May is Asian Heritage Month—an annual opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Asian Canadians, and recognize how far we still have to go in the fight against anti-Asian racism and discrimination.
This year’s Asian Heritage month theme is “Recognition, Resilience, and Resolve.” We can’t think of a better way to honour this theme than with a reading list dedicated to Asian Canadian voices and stories. Check out these books by BC publishers, written or inspired by Asian voices and stories from across Canada.
Deep and Sheltered Waters: The History of Tod Inlet by David R. Gray (Royal BC Museum)
In this fascinating history of community and place, David R. Gray draws from interviews with elders of the Tsartlip First Nation, descendants of Chinese and Sikh workers, the local community, and from archives held in Victoria and Ottawa, to share the rich history of Tod Inlet, near Victoria, BC. The rich history of this area provides context for the history of the entire province.
ShuLi and The Magic Pear Tree by Paul Yee, illustrated by Shaoli Wang (Tradewind Books)
This picture book is the latest addition to the beloved Shu-Li chapter book series, which feature the adventures of Vancouver kids of diverse backgrounds living in the vibrant multicultural Commercial Drive neighbourhood. Author Paul Yee was raised in Vancouver’s Chinatown and is one of Canada’s most celebrated writers for young people. Born and raised in Qing Dao, China, Shaoli Wang has won great acclaim for her illustration and painting and has exhibited widely. She has worked with Yee on numerous books.
Honouring High Places: The Mountain Life of Junko Tabei by Junko Tabei and Helen Y. Rolfe, translated by Yumiko Hiraki and Rieko Holtved (Rocky Mountain Books)
This collection of personal stories and reflections is based on the memoirs of Junko Tabei, the first woman to climb Mount Everest and the Seven Summits. The book opens on Mount Everest, where the first all-women’s expedition is met with disaster but pushes on against all odds. This collection includes highlights from Tabei’s life that she considered important, inspiring and interesting to mountaineering culture. Though Tabei was not Canadian herself, the translators of this edition, Yumiko Hiraki and Rieko Holtved, are both Japanese Canadian outdoorswomen who each had the pleasure of meeting Tabei on hikes and ski trips in the Canadian Rockies. Thanks to their work, Tabei’s stories are now published in English for the first time ever.
Destination Hikes in and Around Southwestern British Columbia by Stephen Hui (Greystone Books)
Author Stephen Hui has been hiking and backpacking for more than twenty-five years, and his outdoor writing and photography have appeared in the Georgia Straight, Toronto Sun, and Wild Coast Magazine. In this guide, he shares with readers 55 of the most beautiful hikes near Vancouver. The book includes a photograph of every hike, topographic maps, difficulty ratings, at-a-glance summaries of special features and recommendations for kids and families.
Letters to My Grandchildren by David Suzuki (Greystone Books)
This is one of the most personal books by beloved CBC host and internationally renowned geneticist and environmentalist David Suzuki. In this collection of letters, dedicated to his own grandchildren, Suzuki speaks passionately about their future and challenges them to speak out and act on their beliefs. These calls-to-action are weaved together with stories from Suzuki’s own remarkable life.
Toshiko (2nd edition) by Michael Kluckner (Midtown Press)
Written by Vancouver-based artist and author, Toshiko tells the story of the Japanese Canadians in BC’s Interior, who during World War II, were exiled from their homes on the Coast. The protagonist, Toshiko, is displaced from her home and ends up on a farm near a small town. While in school, Toshiko learns that many residents of the area see her as an enemy. This graphic novel is great way to introduce young readers to the harsh reality of wartime Canada, and the stigma that still exists around interracial relationships.
Chinese New Year: A Celebration for Everyone by Jen Sookfong Lee (Orca Book Publishers)
Perfect for readers ages 9-12, this book by award-winning author and broadcaster Jen Sookfong Lee gives readers a snapshot of one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture. Sookfong Lee reminisces about her childhood in Vancouver and shares her family’s stories, while also educating young readers on the history and traditions of Chinese New Year.
Iron Goddess of Mercy by Larissa Lai (Arsenal Pulp Press)
This long poem by Lambda Award-winner Larissa Lai is inspired by the history of Hong Kong, from the Japanese and British occupations to the ongoing pro-democracy protests, and explores the complicated issue of identity. The poem is presented in sixty-four fragments to honour the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching.
Render by Sachiko Murakami (Arsenal Pulp Press)
This collection of poems by Governor General’s Literary Award finalist Sachiko Murakami explores themes of trauma, addiction, and recovery through dreams and waking experience. In this honest, moving poetic memoir, Murakami showcases the aftermath of her addiction and questions what happens to trauma when it is put down on the page.
Milk, Spice and Curry Leaves by Ruwanmali Samarakoon-Amunugama (TouchWood Editions)
In this gorgeous cookbook—complete with stunning food photography, hand-drawn illustrations, and heirloom photos—author Ruwanmali Samarakoon-Amunugama introduces readers to the three pillars of Sri Lankan cuisine: coconut milk, rice, and spice. Learn more about the rich flavours, traditions and history of Sri Lanka, and cook along at home. You’ll learn to make delicious dishes featuring sweet pineapple and mango, bitter gourd, cashews, spicy chili pepper, tart lime, and more in recipes designed with North American home cooks in mind.
A Spicy Touch: Family Favourites from Noorbanu Nimji’s Kitchen by Noorbanu Nimji and Karen Anderson (TouchWood Editions)
Another cookbook sure to have your mouth watering! In this collection of recipes Noorbanu Nimki collaborates with food writer and tour operator Karen Anderson to celebrate Nimki’s North Indian Ismaili Muslim ancestry and the East African cuisine from her homeland in Kenya. The volume includes stunning photographs and step-by-step instructions for you to follow along with at home.
Chiru Sakura—Falling Cherry Blossoms: A Mother & Daughter’s Journey through Racism, Internment and Oppression by Grace Eiko Thomson (Caitlin Press & Dagger Editions)
Chiru Sakura—Falling Cherry Blossoms is an important memoir by two Japanese Canadian women reflecting on their family history, cultural heritage, generational trauma, and the meaning of home. At age eight, Grace Eiko Nishikihama was forcibly removed from her Vancouver home and interned with her parents and siblings in the BC Interior—the same harsh fate that affected more than 22,000 Japanese Canadians on the West Coast during the war. In this moving memoir, she shares her own history along with her mother’s story, collected from translated letters she had dedicated to her children.