SBC librarians recommend...
Books for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
We’re keeping our intro short this month to pass the mic in honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Read on for book recommendations from the librarians who host SBC San Francisco, and a spotlight on SBC Jakarta, where almost 500 participants gathered to read together in Indonesia. Amazing!
Happy reading,
Guinevere & Laura
What to read for Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month
We love the librarians who host Silent Book Clubs because they’re never at a loss for book recommendations. This month, SBC San Francisco’s long-time hosts, Jen Woo (San Francisco Public Library) and Elaine Tai (Berkeley Public Library), shared their picks for AANHPI month on our blog. We’ve included a few favorites here, and created a full list of recommendations from SBC members and organizers on Bookshop.org.
Blob, by Margaret Su - A quirky and humorous love story involving an aimless mixed race Taiwanese American woman who pins her hopes of happiness on a blob that shapeshifts into a perfect boyfriend.
Lunar New Year Love Story, written by Gene Luen Yang and illustrated by LeUyen Pham - An award-winning graphic novel rom-com about a Vietnamese American teen who makes a deal with the ghost of Saint Valentine in order to avoid a familial curse of heartbreak. The book holds with care the characters ties to culture, family, community, and love.
Kapaemahu by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer, and Joe Wilson, illustrated by Daniel Sousa - This beautiful picture book presents the Hawaiian legend of the Mahu, dual male-female spirits known for their healing powers, and the sacred boulders that represent them. Colonization and growing tourism in the islands led to an ignorance of the Kapaemahu stones until the 1960s, and this book educates a new generation on the importance and power of indigenous stories.
Spotlight: SBC Jakarta
Nearly 500 people gathered in Taman Langsat park in South Jakarta, Indonesia, with one shared purpose: to read together in community. No admission fees. No ticket limits. Just one uninterrupted hour of reading in nature.
“The more I host silent reading sessions with Baca Bareng Silent Book Club Jakarta, the more I believe that reading is indeed political act,” says SBC organizer Hestia Istivani. “I am not talking about our reading materials only, but also the place I choose to host our monthly agenda: a public park.”
More than 1700 official chapters of Silent Book Club meet up in person in public spaces around the world. Venues range from local libraries and bookstores to bars, cafes, and restaurants. Silent Book Clubs are free, inclusive, and accessible to all.
For Hestia, “choosing a public park means a lot: its inclusiveness to every type of reader means there's no requirement to buy food and beverages—just bring your own snack. You can dress comfortably and bring along your family or colleagues without worrying about any extra charge, and read anything you want—or listen if you choose audiobooks.”
Read more about SBC Jakarta and the rise of Silent Book Clubs across Asia in The South China Morning Post.
Bookmarks
Book-related links and other good stuff online
Chicago Sun-Times publishes made-up books and fake experts in AI debacle The Verge
The Onion’s Bestseller List The Onion
What Attacks on Wikipedia Reveal about Free Expression Tech Policy Press
What Is Academic Freedom? A letter from an alumnus The Atlantic (1953)
Community book recommendations for Mental Health Awareness Month SBC Blog
Pulitzer Prizes 2025: A Guide to the Winning Books and Finalists The NYT
Cinco de Mayo Kansas City Public Library
Urge Congress: Save Public Media Protect My Public Media
Why I’m Resigning from Positions at the National Science Foundation and Library of Congress Time
Read Your Color RYC
SBC in the news
How silent book clubs are rising around the world as readers enjoy the no-pressure events South China Morning Post
More Than Books: 10 Different Ways Public Libraries Make Our Lives Better PBS
Shh... the rise of the silent book club BBC
Bring your own book; Silent book clubs offer social reading minus the obligation WCVB
Contact maken in Arnhem en Nijmegen? SAM geeft tips SAM
Silent Book Club Nashville provides quiet place for reader to enjoy books together News Channel 5
El Paso Readers Will Love This Silent Book Club Trend KLAQ
Silent book club offers a quiet night out for book lovers CNY Central
What in the world are silent reading clubs, and why are they cropping up all over Toronto? The Star
Find your local chapter
We’ve updated our map to make it easier to connect with a local chapter near you. You can search by location, filter by venue type, or join an online gathering. If there’s a chapter missing from the map, or a listing that’s no longer active, please let us know!
