For years, most mainstream protagonists were portrayed as white. However, there has been a growing awareness and exploration of other cultures, ethnicities, and societies in recent years.
With this need for diversity, efforts have been made to publish and disseminate more inclusive stories that feature characters from different backgrounds.
Books with Asian Protagonists
Asian characters have a history of being relegated to stereotypical roles—the stingy elder, oriental beauty, kung fu master, and so on. However, these portrayals fail to reflect the diverse cultures and experiences that the Asian community offers.
Below is a list of books with Asian protagonists that offer a more accurate depiction of the Asian perspective.
1. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Pachinko follows multiple generations of a Korean family who migrate to Japan. There they struggle with the constant discrimination and prejudice they experience as immigrants. As the family navigates these complexities, they become involved in the pachinko business, a form of gambling popular in Japan.
2. Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok
Kimberly Chang and her mother move from Hong Kong to Brooklyn in pursuit of the American Dream. Facing extreme poverty, both work long hours in a sweatshop to make ends meet.
Despite the challenges, Kimberly is determined to achieve success. Soon, she finds herself living a double life as she navigates between her traditional Chinese heritage and the opportunities of American life.
3. The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi
It is the 1950s and seventeen-year-old Lakshmi has just escaped from her abusive marriage. Making her way to the city of Jaipur, she finds work as a henna artist.
She quickly becomes popular with the wealthy women, being privy to their gossip and secrets. All is well until her husband tracks her down with a sister she never knew she had in tow.
4. Internment by Samira Ahmed
In a dystopian United States, Layla Amin and her family are sent to an internment camp for Muslim Americans. She longs for her “normal” life but can’t ignore the wrongs being done. With fellow detainees and her boyfriend on the outside, she organizes a rebellion bent on freedom.
5. Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Half-Japanese Kiko Himura struggles with anxiety, her narcissistic mother, an abusive uncle, and rejection from art school. All she wants is to escape but can’t seem to find a way out.
That’s until her childhood friend invites her to tour art schools on the West Coast. Free from her oppressive life, she finally learns not only how to be herself but also to be brave.
6. Portrait of a Thief by Grace Li
Five college students are tasked to steal priceless artifacts looted from Beijing centuries ago. If they succeed, they earn fifty million dollars and a place in history.
But if they fail? Not only will they lose everything they’ve worked hard to achieve but it’ll be another loss in reclaiming their heritage.
7. You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins
Spanning several decades, You Bring the Distant Near tells the story of the Das women, a family of Indian immigrants surviving in America. It centers around matriarch Ranee, her daughters Tara and Sonia, and granddaughters Anna and Shanti.
All struggle with the complexities of their cultural identity, their confusing family dynamic, and the life of being immigrants.
8. Yolk by Mary H. K. Choi
The Baek sisters are nothing alike. Jayne, the younger one, is struggling with college, her identity, self-esteem, and romantic relationships. In contrast, June has a successful career and well put-together life—or so it seems.
Once best buddies, they now want nothing to do with each other. At least, until June gets cancer. Brought together by circumstances, how deep can they reconnect and how far will they go to save each other’s lives?
9. The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf
Beatles-loving Melati Ahmad is just like any other teen. However, she thinks there’s a djinn trapped within her, taunting her with her mother’s death unless she performs a specific ritual.
Then a trip to the movies turns into a nightmare when violence erupts between the Chinese and the Malay. Caught in the middle, she must find a way to survive while preventing the djinn from overwhelming her mind.
10. Smaller and Smaller Circles by F.H. Batacan
Payatas is a dump, home to thousands of people who barely live off what they can scavenge. When the violated bodies of pre-teen boys are discovered, the poor are left to protect themselves.
With the police undermanned and corrupt, two Jesuit priests take it upon themselves to solve the case. The hunt is on but the monster they seek may prove more elusive and dangerous than they realize.
11. Siren Queen by Nghi Vo
Luli Wei is beautiful, talented, and determined to be a star. The movie business is dangerous and roles for a Chinese American girl are practically non-existent.
But Luli doesn’t care. She’ll do anything, even if it means making a bargain with the monsters behind the screen—the studios who prey on desperate starlets like her, want all that she is, and are powered by blood and magic.
12. Love & Other Natural Disasters by Misa Sugiura
Nozomi Nagai didn’t expect to find romance during the summer, especially a fake one. When the perfect and heartbroken Willow suggests a scheme to make her ex-girlfriend jealous, all Nozomi can do is volunteer.
But Nozomi has a plan of her own; to turn this fake romance into a real one. It’s not long before things go awry, leading to a chance at love of a different kind.
13. The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco
Okiku is a vengeful spirit who wanders the world, killing murderers and child abusers. It’s a job she’s done for centuries but has never brought her the peace she brings to the murdered.
Then she meets Tark, a boy bearing evil within his body, barely restrained by mysterious tattoos. Okiku plans on saving him. There’s just one problem: if the demon dies, so does Tark.
What other books with Asian protagonists have you read? Share them in the comments below!
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Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
