Last April 24, the government announced the extension of the Enhanced Community Quarantine until May 15, in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and CALABARZON.  Not that I am surprised, to be honest.

Let’s admit that this current work from home status gives us a lot of spare time. There are tons of things we can do in the comfort of our homes that is both fun and productive. I know some people who took this opportunity to practice their cooking skills. Some engaged themselves in their own self-project like learning a new skill or enrolling themselves in online courses. Some, happily binge-watch movies and Netflix series. But if you are running out of ideas to keep yourself entertained, why not switch back into the more traditional way of self-enjoyment? Reading!

Since May is declared as the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, I will be dedicating my TBR list (To Be Read) to reading books written by Asian authors! If you are looking for book recommendations, I listed down a few good books you can try!

A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi is a Young Adult contemporary book, where we follow Shirin- a sixteen-year-old Muslim residing in America. The story was set a year after the 9/11 incident, and for someone who wears a hijab on a daily basis, we can have a glimpse of how Shirin copes with racism and bullying.

This is a very powerful book that speaks more than about standing up for oneself. People are quick to judge and it’s a sad fact that up until now, people like Shirin, across the globe are still being bullied or judged because of their religion and how they carry themselves. Now, more than ever, Asians need to stand up for each other, amidst this pandemic.

Tahereh is an Iranian-American author, and she also wrote the fantasy series Shatter Me and middle-grade books Furthermore and Whichwood.

Favorite Line: “I dressed the way I did not because I was trying to be a nun, but because it felt good– and because it made me feel less vulnerable in general like I wore a kind of armor every day. It was a personal preference. I definitely didn’t do it because I was trying to be modest for the sake of some douchebag who couldn’t keep his dick in his pants. People struggled to believe this because people struggled to believe women in general.”

Legend Series by Marie Lu

These Young Adult dystopian books will surely keep you on edge. The main characters, Day and June belong to the opposite ends of the society, having different views about their government and due to a series of unfortunate events, their paths will cross. It’s a completely exciting ride to witness how they clash and reconcile and how they gave voice to the majority of their people.

These books were well written; you can easily devour it. It’s packed with action scenes that will keep you breathless, and the angst these characters have is surely amusing. There will never be a perfect government, just like we cannot expect all the people to agree in a single goal. But the key is open communication and transparency, for it will be the foundation of trust. Marie Lu is also the brilliant mind behind The Young Elites series and the science fiction duology- Warcross.

Favorite Line: “Each day means a new twenty-four hours. Each day means everything’s possible again. You live in the moment, you die in the moment, you take it all one day at a time.”

Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay 

Randy Ribay is a Filipino-American young adult author. In this book, he tackled family relationships, identity, values, political views, and the sensitive topic of the drug war by the current administration.

The story was told in the perspective of Jay, a Filipino-American teenager who decided to travel back to the Philippines after the suspicious death of his cousin and childhood best friend- Jun. As a Filipino, being represented in a bold book like this one makes me both proud and nostalgic, because there are a lot of things associated with the ways of the Filipino culture.

This coming of age book will give you the different perspectives about the drug war; from a grieving teenager who is bold enough to face the truth head-on while facing his own identity crisis, a police officer working for the government, and a journalist seeking for the truth. The endless number of victims for this Oplan Tokhang by the current Rodrigo Duterte’s administration has even gained an international spotlight from the media. A lot of people are saying it’s a complete violation of human rights, while some, say otherwise.

It’s a very timely book, written in a way that people can easily understand. No complications, but is full of spirit and emotions. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Favorite Line: “We all make choices, and we all must deal with the consequences of those choices. If we do not hold people accountable for their decisions, then we leave them free to destroy our society. That is how the world works. It is simple.”

Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim is the first book on the Blood of Stars series. This fantasy book is marketed as “Mulan meets Project Runway”. 

Maia Tamarin wanted nothing but to be the best tailor there is. However, girls are not allowed to be tailors, so Maia continued dreaming behind his father’s shop.

One day, her father was called upon to be an imperial tailor, but due to his illness, he is unfit to fulfill the request. Deciding to pursue her dream and to save their family’s reputation, Maia took her father’s place, dressed as her older brother. She went to the palace with nothing but courage and excellent tailor skills.

She faced a lot of challenges against different tailors across their kingdom. This book is filled with magic and hope in discovering the power of dreams and believing in oneself. There are a lot of secrets revealed and ancient stories to indulge yourself with as well.

Favorite Line: “My whole life, I’d been told what I couldn’t do because I was a girl. Well, this was my chance to find out. The only thing I could do was to take it.”

If you are up for some steamy, hilarious, new adult romance contemporary, then you should definitely try Helen Hoang’s The Kiss Quotient and The Bride Test. 

These are companion novels, but you can still read them separately. Aside from the humor and romance, I really like that both books represent people with disabilities that are normally overlooked in books.

Stella, the female protagonist in The Kiss Quotient suffers from Asperger syndrome which gave her difficulties in social interacting and non-verbal communication. Despite being workaholic and great in her career, Stella finds the pressure to date and settle down. Then, she meets Michael and hired him to teach her all the ways she needs to know in dating and romance.

On the other hand, The Bride Test features Khai- a successful bachelor who claims not to feel love and grief and likes to have everything under control. The truth is, he feels differently because of his autism and his mother went to Vietnam and find him a bride, and the rest is a series of awkward yet sweet moments between him and Esme.

Favorite Line: “All the things that make you different make you perfect.”

There are tons of fascinating books written by Asian authors that deserve more love and spotlight. These may be works of fiction, but books just like any other form of art, are a platform for self-expression. Through reading, we gain a wider perspective and understanding of different cultural references.

Who says you can’t travel while you’re at home? Whether you’re a steadfast reader or not, believe me when I tell you that sometimes, all it takes is one book. Read and wait for the magic to happen 😉