by Hannah Dy
(This article was originally published at What We Experience and has been reprinted under an agreement.)
There’s nothing like recognition and validation drawn from the pages of a book, especially when representation seems so rare for members of the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ community. As the entertainment business attempts to amend poisonous stereotypes and diversify narratives beyond the norm, it’s critical to elevate the narratives of minorities that might otherwise become ignored.
Despite the United States being home to over 23 million Asian Americans, the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism found that only one out of twenty speaking roles in movies go to Asians and only 1% of lead roles. Poor representation in the media has been found to foster negative emotions and invoke “a psychological toll on the groups who are portrayed.” To elevate these narratives, the following recommendations and reviewed books feature LGBTQ+ Asian American protagonists in the YA genre, starting with an avid fangirl and social wallflower, Jessica Tran.
Continue reading LGBTQ+ Asian American Fantasy Book Recs