Grade Level: Middle School
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A Match Made in Mehendi
Simi and her gay friend Noah have decided that sophomore year is going to be their time to shine. Simi thinks a matchmaking app might help them standout, but it doesn’t work quite the way she hoped. Because of the app, her mother and aunt are convinced that she has the familiy’s matchmaking gift. Does…
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Lily Xiao Speaks Out
A novel about Taiwanese American identity and fighting for ESL support for students. Middle schooler Lily is struggling in school because English is not her first language. She wants to speak to the school about providing an ESL program, but her parents are worried this will adversly effect their desire to be US citizens.
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Front Desk: The Graphic Novel
Mia wants to be a writer, but her mom thinks she should focus on math. Mia’s courage, kindness, and hard work will help her get through this school year.
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It’s Only a Game
In this fast past murder mystery, an online gaming team is offered a tour of their favorite game company. When the president of the company dies, Marina and her friends are framed for the murder. The characters in this exciting tale includes LGBTQ+ characters.
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The Best at It
A Book about a gay Indian-American boy dealing with middle school anxiety and learning how to live his truth sends a positive message to young readers about choosing self-acceptance.
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Opting Out
It’s seventh grade and Saachi, who has always enjoyed creating fantasy worlds with her best friend, is surprised to find out that her friend is suddenly really interested in boys. Saachi doesn’t love all the ways her body is changing. What if she doesn’t feel like a girl, or a boy?
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Nikhil Out Loud
Nikhil’s fame as a voice actor lands him the lead in the school musical, but he’s worried that people at school will realize he has stage fright. And when a group of angry parents start to protest having an openly gay actor in the starring role he wants to become the make believe character he…
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K-Pop TAP Bite
TeachAAPI has created a K-Pop “Tap Bite” mini-lesson designed for classroom use. Teachers can use this resource to introduce or deepen students’ understanding of the music genre, its cultural significance, and its global impact. It’s a simple way to connect student interests to cultural learning. The deck includes speaker notes to support educators and also…
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Reading List for Asian American Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month(AANHPI), Summer Reading, and Beyond
A collection of books for grades PreK-12 that focuses on Asian Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Desi American authors and topics. Books can connect you to people who inspire you, characters who bring you joy, situations that introduce new perspectives, and make you feel seen.They can encourage people to stand-up for those that experience inequality and…
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Unhappy Camper
Two sisters go to the same summer camp. One is comfortable with her Taiwanese identity, the other wants to ignore her cultural identity. An exploration of self-esteem and cultural identity.
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What to Do When Mistakes Make You Quake: A Kid’s Guide to Accepting Imperfection
Mistakes can feel scary. Even small errors can lead to worries. Whether it’s a fear of being wrong, making a bad decision, or not meeting expectations, the pressure to be perfect can be upsetting.
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Deep Dive: Eid
Eid is a joyful Islamic festival celebrated by over 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide, marking moments of gratitude, reflection, and togetherness. It includes two major observances, Eid al-Fitr, celebrating the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha, honoring devotion and sacrifice, both beginning with communal prayers and shared festivities.