Current box office receipts prove that there is significant interest in romantic comedies featuring an all Asian cast. Crazy Rich Asians has been drawing record-breaking crowds. Interestingly, the movie is based on Kevin Kwan's book with the same title. Jenny Han's YA classic To All the Boys I've Loved Before has been adapted for the screen and is available on Netflix. 

But let's not stop with these fantastic films developed from contemporary fiction. There could be more. Look at these three romantic YA novels written by Asian American authors. Each, in my humble opinion, would translate well to the screen. Can you picture some of your favorite actors assuming roles in these stories? I can. If I were a movie producer looking for a follow-up hit movie, I would consider these 2018 YA books.

​Pub date: May 8 2018       Publisher: ​Farrar, Straus and Giroux    ISBN: 978-0374304089

​Pub date: May 22, 2018       Publisher: ​Simon Pulse    ISBN: 978-1481495400

Romantic comedy films featuring Asian Americans are winners at the box office and in the hearts of viewers. 

Delacre ingeniously incorporates references to books with each illustration. Images throughout the pages contain direct references to the written word including posted signs, copies of newspapers, and naturally,  books. Two images stand out. First, Sonia sails in a paper boat, constructed from a printed page and her library card. "books were little boats that helped me escape sadness at home." Second, wearing her black robe, Justice Sotomayer ascends the steps to the Supreme Court Building. The steps are created from pages of legal documents. "Justice means treating people fairly under the law. It's also the name of what I am now - Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States."

End papers feature a collage of personal photographs. A timeline following the narration neatly encapsulates the life of this significant figure in United Stars history.

In addition to excelling academically and advancing in Girl Scouts, Sylvia enjoyed basketball. Eventually she reached a point during her college years when she had to make a choice: continue competing on the court or focus her attention on preparing for a career in engineering. She chose engineering. This was a groundbreaking career choice, as engineering was not considered an option for women.

Sylvia pioneered the work of women in the sphere of science and math. Her achievements resulted in advances in the study of rocket science at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Equally important is the encouragement that her story provides for young girls, particularly for those from under-represented ethnicities and cultures. Her story can be the story for aspiring scientists everywhere.
​
Introduce middle grade to students to the remarkable Sylvia Acevedo: a girl who had a plan, worked hard and never gave up on her dream. This inspiring memoir belongs in all libraries, classrooms, and organizations which serve young people.

There is another hero in this story: Sylvia's amazing mother. She was a woman determined to make life better for her children. Before Sylvia was old enough to attend school, her mother arranged for Sylvia and her brother to learn to read and write English. She also enrolled Sylvia in what was considered at the time to be a questionable program: Head Start. She helped Sylvia obtain a library card, open a savings account, and supported her participation in Girl Scouts. Mami learned to drive a car and made the decision to relocate her family to a neighborhood with more favorable schools. What remarkable women! Both Mami and Sylvia have my admiration and respect.

Bonus 

​

​Pub date: September 4,  2018       Publisher: Clarion Books    ISBN: 978-1328809568

Brynn has precious little to live for. To hope for. One of her lifelines is Mr. Grimm, her Applied Language Arts teacher. He assigns students to write a letter to a celebrity. Brynn opts to correspond with Rachel Maddow because she “pisses off my mom.” Much of the book consists of draft emails she composes and addresses to Maddow. Only once does she actually press the send button.

She grudgingly develops tenuous friendships with her new classmates and eventually, with their encouragement, takes on an inequity she uncovers in school government. She learns firsthand the nastiness of politics when she challenges a clique of Honors students, demanding equal representation for all members of the student body. Led by power-hungry Adam, the Honors group exerts considerable influence and resorts to a vicious smear campaign to sway popular opinion. Brynn is crushed.

There are a few glimmers of hope for Brynn. When she can no longer live at home, friends offer her a place to stay and a part time job. ​She gains the courage to walk away from toxic relationships and begins to believe in herself and in a possible future. She meets someone special who returns her affection.

I fell in love with Brynn from the very first page. Her brittle exterior and biting snark shield her bruised and battered inner self. She is smart, resourceful, and perceptive. She is a fighter. Even when the odds are impossibly stacked against her, she soldiers on. I ached for her, I cheered for her, I so wanted her to succeed.
​Thanks Adrienne Kisner for introducing me to Brynn Harper. Signed, Your fan always.

After a long string of failures, Izzy is determined to try and help her friend fly again. Her willingness to try, fail, and try, try again offers reassurance to creative thinkers and problem-solvers everywhere. There’s a lesson here: desire, determination, creativity, and learning from mistakes is the formula for solving problems.

Meet more inquisitive, inventive, and determined young problem solvers.

This is a heroic tale. Aru learns that she is the spirit daughter of Indra, king of the heavens, god of thunder and lightning. Together with her newly discovered spirit-related sister Mini, she must defeat the Sleeper. If she fails to succeed, the Sleeper will reach the Lord of Destruction and time will end. The two sisters take upon themselves the monumental tasks of locating celestial weapons and thwarting the Sleeper's plans. Yes, there is plenty of action, adventure, and magic. But it’s basically a story of a girl who understands that she makes mistakes and that she is not perfect. Nonetheless, deep inside her are the qualities of a hero. Make that heroine.

To all those Rick Riodan fans who know every single character in the Percy Jackson series and can answer a bazillion Olympians trivia questions, meet a new heroine. Her name is Aru Shah and she has more exciting adventures in the heavens and earth than you could possibly dream. (Paraphrasing Shakespeare) Bonus: Aru has another book coming soon. Look for Aru Shah and the Song of Death.

Take a look at  three picture books. Each is a little gem filled with creative storytelling, endearing characters, and inventive design. Deborah Marcero is the author of two and the illustrator for all three. And here’s the amazing thing: all have been published within the past eighteen months. That's one prolific artist! Let’s take a peek inside these enticing covers.

From day one, Impy is constantly aware that middle school has transported her into an entirely new enviornment. Unlike the familiarity of the festival community, the halls of middle school are fraught with terrors at every turn. She must navigate the complex maze of classrooms, negotiate seating in the cafeteria, and meet the demands of a regimented assignment schedule. She is immediately the subject of curiosity. Some express honest interest while others resort to ridicule. For Imply trying to fit in, trying to discover who she is, trying to keep up with the demands of teachers becomes very...well, trying.
She makes two fatale mistakes: one with her younger brother and one with a classmate. From her perspective, it appears that each one is impossible to completely recover from.
This book is honest, so painfully honest. No one is perfect: not Imogene, not the kids at school, not her family. They all make mistakes and struggle to learn, live, and forgive. The characters are spot on and Jamieson imbues each with a distinctive personality.
It is impossible for me to express how much I adore this book. Both the images and text work together to create storytelling magic. Copies of the book should be given as a gift to every youngster about to enter middle school. Not only will tweens learn about the Middle Ages and life in middle school, but they will also gain important insights into self acceptance.

I have always been fascinated by illuminated manuscripts and was delighted to note that Jamieson chooses to begin each chapter with an introduction featuring some gorgeous illumination.  Why not encourage young readers to try this intricate art?  Instead of illuminating an entire page, why not try illuminating a letter? Here is my attempt to illuminate the first letter of my last name. It's not nearly as intricate and the gold pigment ink is missing. But I had fun with a fine point black sharpie and a fistful of colored pencils. 

​Johannes’ early chapter book contains wild adventures, puns, and illustrations with just the right amount of zaniness. Did I mention the Pig Latin? Young readers will not be able to get enough of Miss Zinker, a book chock full of more fun than should be allowed. But go ahead and read it. You too might be an upside down thinker.

If you are acquainted with Beatrice, then you know of her affinity with this dessert. Why not try making these Pineapple Upside Down Mini-Cakes? They are fun and easy and yummy! Here is the recipe from an upright girl who knows the up and down sides of cake: Betty Crocker.