By Samantha Pak Northwest Asian Weekly From murder mysteries and adventures as far as outer space, to superheroines in the making and meaningful relationships, this past year, I delved into a number of literary worlds. Here is a list of my top 10 reads from 2015 (in no particular order). Winter By Marissa Meyer Feiwel […]
Around the world with best friends, twins, and con-artists — Books that will make you appreciate the journey
By Samantha Pak Northwest Asian Weekly The extraordinary journey of the fakir who got trapped in an Ikea wardrobe By Romain Puertolas Alfred A. Knopf New York, 2015 When Ajatashatru (Aja) Oghash arrives in Paris, the first and only thing on his mind is to get to an Ikea. All the Indian fakir — or […]
Book recommendations
By Samantha Pak Northwest Asian Weekly Auntie Yang’s Great Soybean Picnic Story by Ginnie Lo, Illustrations by Beth Lo Lee & Low Books, 2012 While growing up in a small town in Indiana, Jinyi and Pei’s family would often make the three-hour drive to visit their mother’s sister, Auntie Yang, and her family just outside […]
Pictures worth a thousand words — Characters, mangrove trees, and teen romance flourish in pictures and words
By Samantha Pak Northwest Asian Weekly The Intrigues of Haruhi Suzumiya By Nagaru Tanigawa Little, Brown and Company, 2012 For the first time since Kyon met her, Haruhi Suzumiya seems content with her life. She’s not forcing the SOS Brigade (Save the World By Overloading It With Fun Haruhi Suzumiya Brigade) to participate in any […]
From aliens to dragons, books on sports that score a home run
By Samantha Pak Northwest Asian Weekly “Galaxy Games: The Challengers” By Greg R. Fishbone Lee & Low Books, 2011 When Tyler Sato turns 11, his cousins in Tokyo have a star named after him, but it soon becomes clear that TY SATO is no ordinary star. First, it doesn’t stay in the same place like […]
Old ways meet new, perserving culture — NWAW’s November must-reads
By Samantha Pak Northwest Asian Weekly “How to Be an American Housewife” By Margaret Dilloway Berkley Books, 2010 Growing up, Shoko was very close with her brother Taro. But when she got older and decided to marry an American GI and leave Japan after the end of World War II, Taro was not happy about […]
SHELF: NWAW’s September must-reads
By Samantha Pak Northwest Asian Weekly “Hot, Hot Roti for Dadda-ji” Written by F. Zia, Illustrated by Ken Min Lee & Low Books, 2011 Whenever Aneel’s grandparents visit, they tell him stories about their lives growing up in an Indian village. During one particular visit, Aneel’s grandfather, Dadda-ji, tells him that when he was a […]
NWAW’s July must-reads: Cool summer reads for young adults
Most children take their education for granted and would rather be anywhere but at school.
August book recs: cultural tales for kids
“Shining Star: The Anna May Wong Story”
Written by Paula Woo, illustrated by Lin Wang
Lee & Low Books, June 2009
Being Asian American in the early days of show business was not easy.
Pioneers share words of wisdom
Peruse the shelves a scant 30 years ago and books by Asian Americans would be few and far between. However, times have changed thanks to key individuals who have etched the trails for API writers today.