Asian Heritage Month offers an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the many cultures, histories, and contributions of people of Asian descent in Canada. It’s also a chance to explore the richness and diversity of stories that span continents, generations, and lived experiences. Observed each May, Asian Heritage Month acknowledges the long and ongoing presence of Asian communities in Canada. From early migration and settlement to the vibrant, interconnected communities we see today, these stories are part of the broader Canadian narrative.
Reading is one way to engage with that history in a personal and meaningful way. Books allow us to step into different perspectives, encounter new ideas, and better understand the experiences that shape our communities. This month, the ORL has put together a reading list that highlights a range of voices from across Asia and the Asian diaspora. You’ll find stories that are intimate and expansive, joyful and challenging, rooted in tradition and reimagining the future. Some may introduce you to new authors. Others might feel like rediscovering an old favourite from a new angle.
The Garden of Evening Mists. Tan Twan Eng. In postwar Malaya, a survivor of a Japanese internment camp seeks healing in the Cameron Highlands, apprenticing under a reclusive master gardener whose past is as carefully hidden as his art, in a novel that explores memory, trauma, and the quiet, complicated paths toward reconciliation.
Beauty Plus Pity. Kevin Chong. When a drifting young man in Vancouver is jolted by loss, betrayal, and the sudden appearance of a half-sister, he’s drawn into a wry, searching reckoning with family, identity, and the uneasy space between past and present.
The Weight of Our Sky. Hanna Alkaf. This young adult novel follows a Malaysian teen navigating obsessive-compulsive disorder and rising racial violence during the 1969 Kuala Lumpur riots, as she searches for her mother and confronts fear, prejudice, and her own inner turmoil.
American Dervish. Ayad Akhtar. A Pakistani American boy comes of age in the Midwest, drawn to faith, love, and identity through a transformative friendship, in a novel that explores belief, belonging, and the tensions between tradition and modern life.
We Measure the Earth With Our Bodies. Tsering Yangzom Lama. Spanning decades and continents, this lyrical novel follows a Tibetan family in exile as they navigate displacement, memory, and cultural survival, tracing the enduring ties between homeland, identity, and belonging.
Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations. Mira Jacob. In this insightful and visually engaging graphic memoir, Mira Jacob navigates questions about race, identity, and family through candid conversations with her young son, blending humour and honesty in a thoughtful exploration of what it means to connect and understand.
Dandelion. Jamie Chai Yun Liew. When a woman sets out to uncover the truth behind her mother’s disappearance, she’s drawn across continents and into a layered exploration of family, migration, and the quiet complexities of identity and belonging.
A History of Burning. Janika Oza. Spanning generations and continents, this sweeping novel traces one family’s journey from colonial India to East Africa and beyond, exploring survival, displacement, and the enduring search for home across shifting histories.
The Syrian Ladies Benevolent Society. Christine Estima. This bold collection of linked stories traces generations of Arab women across continents and histories, weaving together themes of migration, identity, and resilience through one family’s evolving search for belonging.
As Asian Heritage Month continues, we invite you to keep exploring the stories, voices, and histories that shape our communities. Take a moment to browse the reading list, discover something new, and carry these perspectives with you through the month of May and beyond.
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