{"id":9364,"date":"2015-12-22T15:24:17","date_gmt":"2015-12-22T15:24:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/now\/?p=9364"},"modified":"2016-02-17T19:25:06","modified_gmt":"2016-02-17T19:25:06","slug":"bookdragons-top-25-book-picks-for-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/now\/bookdragons-top-25-book-picks-for-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"BookDragon&#8217;s Top 25 APA Book Picks for 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/now\/bookdragons-top-25-book-picks-for-2015\/25-for2015\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9373\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9373\" src=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/now\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2015\/12\/25-for2015-800x451.jpg\" alt=\"BookDragon's Top 25 of 2015\" width=\"800\" height=\"451\" srcset=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/now\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2015\/12\/25-for2015-800x451.jpg 800w, https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/now\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2015\/12\/25-for2015.jpg 1064w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This time of the year, everyone and their fourth cousin seems to be sharing their best-of lists. Surprise! <a href=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\">Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center&#8217;s BookDragon<\/a> is joining the fray. For those of you who aren\u2019t familiar with APAC\u2019s BookDragon, meet our multi-culti book blog with reviews and author interviews all year round.<\/p>\n<p>So 2015 is drawing to a close \u2013 WHOOOOOSH!!! Does BookDragon have recommendations for this year\u2019s by-and-about Asian and Asian Pacific American titles? Ask no more!<\/p>\n<p>Drumroll, please \u2026 Here are BookDragon\u2019s top-five faves by genre. Titles are listed in alphabetical order.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Adult Fiction<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/dragonfish-vu-tran-author-interview-bloom\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Dragonfish<\/em> by Vu Tran<\/a> is a six-part people-puzzle just begging to be solved.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/in-the-country-stories-by-mia-alvar-in-library-journal\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>In the Country<\/em> by Mia Alvar<\/a> is the best short story collection I read this year.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/investigation-j-m-lee-translated-chi-young-kim-library-journal\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>The Investigation <\/em>by J.M. Lee<\/a> provides a lesson on perspective like no other.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/love-love-sung-j-woo-library-journal\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Love Love<\/em> by Sung J. Woo<\/a> proves that jaw-dropping dysfunction can make for some spectacular <em>Schadenfreude <\/em><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/the-sympathizer-by-viet-nguyen-author-interview-in-bloom\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>The Sympathizer <\/em>by Vi\u1ec7t Thanh Nguy\u1ec5n<\/a> will prove again and again your assumptions are totally unreliable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Nonfiction<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/daughters-of-the-samurai-a-journey-from-east-to-west-and-back-by-janice-p-nimura-in-christian-science-monitor\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Daughters of the Samurai: A Journey from East to West and Back <\/em>by Janice Nimura<\/a> takes you back to an almost unknown piece of Japanese American women\u2019s history.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/discontent-and-its-civilizations-dispatches-from-lahore-new-york-and-london-by-mohsin-hamid-in-christian-science-monitor\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Discontent and Its Civilizations: Dispatches from Lahore, New York, and London <\/em>by Mohsin Hamid<\/a> because life, art, and politics, should always be so sharply, smartly, even snarkily iluminated.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/a-kim-jong-il-production-the-extraordinary-true-story-of-a-kidnapped-filmmaker-his-star-actress-and-a-young-dictators-rise-to-power-by-paul-fischer\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>A Kim Jong-Il Production: The Extraordinary True Story of a Kidnapped Filmmaker, His Star Actress, and a Young Dictator\u2019s Rise to Power<\/em> by Paul Fischer<\/a> because truth is <em>always<\/em> stranger than fiction.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/last-nights-reading-illustrated-encounters-extraordinary-authors-kate-gavino\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Last Night\u2019s Reading <\/em>by Kate Gavino<\/a> will make every author \u2013 APA and otherwise \u2013 long to be \u2018Gavino\u2019-ed.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/stars-sun-moon-one-womans-life-north-korea-escape-freedom-lucia-jang-susan-mcclelland-library-journal\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Stars Between the Sun and Moon: One Woman\u2019s Life in North Korea and Escape to Freedom <\/em>by Lucia Jang with Susan McClleland<\/a> will make you grateful for your countless privileges.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Manga\/Graphic Books<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/series-master-keaton\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Master Keaton <\/em>(multiple volumes) by Naoki Urasawa, story by Hokusei Katsushika and Takashi Nagasaki<\/a>, is my favorite manga series this year.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/nanjing-burning-city-ethan-young\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Nanjing: The Burning City <\/em>by Ethan Young<\/a> is a necessary history lesson for all ages.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/supermutant-magic-academy-by-jillian-tamaki\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Supermutant Magic Academy<\/em> by Jillian Tamaki<\/a>\u00a0is one of those unexpectedly delightful surreal experiences you can\u2019t put down.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/there-is-no-right-way-to-meditate-and-other-lessons-by-yumi-sakugawa\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>There Is No Right Way to Meditate and Other Lessons <\/em>by Yumi Sakugawa<\/a> shows us how we can all become better people, just a few minutes at a time.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/ultraman-vol-1-eiichi-shimizu-illustrated-tomohiro-shimoguchi-translated-joe-yamazaki\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Ultraman: This Is the Beginning of a New Age<\/em> by Eiichi Shimizu, illustrated by Tomohiro Shimoguchi<\/a>, is a 21<sup>st<\/sup>-revisioning of one of my favorite books from childhood.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Middle Grade\/Young Adult <\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/dance-banished-marsha-forchuk-skrypuch\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Dance of the <\/em>Banished by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch<\/a> reveals a compassionate-and-cruel piece of history about what is now Turkey that deserves so much more attention.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/everything-everything-nicola-yoon-school-library-journal\/\"><em>Everything, Everything <\/em>by Nicola Yoon<\/a> has a little bit of everything \u2013 illness, death, love, betrayal, adventure, and more.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/none-of-the-above-by-i-w-gregorio\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>None of the Above<\/em> by I.W. Gregorio<\/a> shows how labels don\u2019t define us.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/rad-american-women-a-z-rebels-trailblazers-and-visionaries-who-shaped-our-history-and-our-future-by-kate-schatz-illustrated-by-miriam-klein-stahl\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Rad American Women A-Z: Rebels, Trailblazers, and Visionaries Who Shaped Our History . . . and Our Future!<\/em> by Kate Schatz, illustrated by Miriam Klein Stahl<\/a>, showcases girl power across backgrounds, ethnicities, histories \u2013 or, rather \u2013 herstories!<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/under-a-painted-sky-by-stacey-lee-author-interview-in-bookslut\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Under a Painted Sky<\/em> by Stacey Lee<\/a> shows that the wild, wild west was just-as-won by POC pioneers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Kiddie Titles<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/inkers-shadow-allen-say\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>The Inker\u2019s Shadow <\/em>by Allen Say<\/a> is filled with resonating artist-as-a-young-man stories.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/junas-jar-by-jane-bahk-illustrated-by-felicia-hoshino\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Juna\u2019s Jar<\/em> by Jane Bahk, illustrated by Felicia Hoshino<\/a>, shows how a friendship stays connected regardless of distance.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/pool-by-jihyeon-lee\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Pool<\/em> by JiHyeon Lee<\/a> is a wordless wonder that reveals magical landscapes, if only we\u2019re willing to dive in below the surface.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/house-sonabai-built-vishakha-chanchani-photographs-stephen-p-huyler\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>The House that Sonabai Built<\/em> by Vishakha Chanchani, photographs by Stephen P. Huyler<\/a>, showcases the life and work of an accidental artist of world renown.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/whale-swimming-pool-joyce-wan\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>The Whale in My Swimming Pool <\/em>by Joyce Wan<\/a> brings ingenious humor perfect to warm these long winter days.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Want more? Share our\u00a0reading adventures throughout the year \u2026 from absolute favorites to total duds, and everything in between.\u00a0Multi-culti <a href=\"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\">BookDragons unite<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here are BookDragon\u2019s top-five favorite Asian Pacific American books of 2015 by genre: Adult Fiction, Nonfiction, Manga\/Graphic Books, Middle Grade\/Young Adult, Kiddie Titles.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9373,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[290],"class_list":["post-9364","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-updates","tag-bookdragon"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9364"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9364"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9364\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9379,"href":"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9364\/revisions\/9379"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9373"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9364"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9364"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9364"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}