Graphic Novels by Asian Authors - Improving Representation in my Classroom Library

A few weeks ago, my grade seven class had a classroom meeting. We had been exploring questions of culture and representation, where we learned about elements of a person's culture, which cultures or traditions are represented in our school, and which ones are less well represented. I asked students to consider how we could make our school more equitable and the most enthusiastic response was to increase diverse representation in the books we read and the content we cover, particularly by adding more books by Asian authors.

My library already contains some books by Asian authors. I have some that borrow from different Asian cultures' f0lklores, such as The Spirit Glass, Pashmina, or The Serpent's Secret. Others focus on human rights topics, both in historical fiction and more contemporary stories. However, I have the feeling that students are also looking for mirror books that reflect their own experiences as Asian Canadians. As a result, below are four new graphic novels that reflect in different ways the experiences of Asian students at my school.

• Lunar New Year Love Story, by Gene Luen Yang and Leuyen Pham, is a young adult graphic novel that is an accessible read for middle school students with gorgeous and eye-catching art. Val is a Vietnamese American girl who learns from St. Valentine's that her family is cursed to have unlucky love stories. She is determined to prove the spirit wrong and soon falls for her lion dancing classmate, although she quickly learns that love is complicated.

• Mabuhay!, by Zachary Sterling, is a graphic novel about a Filipino family who run a food truck. While J.J. is trying to change himself to fit in, his sister Althea is angry that her former friends are expecting her to change. When creatures and characters from Filipino folklore start showing up in their neighbourhood, the siblings realize they have to reconnect with their family and culture to save the world. I particularly enjoyed that Filipino cuisine is found throughout the book, including a recipe for Chicken Adobo at the end. Definitions and pronunciation guides for Tagalog words are also present, which is an excellent feature.

• The Tryout is a graphic novel memoir by Christina Soontornvat that recounts her experiences as a Thai American middle school student in Texas. She and her friend are the only students of colour in her school and they both decide to tryout for the school's cheerleading team. The book focuses on taking risks, growing apart, and growing up.

• Parachute Kids, by Betty C. Tang, tells the story of three siblings from Taiwan who must adjust to life in California without their parents. The book focuses on the different experiences the three siblings have. Feng-Li, the youngest sister, tries to make friends and learn English. Her older sister shoulders the responsibility of taking care of her family and being in charge in her parents' absence, while her brother rebels against the expectations put upon him. This story shows a family of immigrants adjusting to life in an unfamiliar place, which will connect with a lot of students.