Made in Asian America: A History for Young People

by Erika Lee, Christina Soontornvat

“Powerful. . . . Made in Asian America isn’t just about the past. It’s about the history being made right now by young people, inspired by the Asian Americans who came before them to ensure that our stories are not only heard, but also remembered.” —Paula Yoo, The New York Times Book Review

From three-time Newbery Honoree Christina Soontornvat and award-winning historian Erika Lee comes a middle grade nonfiction that shines a light on the generations of Asian Americans who have transformed the United States and who continue to shape what it means to be American.

Asian American history is not made up of one single story. It’s many. And it’s a story that too often goes untold. 

It begins centuries before America even exists as a nation. It is connected to the histories of Western conquest and colonialism. It’s a story of migration; of people and families crossing the Pacific Ocean in search of escape, opportunity, and new beginnings.

It is also the story of race and racism. Of being labeled an immigrant invasion, unfit to become citizens, and being banned, deported, and incarcerated. Of being blamed for bringing diseases into the country.

And it is a story of bravery and hope. It is the story of heroes who fought for equality in the courts, on the streets, and in the schools, and who continue to fight in solidarity with others doing the same.

This book is a stirring account of the ordinary people and extraordinary acts that made Asian America and the young people who are remaking America today.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Middle Grade, Asian American, World War II, Audiobook, War

309 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 30, 2024

Reviews

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: Erika Lee is my sister and some of my middle school students were part of a prewriting focus group. *HOWEVER* I'm reviewing this book as a middle school Teacher Librarian and college history major who is BEYOND thrilled that finally (FINALLY!) there's a book where middle school students can at long last learn about Asian American history- a history that I certainly was never taught until I took an Asian American studies course as a UCLA college student.

And don't just take it from me. This book has already received THREE starred reviews (Booklist, Kirkus, and most importantly in my opinion as a school librarian, School Library Journal)! SLJ labeled the book "revelatory" and stated "The authors make history come alive and dispel harmful stereotypes by thoroughly examining events barely taught in history class..."

Here are just *some* of the items I flagged for myself:
1. When the Bagai family from India tried to buy their first home in Berkeley, CA, their neighbors had "... locked the doors to prevent them from moving in." When the Supreme Court ruled in 1923 that only white and Europeans could become American citizens, Vaishno Bagai's US citizenship was revoked and he was forced to sell his SF home and store. He was then unable to return to India to visit his family because the US government refused to grant him a passport, and he ended up taking his own life. His wife Kala was left alone with three young children, but she persevered and ended up being an activist and community builder for South Asians who came to America after her. In 2020, Berkeley's city council renamed a section of Shattuck Ave. in her name.

2. President William Howard Taft called the Filipino people "America's little brown brothers." WHAT?! And while the United States had "acquired" the Phillipines in 1898, our government declined to let the country become independent because the people were backward, "uncivilized" and "savage." WOW...

3. In 1929, after a Watsonville, CA newspaper published a photo of a a Filipino man and white girl embracing (her parents had given their blessing to the couple's engagement), an angry mob of 400 white men "attacked a Filipino dance hall, leading to four days of rioting." And... in 1933, my state of CA made it illegal for whites and Filipinos to marry!

4. During WWII, Time and Life magazines ran racist stories to "help" readers determine if someone was Chinese or Japanese (!!) and an example entitled "How to Tell Your Friends from the Japs" is included in this book. Some "helpful" statements include these: "Chinese, not as hairy as Japanese, seldom grow an impressive mustache," "Most Chinese avoid horn-rimmed spectacles," "... the Chinese expression is likely to be more placid, kindly, open; the Japanese more positive, dogmatic, arrogant," and "Japanese walk stiffly erect, hard-heeled. Chinese, more relaxed, hav an easy gait, sometimes shuffle." I cannot BELIEVE this racist drivel was printed!

5. When Fred Korematsu refused to relocate to an internment camp, he was arrested. He appealed his conviction of defying a military order all the way to the Supreme Court and Justice Hugo Black (who was a former member of the KU KLUX KLAN!!!) delivered the majority opinion that the incarceration of Japanese Americans did NOT violate the US Constitution!

6. Has Title IX affected your life positively? You can thank Patsy Mink, US Representative from Hawaii who helped Title IX become the law.

There are so many more items I could mention here, but I'll let the words of Erika and Christina speak for themselves:
From Christina (after reading "The Making of Asian America," Erika's nonfiction adult book): "I was embarrassed that I had made it to forty years old without knowing this information. I felt angry and frustrated that no one had ever taught it to me. .. I was learning the many ways people of Asian descent have been systematically excluded and discriminated against..." Christina says there was "screaming and jumping up and down with glee and with tears in my eyes" when she was asked to work with Erika to adapt "The Making of Asian America" for young readers.

From Erika "... their stories are important to share because what they did helps us understand the making of Asian America. And how a new generation- made in Asian America- is drawing inspiration from those who came before them to create a better future for all of us."

I an SO PROUD of Erika and Christina for writing this amazing book and I hope that the many students in my school who identify as Asian American will feel *seen* while their classmates will learn this important part of *AMERICAN* history.

[Ms. B · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars rounded up. This should be required reading for American History teachers in the United States and a strongly recommended read for other educators of our young. Thank you to Erika Lee and Christina Soontornvat for writing this book; I learned so much about my country, the United States's Asian American history and the importance of telling my country's history from the viewpoints of all our residents, not only those of northern or western European descent. Lastly thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this title.

[Chazza Everafter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made in Asian America is the history book I wish I'd had when I was growing up! As a second generation Asian American Pacific Islander, I did not know a LOT of the history included here. It helped connect the dots between my own upbringing, the whispered snatches of history I'd heard growing up, and my ancestry. Reading this history was a revelation. The simple, approachable language and easy-to-read layout would make this an easy read for today's youth and for anyone seeking a simply-stated history of AAPI roots in America and it is well worth the read.

Going through this book brought up so many emotions and took me on a uniquely personal journey. I've learned more about myself, my home state, my home country, my peers, and it provided so much context for the many similar experiences I had growing up. It's given me a greater appreciation and understanding of my parents generation (like, I had absolutely no idea that the 1965 Immigration and Naturalization Act is what made my own life in America possible! I also didn't know the Loving vs. Virginia case had been preceded by a Filipino-British romance that was also thwarted by the laws against interracial marriage). The answers I'd received from family about our 'coming to America origin' story had always felt a little incomplete, and now I realize it's because there were blanks in the story that this book helped fill out.

This is not your typical staid, dry reading of a timeline of events that I would ordinarily associate with a history book. What Erika Lee and Christina Soontornvat do throughout this book is bring that history to life with plain language, relatable stories, and human experiences at its heart. I couldn't help but marvel time and time again, "How did I not know this?" and experience a whole host of emotions ranging from upset/anger to hope and pride. Interwoven throughout the history is a tale of perseverance, dignity, and hope. The threads move seamlessly from the time before the US declared its independence to the modern day, and in nearly every case, I wish I knew more and understood more. That's not a criticism of the phenomenal job the authors have done with this history--it's a critique of the school system that has intentionally erased contributions from so many Others! Growing up, our history classes focused almost exclusively on America's founding, the branches of government, and European history. The only time I remember Asians being mentioned was, of course, WWII, Pearl Harbor, and even more briefly than that, the Vietnam War. But this book makes it clear that there is so much more to explore beyond that.

Ultimately, this book is an incredible introduction to the long, rich, storied history of Asian Americans. And it's ignited a hunger to learn more. Truly, it's a history worth knowing, worth reading, worth ruminating on, and worth continuing. The authors do an excellent job of driving home the point that we are part of the story. We are the agents of change that will make history.

Many thanks to the authors, HarperCollins (the publisher), and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. This is a book I am fully expecting to purchase in hard copy when it's released so I can share it with my children.

[DaNae · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweeping look at the obstacles thrown at Asian-Americans since the U.S. came in to being, and before. I appreciated the gripping narratives and feel that any school library would benefit from its addition. I did not appreciate how a few of the stories I was more familiar with, took a more one-sided look in order to support the overall premise. For instance, when the Asian women were murdered few years ago in Virginia. The book left out the part where the murderer left evidence that he targeted them for being sex-workers, leaving no comment on their race. Sex-workers being a very targeted minority as well.

RATL24: Non-fiction - Social Sciences

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had this book growing up!

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. A book that everyone should read to help us all realize that, indeed, history does repeat itself, although it doesn’t have to. So many important stories of Asian American triumphs, defeats and continuing struggles: the Chinese Exclusion Act; Japanese Americans held in concentration camps during the WWII; Japanese servicemen and women also during WWII; the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act; the unfortunate complexity of being eventually labeled the “model minority”; “compassion fatigue” following the flood of refugees after the Vietnam war; the 1992 riots in Koreatown and South Central Los Angeles; Islamophobia following 9/11; even blaming the Asian population for the COVID-19 pandemic. Truly enlightening. Great writing.

[Jessica Pyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing. I plan to recommend it to every asian friend and family member I have. And probably anyone else that will listen to my suggestions too. Really well written by Lee and Soontornvat. I can see the collaboration that went into the historical aspects and how to present it to an audience of young adults. My son, 8, could probably handle the content but I think he'd get more from it in a couple years. So, I plan to wait but absolutely share it with him and talk about it.

[Amruta Bhave · Rating 4 out of 5]

I pre-read this book because my 10 year old wanted to read it. I liked it, however, I think she needs to wait a couple of years to read it so she can really understand the book, but read it she must! As must other american teenagers. It is a very necessary history lesson for them!

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really did learn a lot Asian American History that I didn’t know before. I would have loved for the authors to have a chapter about affirmative action specifically related to college admissions because I’ll bet the target audience for this book is at the age where they’re thinking about applying to college and would benefit from learning about the nuances of this specific issues and how it seems to pit Asian Americans against other people of colour.

Also some of the more unsavoury details about cases are glossed over in a way that I didn’t think was necessary.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the introduction, the authors explain that Asian Americans make up 7 percent of the US population, and they list 21 specific communities of origin, plus "other Asian," showing in a chart that 6 cultures; Chinese, Indian, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese make up 83% of the Asian American identities. (p.xv-xvi)

Given that the Asian population of the United States is approximately 23 million people with such diversity, AND attempting to cover over 500 years of North American history, it's no wonder this book feels dense and at the same time shallow. (If I've counted correctly, they provide summaries of the histories of 12 groups of the 21 listed within their over-arching history.)

The title and cover art together imply that the book will focus on the accomplishments of Asian Americans in a land that embraces their identities, capacities, and successes. That's not what this is; it is an examination of the obstacles, challenges, and setbacks faced by one Asian identity group after another, revolving entirely around the capitalist exploitation by white people within colonialism and beyond it, and the accompanying racism by whites and others from 1492 up until today.

In short; this book covers the real history behind the establishment, growth, and success of the United States - a nation whose history books declare pride in being a nation of immigrants, while its politicians, lawmakers, and often a majority of its citizens repeatedly agree to undermine immigrants' basic civil rights. It focuses on each wave of Asian immigrants, and in sidebars or in the main text it also mentions people from other areas and intersectional issues.

They show the clear connection between hateful speech and violent acts. For example; the statements by politicians and in the press about Japanese people during World War 2, that led to street mobs attacking Asian people thought to be Japanese, that led to the decision to incarcerate all Japanese people and strip them of their civil rights.

The chapters are roughly in chronological order, with some wiggle room for things that unfold simultaneously or over generations. The upshot of this is that readers will feel how cruel and backward people were, and then feel step by painful step how little forward progress was made before people slipped backward again...and then ultimately, readers are likely to feel some relief in the final chapter, which focuses on a half-dozen specific situations that demonstrate that with courage, perseverance, and unity, progress has been made, and *that* could be the history that will be repeated in the future.

Racism is defined on page 10-11, and then readers are given 4 simple phrases, which are repeated throughout the book, to learn to identify when and how racism is behind an idea;

"Racist justifications can look like this:
1. Those people are inferior to us.
2. Those people are dangerous.
3. There are too many of them.
4. This is for their own good.
...Whenever we see or hear language like this, it should set off big alarm bells. Because too often, these words are followed by acts of cruelty, injustice, and violence." (additional descriptions follow each of those bullet points)

In addition, the authors use the phrase "Takers Keepers" (a variation on the playground term "finders keepers" used to describe how the Portugese and Spanish approached the continent they found when they were aiming for Asia) to describe colonialism, expropriation, or other acts of extreme capitalist exploitation.

This history is important, relevant, and neglected up until now in our education system. The book is organized well enough, and the writing is clear. Occasional photos and sidebars provide a break to the text. The overwhelming message comes through clearly: all of us ordinary people of all identities need to be unified to stop exploitation, oppression, and unfairness.

The writing style grated on my nerves, however, with the overuse of one rhetorical device that quickly became predictable but did not seem to me to hep captivate or focus readers' attention: In each chapter, the authors introduce a young character in an anecdote, reveal the back-story of their ethnic identity's history, loop in related historical events and personages, and then resume the thread of the young character's story. In some cases the young character grows up to be a noteworthy historical figure, in other cases, it's an individual (or perhaps a fictional conglomerate of people) who is typical but whose ongoing story is unknown.

Maybe it was a challenge for me because there were SO MANY stories! So many known and unknown individuals; all of them significant as human beings, but not appearing in history books. By the time the rhetorical loop closed, I honestly couldn't remember who we were talking about at the beginning of the chapter! The sidebars full of highly relevant historical context added to my feeling of being unable to track who was who - so I tried putting them aside until the end of the chapter, which then necessitated re-reading parts of the chapter to understand the correlation.

This book *will* overwhelm many readers. That doesn't mean it's not worth tackling, but I think it'd be good for a Book Group, where people can discuss and process it together, instead of struggling alone.

The inclusion of personal stories and odd tidbits of backstory mean that no matter how much you think you know about Asian people in the US, there will be something new here that you weren't aware of.

[Richie Partington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richie’s Picks: MADE IN ASIAN AMERICA: A HISTORY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE by Erika Lee and Christina Soontornvat, HarperCollins/Quill Tree, April 2024, 320p., ISBN: 978-0-06-324293-7

“Lawmakers and media personalities were using racist terms to describe the virus and blame Chinese people for the spread of the disease. The president of the United States at the time even called it ‘the Chinese virus.’ New Jersey high school junior Kyler Zhou was at soccer practice when he was told that he and ‘his people’ had caused the pandemic. All over the country, Asian Americans were experiencing a rise in racist and violent encounters.”

Imagine all the people
Livin' life in peace
– John Lennon (1971)

I was unaware of so many of the figures and significant events that are vividly brought to life in MADE IN ASIAN AMERICA: A HISTORY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. This is my kind of book in so many ways. I’m blown away by the breadth of research and quality of the writing these two notable authors (a Harvard history professor and a 3X Newbery Honoree) have poured into this compilation of the history of Asian-Americans–and Asian hatred–in America. Much of the history is seen from the perspective of impacted young people. From beginning to end, this chronicle is fascinating and readable. And pretty damned heartbreaking a lot of the time.

Did you know that here in San Francisco–a decade before the high Court’s racist “separate-but-equal” ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson–the San Francisco school board argued that they could exclude American kids with Asian heritage from public education? In the face of an adverse court ruling, they hastily erected separate-but-unequal schools for those students.

MADE IN ASIAN AMERICA is a book that is thoroughly accessible to a ten-year-old reader, while being so rich in content that it will readily hold the interest of sophisticated teen readers. As a retired educator, and as a longtime proponent of No Name-Calling Week, I will be rooting hard for this one to win a bunch of awards and find its way into lots of school libraries and classrooms. Whether it’s white, Black, or Asian-American young readers, this is a book that will serve well in enlightening a new generation as to how, throughout American history, prejudice, hate, and greed have combined to the detriment of those who were not white, male, and Christian.

“During his two years as president, he [LBJ] had already signed some of the most significant legislation in US history, including the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which made it illegal to discriminate against someone based on race, color, religion, sex, or nationality. Just two months prior, he had signed the historic Voting Rights Act into law, which outlawed discrimination that had been used to keep African Americans from voting.
Through marching, protesting, petitioning, and putting their own lives on the line, African American civil rights activists had pressed the American public and their president to make changes toward a more just and equal America.
President Johnson and other leaders in the US saw the new immigration act as an extension of the civil rights legislation they had passed. They pointed out that this new immigration law would undo the decades of discriminatory policies that had shut out so many. It would be fair, and it would make good on the promise of America that everyone should be equal. But the president was also quick to assure folks that even though the law was a great thing, nothing major was going to change. He did this because he knew that plenty of people were not going to like it.
The same people who opposed civil rights for African Americans also pushed back against any changes to immigration. They claimed that without race-based immigration barriers, America would be overrun by ‘hordes’ of Africans or Asians, or become a ‘dumping ground’ for migrants from Latin America.
There are too many of them.
Opponents to immigration argued that if the United States opened its doors to more immigrants, the country would become less white. For them, America was a white country, and it should stay that way.
For decades, US immigration law had excluded immigrants based on a person’s race or where they were from. During the 1930s and into World War II, American lawmakers would not even change the rules to allow Jewish refugees into the country to escape extermination by the Nazis. Only a small number were able to enter. And in fact, Nazi Germany’s leader, Adolf Hitler himself, admired the racism of America’s immigration laws. They excluded the ‘foreign body’ of ‘strangers to the blood’ of the ruling (Nordic-German) race, he wrote in an unpublished sequel to Mein Kampf. He commended the US for its actions.
When Hitler is praising your immigration laws, it’s not a great sign.”

And when Donald Trump enthusiastically makes points about Asians and Asian-Americans that recall Hitler’s goals and policies, that would not seem to be a very good sign, either.

Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com

[Roland Conley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagine you’d never heard of a Filipino before, and then you find Made in Asian America: A History for Young People (2024) by Erika Lee and Christina Soontornvat...

Now, this isn’t a joke. When I met my domestic partner in 2018, this was the first time I learned that Filipinos existed despite my great-grandfather having been a POW in the Philippines during World War II. While this might sound unbelievable, it’s the truth, and it’s the result of not being taught almost any Asian American history outside of Chinese American history in school growing up.

Lee and Soontornvat take on the ambitious goal of telling the whole Asian-American story in a semi-chronological fashion from the very beginning until now, unafraid to face the dark parts of American history.

You can’t imagine how excited I was as someone who was a history major for my BA when I saw terms like “othering” being used, especially with how Soontornvat makes these terms sound natural rather than snobbishly academic. Seeing an actual story being told instead of a lengthy list of facts is such an improvement from how I learned history growing up.

So, if this book is so great, why did I rate it 3 stars? (It was really a 3.5 for me, but I can’t do .5 sadly.)

This book just wasn’t for me. I would have liked the vignettes better if they were more fleshed out. The arguments made sometimes felt repetitive, like if you repeat your statement more that will make it more convincing. This wasn’t necessary since I was already convinced. I also felt that the book’s focus spirals deeply into the negative the further that you get in the book. Instead of being “a story of bravery and hope” as advertised, it felt like “the story of race and racism” mentioned in the book summary takes over.

All that aside, I found Lee and Soontornvat’s work readable and extremely important for how it will make people feel seen. With my daughter being half-Filipino, that thought makes my heart feel full.

I would highly recommend this book be added to class reading selections like The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child by Francisco Jiménez, which was read aloud to my class in celebration of Cesar Chavez Day when I was a child. It would make me so happy if the week we had spent on that book would now include some time to also celebrate Filipino contributions, how Larry Itliong sought out Cesar Chavez’ support when grape growers hired Mexican farm workers to break the Delano grape strike, and how Filipinos and Mexican farm workers banded together to further our rights.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins Children’s Books | Quill Tree Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 plus plus
Made in Asian is a rich educational and indispensable American History book that should belong to every house, School, library, and anywhere people still don't understand that knowledge is an empowering weapon.

Each chapter is the perfect length and with the right focus, starting with notions of Columbus and explaining how racist ideologies were enough to justify so many wrong acts.

The book is not just about one country or one region of a country, but Asians as a People who contributed to building America... because before Columbus, about 90 million natives were living in peace with their culture, technology, and traditions...

America became a promise of Freedom, Equality, and Justice. So reading the chapter about American concentration camps... seems almost an unbelievable oxymoron. Right? You need to read this one.

This book is so rich and emotional.

Behind one great and famous "thing" that we know, there are many greater untold and unsung stories. (Even more of the women who had to face not only the racism but the traditional expectations for them).

We learn so much from this book.

Did you know Gaing Yoo arrived in America with his father and was taken away from him for an entire month... But what he suffered didn't break him, and he pursued his dream and became Tyrus Wong, the Disney artist who painted the amazing backgrounds of Bambi influenced by Chinese watercolor techniques.

And in 1868, a young 11-year-old arrives at the port of San Francisco alone (takes later the name Mary) and in January of 1885 Mary wins her case, for her daughter who was born in America. The court rules: that no child can be denied an education. Although the Board created segregated schools, it's still a victory worth remembering.

There are more and more stories and facts from Columbus' time up to the pandemic of 2021.
Includes extensive bibliography and source notes.

What a fantastic book. Don't miss it.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love that this book exists for young people. I grabbed it immediately from the library for my kids, but upon reading the introduction, I decided against using it as my own kids' introduction to Asian American history because it frames us as oppressed more than anything else. It's true, of course, that many Asian Americans throughout history have been subject to a range of racism and hardship, as the perpetual foreigner and model minority. From laws denying us immigration, citizenship, and equal access to schools to incarceration, beatings, and hate crimes. From war, executive orders, and legal barriers to pejoratives and every day exclusion and dangers, hardship is certainly real and important. All of this is so important to learn about. That said, I wish there was more emphasis on the many forms and examples of strength, creativity, power, and solidarity within these communities. Unsung heroes should be named and memorialized. Empowerment and pride should be foundational to this history rather than sprinkled here and there. I bet accounts of such heroes are so unsung that many of their stories are unrecorded and thus remain unknown. Sigh.

It gets better in the last third of the book on this front, but I wish they offered more stories from the homelands and actual immigration life that I know are so full of courage, resilience, and incredible brilliance.

This was too truncated, I think. Too simplistic. More sentences should be packed with meaning and significance. Less political framing and more facts. Give the young people far more information!

I've been meaning to read Lee's original historical text since I pre-ordered it, but it remains in the shelf. I shall finally read it next.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made in Asian America: A History for Young People is a 2024 adaptation of Lee's 2015 book, The Making of Asian America: A History. The book traces the history of Asian people in the United States, beginning with Columbus's error in thinking he had landed in Asia, and ending with stories of the current Asian American experience. The authors have attempted to contextualize the dense and difficult history of Asian people in the United States, sharing the stories of specific individuals at different times. They help readers understand the shameful treatment many Asian Americans have been victims of, while also highlighting many contributions they have made to American society.

At just over three hundred pages, including the back matter, this is a hefty work of nonfiction for young readers. The text is supplemented by photographs, documents, political cartoons, and propaganda from various time periods. Narratives of individual Asian Americans are often accompanied by separate text boxes that lend a greater degree of context. The book begins with an introduction and a clarification about who Asian Americans are. Back matter includes an author's note from each author, acknowledgements, source notes, bibliography, image credits, and an index. Though there may not be many students who read this book cover-to-cover, it will surely be an important resource in many libraries and classrooms where resources about the Asian American experience may not be plentiful.

Highly recommended for grades 5-8.

[SOYAMRG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made in Asian America: A History for Young People, is a 2024 adaptation of Lee's 2015 book, The Making of Asian America: A History. The book traces the history of Asian people in the United States, beginning with Columbus's error in thinking he had landed in Asia, and ending with stories of the current Asian American experience. The authors have attempted to contextualize the dense and difficult history of Asian people in the United States, sharing the stories of specific individuals at different times. They help readers understand the shameful treatment many Asian Americans have been victims of, while also highlighting many contributions they have made to American society.

At just over three hundred pages, including the back matter, this is a hefty work of nonfiction for young readers. The text is supplemented by photographs, documents, political cartoons, and propaganda from various time periods. Narratives of individual Asian Americans are often accompanied by separate text boxes that lend a greater degree of context.

The book begins with an introduction and a clarification about who Asian Americans are. Back matter includes an author's note from each author, acknowledgements, source notes, bibliography, image credits, and an index. Though there may not be many students who read this book cover-to-cover, it will surely be an important resource in many libraries and classrooms where resources about the Asian American experience may not be plentiful.

Highly recommended for grades 5-8.

K.M.
School Librarian

[Karthika · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book covers a lot of ground about the history and the contributions of the Asian Americans. I knew some of the information already ( like the period in and around WW2). However, the beginning of their arrival was also covered in the first chapters. Every chapter focuses on a family or a specific story and expands on that to a generalized theme. I liked the way it was written for the school audience. However, I found the tone to be distracting sometimes. It's true that Asian American history was not a part of the school curriculum for a long period. But that doesn't make the US not unwelcoming of receiving and assimilating people from various nations. There are few countries in the world which would have such a melting pot of cultures and assimilation of different races as in the US. As much as the author tried to focus on how the Asian Americans were badly treated, she should also have mentioned a few points about how the US gave opportunities for growth and rise.
That aside, I found most of the stuff was focused on working class and very few mentions about people who came here for studies/academia/research and faced discrimination ( I know only one example - Yellapragada Subba Rao).
Also, the majority of the focus is on China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam. Very little focus is on India although they contribute to about 22% of the Asian American diaspora ( same as the Chinese contribution of 22%). The stats are from the book.
I enjoyed reading this book. And would definitely recommend it to school kids.

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

“But there would be a long way to go before Asians could partake in America’s promises of freedom, justice, and equality. And anti-Asian racism in the country was about to reach new heights.”
🌏
This is a MG nonfiction book about the history of Asian American history in the United States and the journey it took to get where we are today. This is an adaptation of @prof_erikalee The Making of Asian America (which I now need to read as well). It explores the history of Western conquest and colonialism, as well as migration, immigration, citizens being banned, deported, labeled and incarcerated. Even as recently as NOW Asian Americans are blamed for diseases and incur racism on a daily basis. This title shows ordinary people and the extraordinary acts they did to make America what it is today.
🇺🇸
We say we’re the land of the free, but there should be an asterisk there, right? Because many don’t believe that, even today. This is the book we need in every library and classroom. You can tell both authors put their whole hearts into the research and writing of this title. The author’s notes at the back blew me away because @csoontornvat writes that she never got to read a title like this in school. As a middle school librarian I work really hard to make sure all voices are represented—publishing needs to work hard at that too. I’m thrilled Made in Asian America will release on April 30!

CW: racism, microaggressions, racist acts, racist slurs, war, colonialism

[Brooke - TheBrookeList · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christina Soontornvat is a favorite author of mine, so I started this book hopeful that she'd make me proud again. She certainly does. Made in Asian America is an entry-level, but engaging narrative for young folks that explores Asian American history. It is a history most of us don't know a great deal about and a history that helps put in perspective many other wider-ranging aspects of American History. It's a more superficial level view than some might hope for, but is a good balance that keeps you from getting bogged down in the weeds of history. Asians have been in America for a long time. Their efforts have been shaping our country and their rights have been very often neglected. They are good, they are brave, they are imperfect, and they are American. We are blessed to have their impact in our communities (I think of my husbands many Cambodian friends, our good Vietnamese neighbors, and our children's hard-working Korean teachers). I appreciate that the authors make the history about individuals - specific faces or voices in larger movements, past and modern. Length is just about right to supplement a school course and engaging enough for readers, despite the fact it is very much a history book.

Read as a nomination in the nonfiction book award category as a panelist for Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (Cybils Awards).

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

While this book is technically for tweens I think, I loved it. I’m so glad my library had it on display.
I realized how little I knew about Asian American history. I was constantly turning to my partner going ‘did you know…?!’

I truly think all kids should read this, and probably all adults too. It’s based on an adult book, but I am going to guess I wouldn’t have made it through that.

The only small mark down I’m giving it is that it sort of glossed over racism between marginalized groups. It talked about it but kind of excused it as ‘they were taught to hate the next group of people coming who were being exploited rather than the rich business owners’. But glossed over that was ALSO happening with white immigrants.

Essentially, any time a new group of immigrants shows up and works in harsh conditions for low pay, the previously exploited group will resent them. Tale as old as time and very sad. Understandable and horrible each time it happens, regardless of race.

This is not to say white immigrants had it ‘just as bad’. Not at all. Just that every exploited population should look to the people doing the exploiting and not the next group of people being exploited as ‘the enemy’.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much Asian American history that I don't know, and this new book is a great way to learn about topics that have been previously ignored in US history textbooks. Going from the days of Columbus' bad navigational skills up to the present, this covers history in an interesting way, by telling the stories of individuals affected by history right along with the history. It's one thing to read about the fact that Chinese Americans weren't allowed to go to public school in 1885; it's quite another to have the face of one little girl, Mamie Tape. The history is well laid out, there are lots of intriguing pictures, and the systemic racism of US culture is shown against dozens of historic examples. To synopsize this would be like writing a synopsis of a history textbook, so I'll just say this: buy a copy for your library, because it fills in a lot of gaps that those history textbooks don't address. We need more books like this to go along with Yang's Yes We Will: Asian Americans Who Shaped This Country and Goldstone's Days of Infamy: How a Century of Bigotry Led to Japanese American Internment.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Lee’s Making of Asian America almost 6 years ago. When I saw this new book with some material updated since Covid, I knew it would be worth reading. I was right. Once again Lee, this time with Soontornvat as a coauthor, produced an engaging history. The book divides chapters into snapshots, and this is where it shines in making the stories personal and relatable. Unlike the original, the focus is on people and movements rather than a comprehensive chronological history (though it does give plenty of context needed to get a full picture). It makes the people and time periods personal. I like how people we learn about earlier are referenced in later parts as a reminder that it all interconnects. It is empowering to understand the connections and moments that made Asian Americans who we are today, and the contexts we need to be aware of to continue molding the future into the world we know it can be. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about Asian America, especially youth.

[Emily Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Lee’s Making of Asian America almost 6 years ago. When I saw this new book with some material updated since Covid, I knew it would be worth reading. I was right. Once again Lee, this time with Soontornvat as a coauthor, produced an engaging history. The book divides chapters into snapshots, and this is where it shines in making the stories personal and relatable. Unlike the original, the focus is on people and movements rather than a comprehensive chronological history (though it does give plenty of context needed to get a full picture). It makes the people and time periods personal. I like how people we learn about earlier are referenced in later parts as a reminder that it all interconnects. It is empowering to understand the connections and moments that made Asian Americans who we are today, and the contexts we need to be aware of to continue molding the future into the world we know it can be. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about Asian America, especially youth.

[Josephine Sorrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a young reader’s adaptation of Lee’s The Making of Asian America.
Historian Lee and Newbery honoree Soontornvat, open the book with recent events, citing examples of everyday anti-Asian racism experienced by contemporary teens, the escalation of hate crimes during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the absence of Asian American history in school classrooms.
The text then moves back to the 13th-century Western fascination with the “Orient” and the unfolding of antiquated attitudes. The book goes on to detail the model minority myth and evolving perceptions of Asian women.

This is a highly readable work of nonfiction that is sure to raise consciousness of U.S. history told from a fresh perspective.

This is a story of bravery and hope. It is the story of heroes who fought for equality in the courts, on the streets, and in the schools, and who continue to fight.
Here is an important and stirring account of ordinary people and their extraordinary acts.

[Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an informative read and heartbreaking. I have learned a little bit here and there about the difficulties faced by Asian Americans (such as the Japanese internment); however, I have never read a book that gave such a detailed overview of how Asians from several backgrounds have faced oppositions in the US for citizenship, housing, work, marriage, etc. It's horrible to see how poorly white Americans treated Asian Americans for decades and decades.

The book is chronological, but it also focuses on Asians from specific countries of origin: China, Japan, South Korea, Philippines and more.

There are 23 chapters put into the following sections:

Intro/Overview/First Asians in the Americas

Here are the chapter titles for this first section: 1. Columbus's Mistake, 2 Following the Routes of Empire: Asians in "New Spain," 3. Broken Promised: Afong Moy and the Struggles of Asian Labourers.

Section II. What's in a Name (Chs. 4 and 5)
Wrong, Angel Island, and Chinese Exclusion (Chs. 6 - 10)
America's Concentration Camps (Chs. 11 - 13)
From Picture Brides to Punk Rockers: Asian American Women Make History (Chs. 14-15)
Asian American Food (but really about a lot more than that) (Chs. 16-23).

This is a great book for middle grade social science teachers to assign to students, but I learned a great deal by reading it. This is an adaptation of a book for general readers, but I did not feel patronized in reading this book for young readers. I would encourage readers 9 years old and up to pick up a copy.

[Alexa Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a huge amount about the history of Asian Americans--stories about people from Korea and China and the Philippines, Hmong and Sikh Americans. Some of it was really amazing, about all the people who fought for their rights, who found ways to live in a country that didn't always want them. Some of it was really hard to read but not surprising. America is not always good to people who aren't "white enough" or aren't white when they first come here or aren't white at all (though many used to be classified as white). The last chapters are heartening, about laws to teach Asian American history in schools in NJ and kids standing up to ask for it. This is really well written by a teacher and a children's book author who had a stake in the project. Highly recommend if you like history...or maybe even if you don't!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book covers big names and events, as well as lesser known moments of justice and bravery in speaking up for Asian America. It is so amazing to me that thanks to books like these, young readers can learn about people and historical moments that I hadn't even heard about until I was an adult!

Throughout the book, they explain the power of language and words, especially when used by leaders, and unpack the dangers of the model minority myth while also highlighting the barriers other communities have faced in a way that feels accessible. I also appreciate that they include stories of kids who are changemakers, so that younger readers can see that they, too, are a part of shaping Asian America.

[Caylie Ratzlaff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this nonfiction text. 4.5/5 stars.

This is a really good primer on Asian American history, and it does it job well for being adapted for young people. I have not read the original one, so I cannot compare them; however, I do think this is perfectly adapted even for middle schoolers. It reads very easily and it's engaging with a combination of informal and formal language.

I also didn't know some of the stuff mentioned in it, so I was excited that I also learned new information from it. I also loved how it mentioned important events that came before others, such as Mary Tape.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The subtitle of this book is A History for Young People, but they cannot be too young, for there is A LOT of information packed into almost 300 pages. This would be a good resource for high schoolers.

Most interesting! I learned more in-depth information about the Chinese Exclusion Act, the Japanese camps (just after the bombing of Pearl Harbor), immigration quotas and who was allowed to become a citizen, and when, but I was most intrigued by the people, and their stories. Their personal histories gave this text its richness - very meaningful.

[Moki-Mori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erika Lee’s Made in Asian America is amazing. I'm not one to typically read modern non-fiction; usually, I'm diving into ancient myths and theology, but I am so glad that I picked this book up.

This book covers the many struggles, horrors, hurts, and atrocities that Asain Americans have suffered throughout American history. But it's not put in a boring, dry text, going over plain facts. It's presented through the eyes of real figures in Asian American history, showing us what happened from their perspective and helping them tell us their story.

The writing empowers the people as they tell us their story, showing us exactly what they went through with historic sources, photographs, and a touch of storytelling that Erika blended beautifully.

There was so much in this book that I had known on a surface level, and I now know so much more because this book inspired me to read and research more about Asian American history and current events.

This book isn't my usual taste, but I am so glad I read it because it was eye-opening, thought-provoking, and wonderfully written.