As slurs and attacks become more frequent, books teach about Asian Americans’ experience

SEATTLE — Following the killings of eight people — including six Asian American women — in Georgia on March 16, a Seattle bookseller compiled a list of readings on Asian American history and experiences.

“This list is a starting point,” wrote Karen Maeda Allman, bookseller and author events coordinator at Elliott Bay Book Co. “‘Asia’ and ‘Asian American’ are, of course, contested terms so far as what counts as ‘Asian’ or ‘East Asian,’ ‘Southeast Asian,’ ‘South Asian,’ ‘West Asian’ and not to mention the umbrella term, ‘AAPIA’ (Asian American Pacific Islander American). Many more stories have been told, are being told, will be told (and should be told).”

Here are selections, with comments:

■ “Fred Korematsu Speaks Up” by Laura Atkins, Stan Yogi and Yutaka Houlette. “Graphic novel about the Japanese American incarceration and activism for grades 5-8.”

■ “Go Home!” edited by Rowan Hisayo Buchanan.

■ “The Best We Could Do: An Illustrated Memoir” by Thi Bui.

■ “We Gon’ Be Alright: Notes on Race and Resegregation” by Jeff Chang. “A short book examining the consequences of racial and economic segregation. Written as a response (and a call to action) post Ferguson.”

■ “Minor Feelings: an Asian American Reckoning” by Cathy Park Hong. “I think this book is a must read, especially the first chapter.” The book also has just won the award for autobiography from the National Book Critics Circle, a group of professional reviewers.

■ “The Making of Asian America: A History” by Erika Lee.

■ “America for Americans: a History of Xenophobia in the United States” also by Erika Lee.

■ “The Displaced: Refugee Writers on Refugee Lives” edited by Viet Thanh Nguyen.

■ “A Different Mirror for Young People: a History of Multicultural America” by Ronald Takaki, based on his classic book, “A Different Mirror.”

■ “Strangers from a Distant Shore: a History of Asian Americans” also by Ronald Takaki.

■ “Asian American Dreams” by Helen Zia.