Chinese-American Stories

 This year’s All Henrico Reads title, The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by award-winning author Jamie Ford, provides a powerful examination of Chinese-American history. Though fiction, the book ties in real-life events and figures as it details the lives of one family from 1834 until the present. From the first Chinese woman to enter the United States, to the Flying Tigers of World War II, to the early 20^th century plague in San Francisco, Ford weaves Chinese-American history into several of the characters’ narratives. If you’ve enjoyed learning about the history and culture in this year’s featured title, read on to explore other Chinese-American stories available in our collection.

Plus, don’t forget to join us for An Evening with Author Jamie Ford on Thursday, March 30 at 7 p.m. at J.R. Tucker High School for an in-person author talk, Q&A period, and book signing!

Dive into a deeper discussion about this year’s All Henrico Reads title at one of our many book discussions, learn about Chinese culture at one of our upcoming programs, and discover Chinese-American voices in our Children’s, Teen, and Adult collections:

EASY

• Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon by Kat Zhang
• Crouching Tiger by Ying Chang Compestine
• Dim Sum, Here We Come! by Maple Lam
• I Am Golden by Eva Chen
• My Love for You is Always by Gillian Sze
• New Year by Rich Lo
• One Hug by Katrina Moore
• Piece by Piece by Susan Tan
• So Not Ghoul by Karen Yin
• Watercress by Andrea Wang

KIDS

• Chasing Secrets: A Deadly Surprise in a City of Lies by Gennifer Choldenko
• Front Desk by Kelly Yang
• The Legend of Auntie Po by Shing Yin Khor
• Maizy Chen’s Last Chance by Lisa Yee
• Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist by Julie Leung
• The Secret Battle of Evan Pao by Wendy Wan-Long Shang
• Stargazing by Jen Wang
• View from Pagoda Hill by Michaela MacColl
• Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend by Katie Zhao
• Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao

TEEN

• American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
• Chien-shiung Wu: Nuclear Physicist by Nel Yomtov
• The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee
• Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang
• The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee
• Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
• Maya Lin: Thinking with Her Hands by Susan Goldman Rubin
• Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir of a Wuhanese American by Laura Gao
• Parachutes by Kelly Yang
• The Silence that Binds Us by Joanna Ho
• Under a Painted Sky by Stacy Lee

ADULT

• The Bonesetter’s Daughter by Amy Tan
• China Dolls by Lisa See
• Ghosts of Gold Mountain: The Epic Story of the Chinese Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad by Gordon H. Chang
• How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C. Pam Zhang 
• Interior, Chinatown by Charles Yu
• Last Boat out of Shanghai: The Epic Story of the Chinese Who Fled Mao’s Revolution by Helen Zia
• The Leavers by Lisa Ko
• Oculus: Poems by Sally Wen Mao
• Patriot Number One: American Dreams in Chinatown by Lauren Hilgers
• The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan
• Siren Queen by Nghi Vo
• Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
• The Undressing: Poems by Li-Young Lee
• The Verifiers by Jane Pek
• The Woks of Life: Recipes to Know and Love from a Chinese American Family by Bill Leung
• The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston