50+ Tween Books Starring Kids of Asian Descent

Adnan loves table tennis, his family, and the aviation alphabet. He’s color blind, left-handed and has a big sister and little brother, with another sibling on the way. When his family take a summer trip so he can compete in a tennis tournament, an unbelievable tragedy occurs, shattering their life as they know it. I don’t like sad stories. Life is hard enough, but the author drew me into this story and I couldn’t stop reading. The verse format is enjoyable and provides a wide enough window into the plot and characters. Most importantly, this story is very hopeful, despite the tragedy.

After a long battle with pancreatic cancer, Amie’s Ba-ba (with whom she had a close relationship) dies, leaving her with the mother she feels disconnected from. After his death, Amie can’t seem to find her way back to playing the violin — something that connected her with her dad. The book chronicles her path through grief and finding her way back to music, and building a new connection with her mom. Miracle by Karen S. Chow is a grief-laden middle grade book about losing a parent, coping with grief, and leaning on community. 

Freya’s doting father was really into Chinese superstitions until he died suddenly several months ago. Now a 7th grader, Freya lives by the same superstitions her dad did as a way to keep him close. But when they start to impact her ability to live a full life, she has to reconsider how much control she’s giving them. Also, she and her dad shared a love of the viola, but lately, she’s been feeling less enthusiastic about it, developing more interest in her Cooking & Careers class, where she’s forced to partner with the (to her) ever-annoying Gus Choi, whom she soon starts to see in a different light. Maybe It’s a Sign is a touching story about letting go and moving forward after loss, discovering new interests, and the belly-fluttering experience of first love.

Lina is finally moving to the US to reunite with her parents after five years apart. She’d been living with her grandmother in China, but now her grandmother is ill, and her parents want her to come to North Carolina with them and her little sister Millie. But when she arrives, nothing about their life is as her parents have told her. They live in an apartment, not a house like her mom said and her parents owe a ton of back rent after the pandemic. Her dad is an organic farmer, and her mom is trying hard to launch a bath bomb business with little capital. Things aren’t any easier at school with Lina’s poor English. When she finally finds a graphic novel she loves and her teacher wants the class to read it, influential parents at her school are determined to stop it from being read. Will Lina use her voice? This is a moving, inspiring, and insightful middle grade book about immigration, family, and sisterhood.

You Are Here: Connecting Flights is a series of interconnected stories (a different one per chapter) about 12 Asian-American kids at the international terminal of a major airport. We follow each kid as they deal with microaggressions, disdain, and outright racism. This collection was edited by Ellen Oh and features stories from a star-studded group of authors, including Christina Soontornvat, Erin Entrada Kelly, and Linda Sue Park. This an excellent collection of interconnected short stories about the wide range of the Asian-American experience. 

When their flights are grounded at a busy airport, the lives of four kids (Feek, Sami, Hanna, and Nora) collide. Hanna is occupied with finding a famous, recently lost cat and manages to rope the other kids–including anxious Sami–into her investigation. In addition to that, the kids have to overcome challenging family situations and are also Muslim. Feek just wants to be seen as a serious poet by his famous poet/rapper dad, Hanna is avoiding the conversation of a potential remarriage for her dad, Nora isn’t sure she’s Muslim enough, and Sami can’t seem to escape his anxiety, even with karate. Grounded by Aisha Saeed, Huda Al-Marashi, Jamilah Thompkins Bigelow, and S.K. Ali is a heartwarming, fun, and moving airport adventure.

Maizy Chen’s Last Chance follows Maizy and her mother who return to Last Chance, Minnesota when Maizy’s grandfather becomes ill. We learn that Maizy’s mom had her with the help of a sperm donor and seems to have taken a less traditional, unexpected career route since her parents expected her to take over their historical Chinese restaurant The Golden Palace. However, Maizy’s grandparents love her, and Maizy quickly bonds with them, especially her grandfather. One day, she sees pictures of several Chinese young men and when she asks her grandfather about them, he begins to tell her a sprawling story about their family’s history in Last Chance, which is interwoven with love, racism, and community. At the same time, The Golden Palace experiences a hate crime and Maizy is shocked to discover who the perpetrator is. This Newbery Honor book is a spellbinding middle grade book about one Chinese family’s heritage and the granddaughter who ties it all together. 

Sara has moved from her smaller Islamic school to the larger neighborhood middle school. Unfortunately for her, her Pakistani mother has also started teaching after-school cooking classes (in addition to her catering business) at the school. Sara is forced to attend those since her mother won’t let her stay home alone — despite the fact that she’s in sixth grade. Many of the kids in the class are rude and make fun of her mother’s dishes while pretending not to understand her accent. But one student, Elizabeth seems to enjoy learning to cook. Elizabeth’s British mother is dealing with depression after the death of her mother and is struggling to adapt to American culture and her husband’s Jewish customs. On top of that, Elizabeth is the only girl at home, her best friend is pulling away from her, and she’s worried about her parents’ relationship seemingly falling apart. Sara and Elizabeth form an unlikely friendship when they discover that both their mothers are studying to pass the American citizenship test. A Place at the Table is a strong collaborative effort with more than just a stunning cover. 

Mia Tang is a ten-year-old Chinese immigrant who lives in a motel with her parents in the 1980s. They run the motel for its crooked owner, Mr Yao. Mia runs the front desk, and soon she realizes that her parents use the motel to protect undocumented immigrants. I highly recommend this debut by Kelly Yang. It deals with heavier topics like racism, class prejudice, the value of diligence, and the struggles of immigrants in a dignified way that kids can relate to. 

After Meilan Hua’s Nai Nai dies, her extended family is split apart by a family feud with Meilan’s parents leaving Boston’s Chinatown to Redbud Ohio with her grieving grandfather. In Redbud, Meilan’s principal changes her name to Melanie, causing Meilan to delve into what her real name really means. As Meilan comes to value her name and all its meanings, she also dodges middle school bullies and works on a project that unites her and her grandfather. This is a unique story rich in connections to Chinese folktales that highlights the importance of valuing one’s identity and fighting back against prejudice.

Lauren is Jewish and Chinese. It’s the 1980s and Lauren and her best friend — who’s blonde with blue eyes — do everything together. So when they don’t have any sixth-grade classes together, they’re bummed! They decide that they will audition for their school’s musical so that they can at least have that time together. Lauren’s audition goes swimmingly, and she’s obviously the better singer than Tara (even better than any of the other kids), but when the cast list is released Lauren is only part of the ensemble and Tara is cast as lead. Upon confronting the director, she explains that Lauren’s half-Jewish, half-Chinese looks don’t match the role of “all-American girl” in the “all-American town” depicted in their musical. This encounter opens Lauren’s eyes to several microaggressions and brings to the fore her issues with being biracial and looking different from other at her predominantly white school. Looking for a relatable figure, she beings to nurture a love for the singer Patsy Cline whom she mistakenly assumes is also Jewish. There are also changes at home with her mother looking to enter law school, which would make her even less available to Lauren. With the help of her family and two grandmothers, Lauren learns to find her place, while keeping her friendship with Tara. Not Your All-American Girl is a vital look at racial prejudice in the 1980’s through a fun, engaging lens.

Yusuf Azeem is not a hero like his dad, who talked down a gunman in their small-town A-Z Dollar Store. But his dad’s heroism doesn’t prevent him from getting worsening hateful notes in his locker telling him to “Go Home.” Yusuf and his friend Danial had expected that this would be their year — their entry into middle school and a chance to compete in a robotics contest. However, when some of the townspeople, including a group called the Patriot Sons try to stop the construction of their town’s mosque and begin to target Yusuf and other Muslims in the community, they are forced to take a stand. Yusuf Azeem Is Not a Hero is a poignant look at the impact of 9/11 on Muslim communities in America. 

The year is 1983 and 13-year-old Reha is caught between two cultures: her Indian family and community at home; and the all-American experience at school and with her white “school best friend.” But it’s not all rosy. Her mother doesn’t approve of Reha acting more American than Indian. She makes all of Reha’s clothes herself, and is upset when Reha says she would like to go to the school dance. Reha is understandably frustrated at her mother’s lack of understanding, but she’s about to have more problems. Her mom is diagnosed with leukemia and Reha’s life is turned upside down. Between school, family issues, and navigating her affection for a boy in her neighborhood, Reha has her plate full. Red, White, and Whole is a heartwarming and heartbreaking verse novel about mothers and daughters, the eighties, and straddling two cultures.

Mo loves taekwondo and wants to pursue the sport as a career, but lately, she’s been losing her fights to her nemesis, a boy called Dax. It also doesn’t help that she’s under five feet tall and much smaller than her opponent. When she sees that her favorite martial artist and actor is holding auditions for a role in his latest movie, Mo is disappointed to see that Dax is also auditioning. A plan to increase her height, save the movie set and get to the bottom of what’s distracting her dad make this book a funny, adventurous, kick-butt summer story.

Since her mom died during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s been just Chloe and her dad. She worries about their finances, so when she has the chance to go on a school trip to Broadway, she’s hesitant to tell him. On a good note, there’s a boy she maybe likes? He works at a boba tea place in her neighborhood, and things are going well until an altercation at the shop ends with Chloe being banned from the boba tea place. What unfolds is a string of chaotic, surprising, and satisfying events, including a boba-making business, two lost lovers reuniting, and a new furry family member. Bubble Trouble is a lighthearted, feel-good middle grade romance — the exact kind constantly sought out by kids in this age group.

Keiko is thrilled that her two BFFs, Jenna and Audrey, are reuniting with her after their first ever summer apart. But when Jenna returns from Texas, she’s doesn’t seem to fit back in seamlessly anymore — probably because they stopped texting each other after a while. It doesn’t help that Audrey seems boy-crazy and has never really gotten on too well with Jenna anyway. As Jenna and Audrey’s friendship deteriorates over the fall, Keiko feels torn between both girls. She also rekindles some old friendships that threaten her relationship with Audrey. As a result, confrontation-averse, peace-making Keiko is forced to decide whether or not she will stand up for herself in her friendship with Audrey. On top of everything else, Keiko’s family seems to be changing: her mom is working later and later, and seems to be avoiding coming home — and her little sister seems to keeping a secret. Will Keiko keep it all together? Keep It Together, Keiko Carter is a strong middle-grade debut, perfect for anyone who enjoys middle-grade books about friendships. 

14-year-old Karthik Raghavan is spending his last summer of middle school delivering groceries for his father’s Indian grocery store. When he’s not playing delivery boy, he’s hanging out with his best friends and sneaking glances at his crush whenever he runs into her. It’s the early 2000s in Boston, Massachusetts, and the recession is causing store closures. Karthik’s father’s store becomes at greater risk of closure when Juhi’s family opens an Indian restaurant (also selling pre-packaged ready-to-cook items). But the most interesting part of Karthik’s summer? A university student wants him to act as Leonard Bernstein in her play. Can Karthik deliver? Karthik Delivers is a unique, refreshing look at a family dealing with financial struggles and a young teen discovering his passions.

13-year-old Mei loves cooking and playing a cooking video game with two of her friends. She lives with her physician dad and is still grieving the loss of her mother. Her life suddenly turns upside down when a new virus starts killing people in her hometown Wuhan. Her dad is stuck working at the hospital and leaves Mei at home when the city is locked down. Can Mei cope with the pandemic — and find a way to help others around her? Morning Sun in Wuhan is a fascinating, insightful middle grade account depicting the genesis of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan.

This heartwrenching book about two homeless kids on the street of Chennai and the friendships and family they find will break your heart.

Sunny Park is a socially anxious girl obsessed with her favorite K-Pop band, Supreme Beat. She has one friend, Bailey and tries to be there as much as possible (to a fault) for her—even when it means quitting ballet which she loved. But when Bailey drags her to audition for her school’s dance team, Sunny gets in and Bailey doesn’t. Sunny’s mom insists that Sunny continues on the team, to Bailey’s dismay. As Sunny makes new friends, she starts to realize that maybe Bailey isn’t such a great one. This was a fun and relatable story about standing up for oneself, dance, fandom, and finding true friends.

This middle-grade book follows Lucy, a short Chinese-American girl caught between two cultures. Lucy plays basketball (very well) and would choose mac and cheese over most Chinese dishes. Her older siblings seem to fit the “perfect Chinese child” stereotype more than she does. Regina, her sister, started a Chinese club in high school and speaks flawless Chinese, while her brother Kenny, although a bookworm, loves and eats all Chinese food and is a Math whiz. Still Lucy perseveres with interests, eagerly anticipating her sister’s move to college so she can have their room all to herself, but that is not to be. Lucy’s dreams are intercepted when her parents insist she attend Chinese school instead of basketball practice. On top of that, her father returns from China with her late grandmother’s long-lost sister, Yi Po, who will now share Lucy’s room. Add to that the bullying she has to deal with from Sloane, a girl who competes with Lucy for a coveted basketball captain spot, and Lucy may just be having the worst year ever. The Great Wall of Lucy Wu is a humorous, immersive middle-grade book with a memorable protagonist.

Young Jude is uprooted from her life in Syria in the midst of the civil unrest. She and her mother (who is pregnant) move temporarily to Cincinnati to live with her uncle and his family. Jude is sad to leave behind her country, best friend Fatima, father, and brother who’s involved in various protests in Syria. Her father is trying to keep their shop going at home, while her brother, Issa wants to help other people in their homeland. In America, Jude — who used to be the best English student in Syria — has to join an ESL class and deal with questions about her hijab. She’s also trying to build a relationship with her cousin who feels culturally adrift, unable to speak Arabic and knowing little to nothing about Syria. Still, Jude finds good things in America and learns how brave she can be. I would strongly recommend this to anyone looking for stories set in Syria, fans of Hena Khan’s Amina’s Voice, and anyone in search of a story with a brave female protagonist.

Living in 80s Taiwan with her mother, Ai Shi (Anna) eagerly anticipates living in the beautiful country (the US) where their father moved a few months ago. As she gives away her favorite clothes and toys to cousins in preparation for the move, she can’t help but brag about the new life awaiting them. But she’s in for a shock when they arrive at their cramped apartment. Her father was conned into buying a failing fast-food restaurant, and Anna’s parents struggle to make ends meet. At school, she feels like an outsider since she can barely speak English. On top of that, her parents are dealing with some unkind customers who mistreat them because they’re Asians. Can Anna find her way? In the Beautiful Country is a moving, poignant, and lyrical verse novel about immigration, identity, food and family.

Mirror to Mirror is the story of twins Maya and Chaya, who, although opposites are inseparable. Where Maya is quiet and reserved, Chaya is outgoing. Both girls also share a few similar interests, top of which is their love for music. They even share friends, although they each have a different best friend. Suddenly, Maya starts to pull away from Chaya and the two begin to fight more. Concluding that her sister needs space from her, Chaya starts trying to distinguish herself — getting a pink streak in her hair and dropping music and trying a new art form. But the girls keep butting heads. When matters come to a head, their parents send them off to camp together with the aim of resolving their conflict. There, the girls decide to pretend to be each other (walk in each others shoes) and whoever can keep the ruse going longer will get to decide where they both attend high school — the main thing they keep arguing about. But will this pact work? Or is there more to their fights than meets the eye? This is an immersive middle grade verse novel about sisterhood, friendships, anxiety, and the imperfections in family.

Amina has never been comfortable in the spotlight. She is happy just hanging out with her best friend, Soojin. Except now that she’s in middle school everything feels different. Soojin is suddenly hanging out with Emily, one of the “cool” girls in the class, and even talking about changing her name to something more “American.” Does Amina need to start changing too? Or hiding who she is to fit in? While Amina grapples with these questions, she is devastated when her local mosque is vandalized.

When Nimra joins public school after years in Islamic school, she’s not expecting to become 1/4th of Barakah Beats, a popular boy band in her school. But that’s what happens. When her BFF (at least to Nimra) stops acting so BFF-y after Nimra decides to wear her hijab to public school, Nimra is desperate to keep their friendship. Even if it means joining a boy band when it conflicts with her Islamic beliefs. Can Nimra find a way to use her voice without going against her values or hurting her new friends and bandmates? Barakah Beats is an engaging middle grade book about balancing your faith with your passions while finding your tribe.

Told from Jameela’s perspective, More to the Story is a modern middle-grade novel inspired by the classic novel, Little Women. Four Muslim-American sisters Jameela, Maryam, Bisma, and Aleeza are distraught when their dad has to go abroad for six months for a job. Thirteen-year-old Jam, as she is fondly called has just become the features editor for her school’s newspaper. She’s determined to impress her dad with her first story. At the same time, a family friend’s nephew, Ali moves from the UK to Atlanta. As Jam and Ali’s friendship blossoms, one of her sisters receives devastating news about her health. I ADORED THIS BOOK from the very first sentence–I just knew it would be good. And I was right.

Two boys’ lives collide when they discover that they look exactly alike. Ashar is an ice hockey player who lives with his mom and is fairly popular at school. His goal is to get into the best high school by his ice hockey skills. He also has a cousin, who’s currently mad at him for reasons he doesn’t know. Shaheer has just moved to town with his dad for the umpteenth time and has given up on the idea of finding a forever home when the kids at school start calling him by Ashar’s name. The boys quickly find out that they’re twins and start switching places to get to know their parents better and convince them to keep the boys together. Will their plan succeed? Bhai for Now is a fun, spirited middle grade book about twins, parental separation, and building a strong brother-brother relationship.

Siblings Cash, Fitch, and Bird move through the daily trials of pre-teen life in the 1980’s.Fitch and Bird are twins who are now in the same grade as their older brother, Cash — because Cash was held back in the seventh grade. Bird is a space aficionado and dreams of being an astronaut. Fitch has anger issues and hates that he’s getting crushed on by a girl he doesn’t like — and whom his best friends consider unattractive. Cash feels lost and cannot seem to find his place anywhere. It doesn’t help that the situation at home is tense, with parents who are constantly bickering and a family that cannot seem to make time to talk as a unit or nurture their children. All three siblings share a science teacher, Ms. Salonga, who is a failed applicant to the Teacher in Space program. Nonetheless, she builds lessons around the Challenger launch, with Bird becoming the most invested. Bird is eagerly anticipating the Challenger launch and is a huge fan of Judith Resnik — the Challenger’s Mission Specialist. She even has internal conversations with her about her dreams and insecurities. This expansive, poignant novel follows the siblings until the ill-fated launch day, which changes their relationship forever.