Fighting to Belong!: Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander History from the 1700s through the 1800s

A History of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders #1

by Amy Chu, Louie Chin (Illustrator), Alexander Chang

Asian American and Pacific Islander history is American history. The unique experiences, challenges, and contributions of AAPIs are an integral part of our country’s development, but they are rarely taught in American schools.
For many Americans of Asian American or Pacific Islander descent who grew up in the United States, there continues to be a startling lack of opportunity to learn about our own history in our country. Even today, over 70% of Americans have little knowledge about AAPI history or confuse it with Asian history. Fighting to Belong! A History of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders , written by best-selling writer Amy Chu (Wonder Woman, Deadpool, Ant-Man, Iron Man), Alexander Chang, and Louie Chin, shares this important and dynamic history in an accessible and engaging graphic novel format. In this book, our middle school protagonists Padmini, Sammy, Joe, and Tiana and their guide, Kenji, embark on an amazing journey through time to witness key events in AAPI history . They witness the arrival of the "Manilamen" to the United States in the eighteenth century and fly though significant moments in the next 150 years. Fighting to Belong! helps new audiences young and old, AAPI and non-AAPI, across the country understand how AAPI stories are truly interwoven within the fabric of American history.
Praise for Amy Chu
“An impressive graphic fantasy with adventure, danger, and magic . . . A fast-paced beginning to a stunning new under-the-sea graphic series.”
—Kirkus Reviews ( Sea Sirens )   “This sequel is another stunning work of art . . . With mermaids, an evil collector of curiosities, a hero cat, an extraordinary theme park, and twists and turns aplenty, there is something for all fantasy adventure lovers.”
—Kirkus Reviews ( Sky Island )  

Genres: Middle Grade, Graphic Novels, Nonfiction, Comics, History, Childrens, Historical

40 pages, Paperback

Published February 6, 2024

About the author

Winner Bram Stoker Award, Gold Anthem Award. Writer for DC, Vertigo, Marvel, IDW and more, including: Poison Ivy, Ant-Man, Deadpool, Red Sonja, Green Hornet, Sensation Comics Wonder Woman, X-Files. KISS and DMC Comics. Cofounded Alpha Girl Comics, publisher of Girls Night Out and other comics. Frequent comic-con panel speaker and moderator.

Follow me on amychu.bluesky.social, @theamychu tiktok, @amy_chu instagram

Reviews

[RaspberryRoses]

i found the history itself to be very compelling and well presented, but far too much of the runtime is taken up by the framing narrative. and while a part of me thinks the idea of "i guess my neighbor is a wizard and he'll use his magic powers to give us a vip tour through history where we actually get to see it" is wildly fun, i think this book is so short that it can't really afford to be bloated in this way. it felt very abrupt.

[Grace Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating, and desperately needed title to help students learn more about AANHPI history. It was engaging. The book didn't shy away from addressing difficult history. I look forward to the next titles.

[e · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: As part of an assignment for school, a group of middle school students take a special private tour through an exhibit at the local museum: A History of Asians in America, 18th Century and Beyond. The tour is led by a special tour guide who takes them on a time-traveling adventure through American history where the students witness the injustices faced by many Asian American and Pacific Islanders in America’s past, like those faced during the California Gold Rush and overthrowing of the Hawaiian monarchy. As they prepare for the 20th century part of the tour, the museum director halts the tour and promptly fires the tour guide, leaving the reader with a cliffhanger for the next book in this trilogy.

Honest Thoughts: As Kenji, the tour guide, said “History is about truth. You can’t pick and choose only the nice parts.” This is exactly what the authors of Fighting to Belong have done–provided a visual exploration of the truths about Asian American and Pacific Islanders’ struggles in 19th century America. Readers will get an honest dose of history that provides more detail than any middle school history book. Students are shown how the treatment of Asian Americans during the Goldrush and building of railroads resulted in many deaths, including how racism caused hate-filled mobs, broke apart families, and denied equal access to education to all students. The beauty of this books is how it tells these stories in a graphic novel, a medium that reaches students who otherwise might not pick up a novel or history book. The graphics are well done and the story is written well for all readers.

#ReadYourWorld #gifted

[Julianne DeSilva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as part of Multicultural Children’s Book Day, and I'm a so glad I did! This comic serves as an excellent introduction to Asian American & Pacific Islanders history for middle grade students. The story begins with four students being assigned a project on AAPI history, and visiting a museum to get a personal tour to learn more. While the text is short, it is packed with information that I think will encourage students to look into more aspects of AAPI history. The comic zooms in on important historical events, almost like a timeline, but with a narrative that makes it way more accessible to a middle grade student. As a middle school teacher, I'm glad to have this book in my classroom!

[Karalee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gifted Fighting to Belong for Multicultural Children’s Book Day. It was written an illustrated by Amy Chu, Louie Chin, and Alexander Chang. Fighting to Belong is the first part in a three-part series of sharing Asian American & Pacific Islander history in graphic novel form, and is tied to organization Leading Asian Americans to Unite for Change (LAAUNCH).

Tour guide Kenji takes a diverse group of middle schoolers on a magical adventure through AAPI history. The students struggle coming to terms with the difficulties and suffering people faced.

This is a great introduction to AAPI history in the United States. I will definitely be looking for the second and third parts to this series!
#ReadYourWorld

[Tina Cho · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short graphic-novel-like book is a great, fun way to learn about Asian American history as the reader follows five middle schoolers working on a project in which they learn about how Chinese people arrived during the Gold Rush. Readers are introduced to some famous Chinese who stood up for their rights such as Mamie Tape’s family and Yick Wo. Also included is how Asians entered Hawaii. I wish I had had this book when I was a child! Back matter includes a curriculum guide with questions, activities, and more facts about topics in the book. Asian American history is often left out in history books. This book fills in the gap!

[Julie Ditton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fantastic Graphic Novel tells the story of four youngsters who visit the history museum to take in the exabit on Asian American and Pacific Islander history, but end up on a very special tour. Their guide takes them time traveling to see the injustices against Asian Americans throughout history. This novel tells the history in a unique and engaging way. The graphic novel presentation provides high interest and low difficulty n this history lesson. The book's afterward include lesson plans that will help tie the book to further study. this is the first of three planned books and I am looking forward to part two in September 2024.

[Robert Hultman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cool (upper-elementary-to-middle-school-level) comic introducing significant moments in AAPI history. Well done overall. Would love to see an expansive version of this sort of book made for adults/teens.

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous middle grade graphic novel that explores the history of AAPI people during the 1700 and 1800s. It makes it accessible and relatable using graphic novel format and I hope for more like these for my students to learn from!

[Arma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this historical graphic novel for kids. It presents early history of Asian Americans, as it says in the title, and it does so in an easy to read, approachable format. I liked it enough that I will see if I can find the other books in the series to read.

[Hubert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read quickly,

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This booklet teaches history in a way that connects it to the realities of people living today. Highly recommend!

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed the graphic novelization of important history that otherwise kids would never read. This is a winner, and I look forward to volumes 2-3.

[Mackenzie Virginia]

Important and accessible information, but the delivery and dialogue felt stilted to me.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5