Siena Blog

Siena is celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2025 by highlighting some recent books and podcasts of interest from diverse Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander voices.

In addition to the book and podcast recommendations below, readers can also check the Smithsonian Institution or Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) for relevant resources, local events, and more.

Contemporary Books by AAPI Authors

Here are some additional recent fiction and nonfiction books by AAPI authors:

• At the Edge of Empire: A Family’s Reckoning with China — Edward Wong
• The Emperor and the Endless Palace — Justinian Huang
• Interior Chinatown — Charles Yu (recently adapted for Hulu)
• The Emperor of Gladness — Ocean Vuong
• When I’m Gone, Look for Me in the East — Quan Barry

Looking for more book recommendations? Penguin Random House, The New York Public Library, and More Than Words have lists to choose from.

DC-area independent Loyalty Bookstores is a diverse, woman-owned business that often shares bookseller picks and hosts monthly author events (see here) consistent with their mission of highlighting all literary voices.

Readers interested in visual arts from AAPI creators can look up Dwight Hwang (who specializes in classic and contemporary gyotaku) or Jamie Noguchi (who has illustrated contemporary comics and other media). 

AAPI Podcasts of Interest

Here are some current podcasts from AAPI voices about various topics of interest:

• Asian American History 101
• Asian Americana
• Dear Asian Americans
• Self Evident: Asian America's Stories
• See also Best Asian American Podcasts and 70 Best Asian American Podcasts You Must Follow in 2025 for more

Georgetown University and the University of Pennsylvania have podcast recommendations and other resources.

Siena Blog and Resources

See our blog for recent heritage month posts from Women’s History Month 2025, Black History Month 2025, and Hispanic Heritage Month 2024. 

The Siena School proudly serves students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences in grades 3-12 on campuses in Silver Spring, Maryland (grades 3-4 and 5-12), and Oakton, Virginia (grades 3-12).