APAAL - Chapter and Middle Grade

Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature:Chapter and Middle Grade Books

2020 APAAL Award for Children's Literature Stargazing written by Jen Wang (J GRAPHIC WANG) "Moon is everything Christine isn't. She's confident, impulsive, artistic . . . and though they both grew up in the same Chinese-American suburb, Moon is somehow unlike anyone Christine has ever known. When Moon's family moves in next door to Christine's, Moon goes from unlikely friend to best friend--maybe even the perfect friend. The girls share their favorite music videos, paint their toenails when Christine's strict parents aren't around, and make plans to enter the school talent show together. Moon even tells Christine her deepest secret: that she sometimes has visions of celestial beings who speak to her from the stars. Who reassure her that earth isn't where she really belongs. But when they're least expecting it, catastrophe strikes. After relying on Moon for everything, can Christine find it in herself to be the friend Moon needs?" Click here to place a hold on this book at the Richland Public Library. Click here to check out the e-book from Overdrive/Libby.

2021 APAAL Award for Children's Literature When You Trap a Tiger written by Tae Keller (J KELLER)"Would you make a deal with a magical tiger? This uplifting story brings Korean folklore to life as a girl goes on a quest to unlock the power of stories and save her grandmother." "When Lily and her family move in with her sick grandmother, a magical tiger straight out of her halmoni’s Korean folktales arrives, prompting Lily to unravel a secret family history. Long, long ago, Halmoni stole something from the tigers. Now they want it back. And when one of the tigers approaches Lily with a deal–return what her grandmother stole in exchange for Halmoni’s health–Lily is tempted to agree. But deals with tigers are never what they seem! With the help of her sister and her new friend Ricky, Lily must find her voice…and the courage to face a tiger." Winner of the 2021 Newbery Medal and the Boston Globe Horn Book Honor Award for Fiction and Poetry. Click here to place a hold on this book at the Richland Public Library, and here to place a hold on a large-print version. Click here to place a hold on this e-book from Overdrive/Libby. Click here to place a hold on this audiobook from Overdrive/Libby.

2017 APAAL Award for Children's Literature The Land of Forgotten Girls written by Erin Entrada Kelly (J KELLY) “Two sisters from the Philippines, abandoned by their father and living in impoverished circumstances in Louisiana, fight to make their lives better. Acclaimed and award-winning author Erin Entrada Kelly writes masterfully about the challenges of finding hope in impossible circumstances, in this novel that will appeal to fans of Cynthia Kadohata and Thanhha Lai.” "A charming and affecting novel about sisterhood, the magic of imagination, and perseverance." Click here to place a hold on this book at the Richland Public Library. Click here to check out this e-book from Overdrive/Libby. Click here to check out this audiobook from Overdrive/Libby. Click here to check out this e-book from Hoopla Digital. Click here to check out this audiobook from Hoopla Digital.

2019 APAAL Honor Award for Children's Literature The House That Lou Built written by Mae Respicio (J RESPICIO) “A coming-of-age story that explores culture and family, forgiveness and friendship, and what makes a true home.” “Lou Bulosan-Nelson has the ultimate summer DIY project. She's going to build her own ‘tiny house,’ 100 square feet all her own. She shares a room with her mom in her grandmother's house, and longs for a place where she can escape her crazy but lovable extended Filipino family. Lou enjoys her woodshop class and creating projects, and she plans to build the house on land she inherited from her dad, who died before she was born. But then she finds out that the land may not be hers for much longer. Lou discovers it's not easy to save her land, or to build a house. But she won't give up; with the help of friends and relatives, her dream begins to take shape, and she learns the deeper meaning of home and family.” An NPR Best Book of the Year and a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year. Click here to place a hold on this book at the Richland Public Library. Click here to check out this audiobook from Hoopla Digital.

2021 APAAL Honor Award for Children's Literature Prairie Lotus written by Linda Sue Park (J PARK) "Prairie Lotus is a powerful, touching, multilayered book about a girl determined to fit in and realize her dreams: getting an education, becoming a dressmaker in her father’s shop, and making at least one friend. Acclaimed, award-winning author Linda Sue Park has placed a young half-Asian girl, Hanna, in a small town in America’s heartland, in 1880. Hanna’s adjustment to her new surroundings, which primarily means negotiating the townspeople’s almost unanimous prejudice against Asians, is at the heart of the story. Narrated by Hanna, the novel has poignant moments yet sparkles with humor, introducing a captivating heroine whose wry, observant voice will resonate with readers." Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Historical Fiction for 2020 NPR's Best Books of 2020 New York Public Library's Best Books for Kids 2020 Click here to place a hold on this book at the Richland Public Library. Click here to check out this e-book from Overdrive/Libby. Click here to check out this audiobook from Overdrive/Libby.

2020 APAAL Honor Award for Children's Literature I'm Ok written by Patti Kim (J KIM) "Ok Lee knows it’s his responsibility to help pay the bills. With his father gone and his mother working three jobs and still barely making ends meet, there’s really no other choice. If only he could win the cash prize at the school talent contest! But he can’t sing or dance, and has no magic up his sleeves, so he tries the next best thing: a hair braiding business." New York Public Library Best Books for Kids Click here to place a hold on this book at the Richland Public Library.

2016 APAAL Honor Award for Children's Literature Blackbird Fly written by Erin Entrada Kelly, illustrated by Betsy Peterschmidt (J KELLY) "Bullied at school, eighth-grader Apple, a Filipino American who loves the music of the Beatles, decides to change her life by learning how to play the guitar." Click here to place a hold on this book at the Richland Public Library. Click here to check out this e-book from Overdrive/Libby.

2016 APAAL Award for Children's Literature Full Cicada Moon written by Marilyn Hilton (J HILTON) "It’s 1969, and the Apollo 11 mission is getting ready to go to the moon. But for half-black, half-Japanese Mimi, moving to a predominantly white Vermont town is enough to make her feel alien. Suddenly, Mimi’s appearance is all anyone notices. She struggles to fit in with her classmates, even as she fights for her right to stand out by entering science competitions and joining Shop Class instead of Home Ec. And even though teachers and neighbors balk at her mixed-race family and her refusals to conform, Mimi’s dreams of becoming an astronaut never fade—no matter how many times she’s told no. This historical middle-grade novel is told in poems from Mimi’s perspective over the course of one year in her new town, and shows readers that positive change can start with just one person speaking up." A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2015. Click here to place a hold on this book at the Richland Public Library. Click here to check out this audiobook on Hoopla Digital.

Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature The Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature (APAAL Awards) honor and recognize individual work about Asian/Pacific Americans and their heritage, based on literary and artistic merit. All works considered for these awards are related to Asian/Pacific American experiences (either historical or contemporary) or Asian/Pacific American cultures. The five award categories are Adult Fiction/Graphic Novels, Adult Nonfiction, Youth Literature, Children's Literature, and Picture Books. An award winner and an honor book are announced for each category during the annual Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) award ceremony. This interactive graphic presents several of the award-winning chapter and middle grade books that we have in our collection. For more information about the award, and for lists of the winners and honor books in each category, please click here.