So I found out that this acronym has changed over time, and it's also always changing to reflect the current population.

Stephanie: Mm-hmm. So, um, one of the groups that I interact with on Instagram is now using ANHPI. Oh. Which stands for Asian Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders. 

Briana: Oh, 

Stephanie: okay. So it's a little bit more inclusive. Yeah. Um, and the current list actually includes over 80 territories and countries. Wow. Which I literally have all listed, which I won't list today.

Stephanie: Yeah. But the, it's a vast array of populations and backgrounds. So, um, we're gonna be covering a lot of bases 

Briana: today. Mm-hmm. That's really cool to know. 

Stephanie: Yeah. 

Briana: So an author who will not be discussed today that I wanted to actually touch on briefly is Ocean Vuong. Born in Saigon, Vietnam, and raised in Hartford, Connecticut, in a working class [00:02:00] family of nail salon and factory laborers.

Briana: He was educated at Manchester Community College before transferring to Pace University to study international marketing. 

Stephanie: Which I also did not know. Me 

Briana: neither. I 

Stephanie: didn't realize Ocean Vuong was a- 

Briana: I knew he was- ... 

Stephanie: a 

Briana: Woodlawer ... like, local, but I couldn't remember where. Yeah. 

Stephanie: Super local. 

Briana: So very cool. Without completing his first term, Ocean Vuong dropped out and enrolled at Brooklyn College, where he graduated with a BA in 19th century American literature, and he subsequently received his MFA in poetry from NYU.

Christy: He is one of the best authors of our time. He- I was 

Stephanie: gonna 

Briana: say, 

Stephanie: Christy, you're gonna jump in here. Yeah. I 

Briana: know you're a 

Stephanie: big fan. 

Briana: I can't imagine how cool it would be to, like, just, and be in the same room as him. 

Stephanie: Right? 

Briana: Like, that great- all that greatness, like- Oh, amazing Maybe we'll 

Christy: invite him to come to Books and Brews while he's, while he's talking about the 

Briana: book That would be amazing.

Briana: Oh, 

Stephanie: really? I 

Briana: think why not? 

Christy: Why not? 

Stephanie: I mean, you should give it a shot, Christy. 

Christy: He's in- 

Briana: Yeah ... 

Christy: yeah, he's in Connecticut. 

Stephanie: Well- Mm-hmm ... Brianna and I were just saying this morning, you know everybody, and if you don't, it's because you haven't met them yet. 

Briana: Yeah. 

Christy: Here we go. 

Stephanie: [00:03:00] Yeah. 

Christy: That's very kind of you to say.

Christy: That's... I do. It's true, though. It's true. I'm, I don't know if I would be able to meet Ocean Vuong, though, and, like, not be fan girling. Yeah. Okay. But if I, if I can do it, it's you. There you go. Thanks. 

Briana: Writer, professor, and photographer, very cool, Ocean Vuong is the author of On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, winner of the American Book Award, the Mark Twain Award, and the New England Book Award.

Briana: The novel debuted for six weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, and has since sold more than a million copies in 41 languages. Basically, this novel, on top of many of the others he has written, have just done phenomenally since they've published. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. Ocean Vuong has a current novel called The Emperor of Gladness, which is also a New York Times bestseller, and the May pick for Books and Brews Book Club with Christy.

Stephanie: Woo-hoo. 

Briana: His books are real, raw, and emotional. Mm-hmm. So be prepared for that if you go to pick up any of his books. I think 

Stephanie: that's why I've been afraid to read him- Yeah ... 'cause 

Briana: I know I'm gonna be 

Christy: a wreck. But you will not be able to put it down. 

Stephanie: Okay, okay. '

Briana: Cause I know you've warned me many times, like, [00:04:00] just know going in, like, it's a lot.

Briana: And, like, you have to be in the right head space for that. You do. You do. So that's why I have definitely kind of paused going into reading any of his books right now, because I just need, like, happy and fluffy. Mm. Or, like, horrific, but not... Like, I don't wanna be sad. I can be horrified. 

Stephanie: Horrific but not sad, what are you 

Briana: reading?

Briana: I know. 

Christy: Fair. 

Briana: I 

Stephanie: mean- I'm- ... horrific but not sad, send me your list. 

Briana: Yeah. And I don't even know what would fall under that. All I know is that I don't wanna be sad when I'm reading 

Christy: right now. 

Briana: I'm going 

Christy: to listen to it before Books and Brews. Mm. Probably not the entire thing, but- Yeah ... I typically don't listen.

Christy: But I, I, I love the way he writes, and so I'm- Yeah ... sort of looking forward to listening to some of it. Yeah. Do you know if he 

Briana: narrates it? 

Christy: I think so. Oh. But I'm not entirely sure. But it's so lyrical, so I can 

Briana: imagine. 

Christy: Yes. I have to double check, and I will... I'll make sure I mention it before we- Yeah ... we post this episode.

Christy: But yeah. And, uh, usually in Books and Brews we have somebody who... We have both, you know, people that listen and people that [00:05:00] read. 

Briana: Mm-hmm. 

Christy: And by the way, it, it's not, there's no wrong way to read. Mm-hmm. Exactly. If you're still reading- Reading ... listening is reading, so... 

Briana: Asian American voices have become increasingly influential and diverse in American literature, offering narratives that deeply resonate with the immigrant experience We love to celebrate and uplift Asian American and Pacific Islander voices and read diversely.

Briana: Let's see what books Stephanie and Christy brought today. Let's start with Stephanie. Can you tell us about the title and author of the book you brought today, along with a brief description of the book? 

Stephanie: I sure can. So today, I brought Next Time Will Be Our Turn by Jessie Q. Sutanto. 

Briana: Ooh. 

Stephanie: Yes. Ooh. Some of you may know her name.

Briana: I only know of her because of you. 

Stephanie: Oh, yay. So 

Briana: I'm, like, excited to hear about this 

Stephanie: book. Okay. I know, same. So, um, Jessie Q. Sutanto is a Chinese Indonesian author. She grew up in a Chinese Indonesian family living in Singapore, Indonesia, California, and Oxford, and she speaks Mandarin, Indonesian, and English with her family, and currently lives in Jakarta.

Briana: Wow. 

Stephanie: Yes, [00:06:00] and that, a lot of that is infused into this book specifically. That's cool. Um, so some of you might know her series, the Dial A for Auntie series. Oh. I have heard of them. That's her. Yeah. That's the first one I read by her. Oh, nice. Okay. Yeah. Um, she also writes the Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers.

Stephanie: Love those. There you go. Yes. See? I was like, "It's gonna click." 

Christy: So we've read her. You've read her. 

Stephanie: I've 

Briana: never read her. Okay. 

Stephanie: But I've heard of her. So let's see. I, okay, 

Christy: I have. I've loved Vera 

Stephanie: Wong. Oh. 

Christy: Yes. I've only read the first one- Me too ... but absolutely loved it. 

Stephanie: So she's got some popular adult books, but she also writes for young adults and middle graders.

Christy: Oh, cool. 

Stephanie: Yes, and so I've read one of her teen ones and three of her adult ones. So, um, when I found out that she had written a queer adult book, I was like- Mm-hmm ... "Ooh-hoo-hoo, yes, this is for me." On the 

Christy: list. Whoo. 

Stephanie: Yep, okay. So, uh, the title again is Next Time Will Be Our Turn. It's an adult novel, but it's significantly centered on its teenage and young adult protagonists, which you all know I love.

Stephanie: Mm-hmm. And it's hard to find. Yeah. It's hard to find. So you can tell she's a YA writer, but she's writing this book for adults, but through the lens of [00:07:00] teenage characters. 

Briana: Oh, cool. 

Stephanie: So keep that in mind. Okay. The story opens at Izzy Chen's ostentatious annual family Chinese New Year celebration, which she is dreading.

Stephanie: Izzy is a teenager. She's dreading it, and when her 73-year-old Magnolia, her Nai Nai, or her grandmother- Mm-hmm ... walks in with a woman on her arm and- Ooh ... kisses her date in front of the whole family- 

Stephanie: Ooh ... 

Stephanie: Izzy and the entire family is worked into a frenzy. Um, so the story that follows is a connection between Izzy and Nai Nai, as Nai Nai tells the story of growing up in America, falling in love, and finding herself along the way.

Stephanie: So it's an intergenerational story told in flashbacks. 

Briana: Oh, that sounds amazing. 

Stephanie: I'm getting chills talking about it. I 

Briana: got chills- Oh, I love this one ... when you talked about it. It's so good. Oh 

Stephanie: my gosh. 

Briana: I love this book. Eee. So of the many things you mentioned, like- ... it sounds like a lot of elements drew you to this book.

Briana: Mm-hmm. But is there anything that you didn't touch on that you wanted to bring up that drew you to this book? 

Stephanie: Um, well, I've already read so many books by Sutanto, and then I found out about this one. Mm-hmm. The cover is gorgeous. If anybody's seen the [00:08:00] cover, it looks like a sunset, but, like, rainbow sherbet colors.

Stephanie: Ooh. It's two girls laying on the beach on blankets, and the sunset is, like, orange and pink. 

Briana: Mm-hmm. I have seen that cover. 

Stephanie: Yeah. It's beautiful. So the cover's gorgeous. But what really worked for me, and like I was mentioning earlier, that is really hard to find, but I love, is that adult story with the young adult protagonist.

Christy: Mm-hmm. That is, like, your fave. 

Stephanie: I know. Yeah. And I keep finding it. I feel like I talk about it- It keeps 

Christy: finding 

Stephanie: you. Yeah. Yeah. Yes. I feel like I talked about it a couple episodes ago, too. I've really noticed that's something I like. And so because this story is told by Magnolia as she was sent to America by her Indochinese parents at the age of 16 to get an education, it reveals how she tackles American life- Mm

Stephanie: and the challenges and the cultural and social norms, and finds herself and love along the way. But she's narrating that to her current 16-year-old granddaughter. 

Briana: Mm-hmm. 

Stephanie: So it's got these, like, teenage themes, but the narrator is technically an adult. 

Briana: Wow. 

Stephanie: Yeah. Yeah. 

Briana: That's cool. So is there this, like, nostalgia to, like, the time that she is referring to when she talks about her younger self?

Briana: Like, what era- 

Stephanie: [00:09:00] So- ... 

Briana: is that set 

Stephanie: in? Great question. This is actually something that was confusing when I first picked the book up. Oh. Because the timeline is based on Jesse Q. Sutanto's own experience. Oh. So the past is in the '90s. 

Briana: Mm-hmm. 

Stephanie: And the present is, like, a little bit further into our current timeline.

Stephanie: Oh. So it took me a little bit. I was like, "Where is this taking place?" Mm-hmm. I don't understand. The time doesn't make sense. So know going in that it's slightly future for the contemporary storyline, and the past is in the '90s, which doesn't feel super past. 

Briana: Mm-hmm. 

Stephanie: But there are two distinct timelines, and if you go in knowing that, I think it's less confusing, because I was frustrated.

Stephanie: That's 

Briana: good to know. 

Stephanie: Yeah. 

Briana: That would confuse me, too. Yes. 'Cause it'd be like, the '90s were 

Stephanie: like that? I literally Googled it and was like- ... the ages do not match. I was like, she's 73, but she was growing up in the '90s? It didn't work. Right. It didn't work. So, um, honestly, suspend your disbelief. Yeah. Or just know that, like, the '90s- Okay

Stephanie: is the past, and nothing else matters. 

Christy: There you 

Briana: go. Okay, cool. So- Love it ... what, was there anything else about this book that really [00:10:00] stuck out to you while you were reading it? 

Stephanie: Yeah. So I love that this book is a look at the messiness of relationships. As listeners also know, I love a messy story. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Stephanie: Both platonic and romantic. There's a, there's a lot of that going on in here. Yeah. Um, there's also a sister dynamic that I thought was super fascinating. Um, and how that all intersects with coming of age and figuring out who you are in your young adult and your adult years. Mm-hmm. I love a queer self-discovery story, and this- Yeah

Stephanie: that happens here too. It has this really complicated sister storyline that is, like, catnip for me. 

Briana: Mm. 

Stephanie: That is just so compelling to read. Mm. And because there's this complicated sister dynamic, there's also this aunt-niece storyline that I also- Oh ... love because I have a strong relationship with my niece.

Stephanie: Mm-hmm. So both of those things resonated with me. It was like honestly just like a combination of things that I was like- Yeah ... "This is a Stephanie book." It 

Briana: literally sounds like- ... the perfect Stephanie book. 

Christy: I'm smiling 'cause mine does too. Yes. 

Stephanie: Yes. So that's really funny. Oh. And I think that's probably why I liked yours too.

Christy: Yes. 

Briana: Yeah. 

Stephanie: Yes. 

Briana: Yes. So what does AAPI month mean to you? 

Stephanie: So [00:11:00] this is a month that I find is an opportunity, a really great one, for learning, especially through reading and stories. So aside from the books I pick up, there are so many lists and book titles that circulate during this month that share a variety of stories about Asian American people and cultures and lives, and I find it to be truly a privilege to be exposed to these so many stories that are unlike my own.

Stephanie: Mm-hmm. Um, I actually wanna take a second to highlight a friend of mine. Oh, 

Briana: yes. 

Stephanie: So I wanna shout out, um, Mai Linh on Instagram. She's a buddy of mine. Um, her handle is hyperfixatedreader. 

Briana: Love. 

Stephanie: Um, she's the cutest. So she co-hosts the Diverse Baseline Challenge every year, which encourages readers to diversify their reading all year long with prompts and recommendations, and then she also co-hosts the ANHPI Booksta Tour, which is starting soon.

Briana: Oh, fun. 

Stephanie: Yes, which highlights creators and authors and books that center the experience of that community. So, um, like I said, the acronym changes from year to year. Mm-hmm. That's the one they're using this year. But yeah, so she co-hosts it and invites people of those [00:12:00] different backgrounds to participate, and basically, if you wanna be part of it- Mm-hmm

Stephanie: you, you apply. 

Briana: Yeah. 

Stephanie: And then if you wanna just be a participant, like me, you, you just wait for the posts to come up, and then you follow different people all around Instagram- Yeah ... and get their stories about, um, Asian American experiences or books that resonated with them or their- Mm-hmm ... experience being part of the Bookstagram community.

Briana: That is so fun. 

Stephanie: I love 

Briana: it. Like, Bookstagram, BookTok, like- Yes ... we're just r- people are really coming together in ways that I feel like we weren't even like a couple years ago. Yeah. Like, people are just really coming together, and that sounds like the coolest way to be exposed, like, to different creators and, like- Mm-hmm

Briana: their stories, different things they're reading. Like, sign me up. 

Stephanie: Yeah, and she's always looking for people who have not participated in the past. 

Briana: Nice. 

Stephanie: And people from previous years are welcome to join again- Mm-hmm ... but she's always looking for new voices to diversify it as well. Um, she participates as well.

Stephanie: Yeah. And, um, her buddy who does it with her. What a great idea. Yeah. Yeah. That's so fun. Yeah. Nice. 

Briana: I love that. 

Stephanie: So, I mean, I follow her all year round, but - Yeah, yeah, yeah ... and she recommends romance a lot. Ooh. [00:13:00] Um, romance and fantasy are two big ones. Oh, I am- I know, right? It's like I'm in ... will be following her 

Briana: later.

Stephanie: I'm in. Yeah. So diverse romance, obviously. 

Briana: Love. 

Stephanie: Yeah. 

Briana: Love. 

Stephanie: Yeah. 

Briana: So I think I know the answer to the question I'm gonna ask, but- Yes ... would you recommend this book? 

Stephanie: Yes, I would, and the caveat that I was gonna add I already explained with the timeline situation. Mm-hmm. So if you can get over the- confusing bit in the beginning with the timeline, absolute recommendation.

Stephanie: Super- It's 

Christy: like, okay, math doesn't math, 

Stephanie: but it's okay Yep, say the math isn't mathing- ... and just move on, and just move on. 

Briana: Yes. 

Stephanie: It's, it's really engaging, and it's, it's fun and yeah, I loved it. 

Briana: I'm very excited to check it out- Yay ... hopefully at some point, because you've sold me on- Yes ... every single element of this book.

Stephanie: Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. 

Briana: So I can't wait. 

Stephanie: Yay. And 

Christy: I love stuff that like, we do read these books, like we, we get like this glut of great- Mm ... authors and titles- Yes. Yep ... in May. 

Stephanie: Yes. 

Christy: But, like we are saving them to read all year long. Yeah. Yeah. Right, 

Stephanie: exactly. Well, I'm not gonna read them all during May. There's too many.

Christy: There's too many. Yeah. But I do love that it's highlighted so much better than it [00:14:00] used to be. 

Briana: Yes. Yes. Mm-hmm. 

Christy: Thanks. That's amazing. 

Stephanie: Oh, you're welcome. I'm 

Briana: so 

Stephanie: excited. 

Briana: So we'll finish things off with Christy. Christy. Can you tell us about the title and author of the book you brought today, along with a brief description?

Christy: So the book I brought is called Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zhang. 

Stephanie: Brianna and I are both like - We can't wait to talk about this one ... we're like sweating. We love this 

Christy: book. By Kylie Lee Baker, and Kylie Lee Baker grew up in Boston, and she has since lived in Atlanta, Salamanca, and Seoul. Her work is informed by her heritage, Japanese, Chinese, and Irish, as well as her experiences living abroad, both as a student and a teacher.

Christy: She, in her free time, plays the cello, watches horror movies, and bakes too many cookies. Love that for her. Which I love. She's my girl. And she is getting her information science degree at Simmons University. Yay, a library person. So yes. Oh, that's amazing. I love 

Briana: that. I didn't know that about her. 

Christy: Yes, so that's very cool.

Christy: So she's joining the community of librarians. Yes. Oh my God. And wow. 

Briana: Obsessed. Come work at Russell. [00:15:00] We're not hiring right now, but come work at Russell. We're not hiring, but Kylie Lee Baker, come hang out. Come hang with us. 

Christy: And this is why I read this book, was this enthusiasm. Mm-hmm. And so I really appreciate both of you for like exposing me to this.

Christy: Oh, yeah. Mm-hmm. 'Cause 

Stephanie: this is not your typical genre- 

Christy: It is not ... so I'm really excited 

Stephanie: to hear you talk about it. 

Briana: Mm-hmm. All 

Stephanie: right. 

Christy: Yay. 

Briana: So what drew you to 

Christy: this book? So this book is a fascinating mix of supernatural horror, dark humor, and systemic racism. The main character, Cora Zhang, is coping with the sudden loss of her sister, and despite being a germaphobe, she has started a job as a crime scene cleanup person in New York City, 2020.

Christy: This was very early in the pandemic. We learn that she is finding dead bats at the crime scene cleanups, and that the victims are young Asian women. We also learn that she was an eyewitness to the ri- horrific murder of her sister by an unidentified white assailant who screamed bat eater right before she was pushed in front of an oncoming train.

Christy: So this [00:16:00] trauma is something that Cora is trying to come to terms with, but there are so many layers to Bat Eater. Uh, family layers, the, the trauma of COVID, this horrific murder of Cora's sister- And the author just does an incredible job conveying the absolute exhaustion of dealing with another layer of hostility and racism caused by misinformation of the origin of COVID.

Christy: Oof. 

Stephanie: Mm-hmm. That has one of the best opening chapters of a book I've ever read. Oh, yeah. Yes. It felt like a kick in the teeth. 

Christy: Yes. 

Stephanie: Mm-hmm. In a good, like in a compelling way. Yes. 

Christy: Like, you really are in the world. 

Stephanie: Yes. Yeah. And I don't know about the two of you, but when I read a book, it's like I'm watching a movie.

Stephanie: I am in the scene. I see everything. Mm-hmm. And so you just describing that scene, I'm back in it. I know, same. I'm in the subway station. Yeah. I am feeling like the stickiness of the underground. I'm, I'm there. 

Briana: Right. Mm-hmm. 

Christy: Yes. 

Briana: It's a very visceral reaction- Very much ... to that. Very much. This w- 

Stephanie: this book is [00:17:00] very visceral.

Briana: Yeah. Yes. That's a 

Stephanie: great word for 

Briana: it. Yeah. Yes. So what drew you to this book? 

Christy: So this is a very different read for me. As you ladies know- Mm-hmm ... I occasionally dip a toe in the horror genre, usually because you guys have recommended a book. Yeah. Out of my mouth. But I don't often read books that have this kind of body horror.

Christy: Um, I had seen multiple good reviews on social media, and I like the mixture of social commentary, family issues, ghosts, and I was very intrigued. 

Stephanie: Mm-hmm. So this is a Christy book, but it also has horror. Yeah. Like, the other elements are- Absolutely ... absolutely your kind of book, just add some supernatural horror to it, just a little sprinkle in, but- 

Christy: Right

Stephanie: these are all themes that you like to read anyways. Mm-hmm. 

Christy: Isn't that interesting? 

Stephanie: Yes. So that, that's the nice thing about dipping into other genres, 'cause you find your hook. 

Christy: Yep. Right. 

Stephanie: Yeah. 

Christy: So just like you with finding the, the, the point of view being a little bit different- Yes ... we know what we like.

Stephanie: Yes. 

Briana: Yep. How did this book resonate with you? 

Christy: So the reviews saying that this was a good book were correct. The book resonated with me because it touched on so much of the systemic racism during the [00:18:00] pandemic. It was just horrifying to me that some people were blaming the source of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with an Asian background.

Christy: Uh, Cora's job as a crime scene cleaner had an absolute morbid fascination for me. Like, how did she find the strength to return to it every day? Yeah. Her family situation is very difficult, obviously dealing with the horrific death of her sister. Her father is geographically absent. He's gone back to China and started another family.

Christy: Her mother has entered a cult. She's not emotionally available, and the folklore of the ghosts was just equally fascinating. Mm-hmm. I will say, I didn't know about joss sticks before reading this, but I do now. I 

Briana: didn't either. 

Stephanie: Yeah. 

Christy: Yeah. It's just very fascinating. 

Stephanie: There was a lot of... It, it, there's educational pieces to this too.

Christy: Absolutely. Mm-hmm. Yeah. I did a l- little bit of Googling- 

Briana: Yeah ... 

Christy: along the way too. 

Briana: There's just, like, I forgot until you just mentioned again, like, all the r- just amazing elements there are to this book. Yeah. Like, forgot her mom was in a cult. 

Stephanie: Me too. Like, wild- I read this [00:19:00] book in, like, three days, so I don't remember a lot of the details.

Christy: Yes. 

Briana: Yeah. 

Christy: Yes. Oh, you can't put this book down. No. 

Briana: No. Like, you, once you pick it up, it's like you have to finish. You're gonna read 

Stephanie: right through. It sounds- Yeah ... like a bummer, but it's not. 

Briana: Right. It's so worth picking up. It's 

Stephanie: so compelling. 

Briana: Yes. 

Stephanie: Yeah. 

Briana: Like, if you love horror, I just feel like you have to read this.

Stephanie: Yeah. Like- Even if you don't love horror- Yeah ... I feel like it- Yeah, yeah, 

Briana: yeah ... 

Stephanie: hits a lot of those elements for people who don't as well. I mean- Yeah ... I, there's horror elements. 

Christy: But the supernatural piece too is just fascinating. Yeah. And the way the ghosts are, um, the way they show up, it was very kind of informative and educational.

Stephanie: Yeah. 

Christy: But in a very interesting way. Yes. 

Stephanie: Oh, also, this book is gross. Just- Yeah ... in case you haven't- There is- ... put that together. 

Christy: Yes. 

Stephanie: Pretty gnarly. 

Christy: Yeah. So 

Stephanie: just be aware. 

Christy: There, th- there's definitely a lot of the horror elements. 

Stephanie: Yes. 

Christy: It'll be interesting if they ever do make this into a, a film. 

Stephanie: Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Stephanie: Yeah. They're gonna have to pick the right creator. 

Christy: Yes. 

Stephanie: Yeah. With the right kind of eye for... Yeah. 

Christy: Absolutely. 

Stephanie: I'll watch it. I mean, Brad and I were- Oh ... talking about that today. Yeah. Like, there's books that sound good, but we [00:20:00] go, "Eh, we'll see the movie." But there's books that we love that we're like, "Oh, I will see the movie."

Stephanie: Yeah. I mean, 

Christy: it better be good. 

Stephanie: It better be good. Hey. 

Christy: Exactly. 

Stephanie: Oh, I'm already stressed out about the TV adaptation of the Dungeon Crawl Carl books. Okay? Don't even, like- 

Christy: Right? Right? 

Stephanie: I'm already stressed out that they're gonna mess it up. So- I don't 

Christy: think you're the only one. 

Stephanie: Oh, no. No, no, no. The Reddit community is also very stressed out.

Stephanie: I feel like- But that's a conversation for another day- Yeah ... because I will be talking about those books on another episode. 

Christy: I can't wait. 

Briana: Looking forward to it. Mm-hmm. So what does AAPI month mean to you? 

Christy: So AAPI month for me is a time to learn stories that have not always been centered in mainstream narratives, but that still shape the human experience.

Christy: You know, it's a time to celebrate the histories and contributions of people with connections and ancestry from East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Hawaii, and the Pacific Islands. So each of these have distinct and varied histories and experiences. During the pandemic, I was really horrified by the verbal abuse and the physical abuse of Asian people.

Christy: Mm-hmm. I [00:21:00] took an online class offered on de-escalation tactics. Mm-hmm. So if I ever encountered a situation like that, I could assist, and I never did, but I felt better having some actionable ways to help in a situation like that. And like we talked about before, I'm enjoying this new abundance of AAPI authors.

Christy: Yeah. 

Stephanie: Oh, Kylie Lee Baker has a new book. 

Christy: I can't 

Stephanie: wait. Wait. It just came out. 

Briana: It did? 

Stephanie: Uh, it's in transit to me right now. Wait, 

Briana: what is it? 

Stephanie: Japanese Gothic. 

Briana: Ooh. She's Japanese 

Stephanie: Gothic. Ooh. Yes, yes. 

Briana: Wait. 

Stephanie: Yes. 

Briana: I didn't realize that 

Stephanie: was her. Yeah. She's also written two, like, magical realism YA books- I have not- ... which I have not read yet.

Stephanie: Oh. No, she writes YA too But yeah, Japanese Gothic- Wow ... is literally in transit to me right now. It's 

Briana: been on my radar, and it didn't click for me that that was her book. 

Stephanie: Yeah. And I 

Briana: don't know- '

Stephanie: Cause it sounds so different. Yeah. It's... Yeah, the setup is very different. 

Briana: I'm so excited for that. Future 

Christy: episode.

Stephanie: Yes. We're gonna have to come back and talk- ... just about Ken Liu bigger. Mm-hmm. Yes. Actually, honestly, based on what that book is about, we could do a totally- We could probably do a- ... different episode about that theme ... yep, just 

Christy: that one book. 

Briana: Totally. 

Christy: Yeah. 

Stephanie: Yay. I loved it. 

Briana: Like, I, [00:22:00] I know that AAPI Month, like, ev- what you both have said, like, is so true.

Briana: Like, we're, we're just getting exposed to, like, different points of view, different things we probably never would've seen. Like, even though all three of us do read very diversely, like, I learn something new from every book I've read by an author that's maybe not the same as me. Like, I'm just- Yes ... a regular- Mm-hmm

Briana: you know, Italian girl. 

Christy: Yes. 

Briana: You know? I've learned a lot- Yes ... reading these books. And- I don't 

Stephanie: see you out there reading Italian books super often, so. 

Briana: You know, I really 

Stephanie: don't. No. By people who are not like you. 

Briana: Yeah. I just, I love learning about people's different experiences. Yeah. Same. And I know specifically horror books by AAPI authors have been books I've really been leaning into lately.

Briana: Yes. I have also noticed that. Like, Molka is coming out soon, if it isn't out already. Mm-hmm. Fantastic. The author of that, I am blanking on her name. Monica Kim. Monica Kim. Mm-hmm. If you can do body horror, read The Eyes Are the Best Part. Ugh. It's grotesque- I couldn't do it ... but such a well-done book. It's on the same level as Bat Eater for me.

Christy: Like- I really 

Briana: need to 

Christy: read it, even though 

Briana: [00:23:00] eyes kind of- I tried. Like, oh, oh, oh ... just worst case, you skip the body horror parts. Yeah. Mm-hmm. But it is so 

Stephanie: good. I was also trying to read it while I was eating, which was probably the problem. 

Briana: Oh, no. Oh, I wouldn't have picked it up then. 

Stephanie: Do not recommend reading body horror while you're eating- No

Stephanie: lunch. 

Briana: Oh my goodness. 

Christy: Or any meal. 

Stephanie: Or any meal. It's like when I watch The Pit while I'm trying to eat. I'm like- Oh ... "What is wrong with you, Stephanie?" 

Christy: Nope. We love The Pit. 

Stephanie: We do love The Pit. But don't eat while you're watching The Pit. No. No. Don't, don't do it. 

Briana: So Christy, would you recommend the book you brought today?

Christy: I will never stop recommending this book. 

Briana: Yes. 

Stephanie: Yay. 

Christy: It is one of my top 10 books for 2025. Yay. And I would say it's probably one of my top- books overall Wow. Wow Just amazing. 

Briana: That's a high honor. 

Christy: Especially a horror book. Yeah. I know, right, for me. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. So I would like to read two reviews from people from Goodreads, because I would like to uplift the voices of people who can say, like, speak better to this- Yeah, do it

Christy: to this book than I can. Please. Yeah. So I will include their, um, their reviews in our, our notes so that you guys can read them and give them credit. [00:24:00] Um, one of them, her username on Goodreads is Esta. And so this is from Esta. She says, "I usually avoid pandemic-themed novels-" Mm "... like I avoid the plague." Yeah.

Christy: Scratch out. So 

Stephanie: does Priyala. Yeah. 

Christy: And she, she scratches out the plague and then writes, "Group chats with 47 unread messages," because, you know, the plague. Mm-hmm. "But Bat Eater is the rare exception. It uses the time as a lens to explore how fear metastasizes into bigotry, laying bare the ugliest parts of humanity that fester beneath the surface, waiting for a moment of collective vulnerability to erupt."

Briana: Oof. Wow. 

Stephanie: That's- Mic drop. 

Briana: Yeah. 

Stephanie: That's 

Briana: great. 

Stephanie: Yeah, 

Stephanie: yeah. 

Christy: Then she says, "I would like to also have my friend Mai, who penned a review, um, and lives in the United States." This is a review from Mai, and it's a must-read, and I absolutely agree. So I, I shortened it a bit, but please go read Mai's whole, um, review. So Mai says, "I notoriously don't like horror films because I'm a big baby and I hide [00:25:00] behind my hands."

Christy: Ha. "But I do enjoy the genre in books. Asian horror is particularly g- particularly gruesome, but I love with, what Kylie did with it. This is my first book by her, and it certainly won't be the last. I can talk about COVID and Asian racism all day. I imagine some of you are tired of that. If so, this book isn't for you.

Christy: I won't say Asians have it worse than other minorities, but there is a particular brand of racism that exists for us. I have read once that some people don't consider us people of color because our skin is light. This book, Bat, Bat Eater's story is beautifully intertwined between family, horror, and racism, and I loved every second."

Christy: Wow. 

Briana: These people write some very beautiful- I know ... fantastic reviews. Mine are like, "The vibes were great," 10 

Stephanie: out of 10. I gotta go to Goodreads and dig in. Like, I, I normally don't read reviews really at all- Yeah ... especially on Goodreads, 'cause, you know, they can be a mixed bag. Mm-hmm. But wow, these Goodreads writers are hyping- These are really beautiful

Stephanie: uh- 

Christy: Yes And, and meaningful. Like this is- Yeah ... [00:26:00] this is something I think that might encourage someone to pick the book up even if horror is not their bag. 

Briana: Yes. Mm-hmm. 

Stephanie: I love that. 

Briana: Do any of you have any final thoughts about the topic of AAPI month or any of the books we discussed today? 

Christy: I think just try one- Mm-hmm.

Christy: Yeah ... and if you're not sure, talk to a librarian. We have plenty of lists- Mm-hmm ... of all different kinds of, you know, uh, not necessarily horror, but romance. Mm-hmm. Yeah ... or, um, historical fiction. Uh, thinking of Pachinko. Yep. You know, that kind of thing. She has a new 

Briana: book coming out, the author. 

Christy: Really? And 

Briana: I just requested an ARC of it, so we'll see if I get it.

Christy: Yeah. 

Briana: But, mm-hmm. 

Christy: So something like that, or, um, there's so many good- Yeah ... stories. Um, and, and definitely give it a shot. 

Briana: Yeah. We always do displays in the library too. Mm-hmm. So like when in doubt, like pick anything up- Yep ... and try it. 

Stephanie: Give it a shot. Well, to Christie's point that there's a book for every reader.

Stephanie: Yeah. And you might think that, oh, Asian American stories are not for me. Asian American stories are not a genre, they are a variety of experiences. Yeah. So [00:27:00] if you read science fiction, let me tell you, there are science fiction writers- And Asian American, yeah, yeah ... from Asian American backgrounds. Mm-hmm.

Stephanie: Yes. And fantasy. All, all the genres are represented by these different communities. Mm-hmm. So don't write off an entire population. Yeah. Well, anyways. Anyways. But don't write off an entire population because you think they don't write books in genres that you like. Yeah. 

Christy: And you think they might not be relatable, give it a try.

Stephanie: Mm-hmm. 

Briana: We all relate to things on different levels, no matter who we are. 

Stephanie: Yeah. 

Briana: So. 

Stephanie: And honestly, sometimes reading a book that you are not r- you can't relate to- Yeah. Actually- ... is a good experience too. 

Briana: Absolutely. 

Stephanie: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yes. Yeah. 

Briana: Very true. 

Stephanie: Yeah. I was actually gonna say, hey, uh, here's a book I'm excited about, but I already talked about Japanese Gothic.

Stephanie: I know. So I'm gonna double down and say I'm excited to read Kylie Lee Baker's next book- Mm. Mm ... Japanese Gothic. 

Briana: Very exciting. 

Christy: I know. We're all gonna go put it on hold. 

Briana: Oh, yeah. 

Stephanie: Uh, excuse me, uh, the copy is mine. Yes. I will pass it to you when I am done. We'll 

Briana: have to buy a couple more copies. 

Stephanie: Book, book club it.

Christy: I know, absolutely. 

Stephanie: Book club it. 

Christy: Yes. 

Briana: Oh, we should. 

Stephanie: Yeah. 

Briana: We'll talk about that later. Future 

Christy: episode. 

Stephanie: Yes. Yes, yes, 

Christy: yes. 

Briana: It's time to close the book [00:28:00] on today's episode. If you like what you've heard here, please subscribe to the show. This ensures that you won't miss any episodes. And if you have a moment, kindly rate and review the podcast.

Briana: This helps other bookish people like yourself find the show. Tune in in a few weeks to find out what else is on the shelf. Bye. 

Stephanie: Goodbye.

Briana: Bye. Yay. 

Stephanie: It's only 3:44, look at that.