(2) 4-6 Composed of twelve stories written by a dozen different authors, this We Need Diverse Books anthology is organized by apartment number in a New York City building. Each tale is narrated by a young person from one of the building's immigrant families. Ro Chen, in Andrea Wang's entry, attends Chinese school on the weekends and wants to join the lion dancing class, which seems limited to boys only. Yaniel Fernandez, in Adrianna Cuevas's story, learns that his abuela, who works in a school cafeteria, was once a civil engineer in Cuba who designed bridges. Alex Kim, in Oh's tale, secretly leaves Korean food for a cranky neighbor. Through its series of brief slice-of-life vignettes, the collection paints a vivid picture of urban life for the children of immigrant parents. Immigrant experiences are a thread that connects each story, but it is neither a single experience nor the sole focus -- it's something shifting, multifaceted, and multidimensional that coalesces in the closing scene: a building potluck party. While the offerings are interconnected, many individual pieces will stay with readers for a long time. An engaging, thought-provoking collection that can be read from front to back for a more novelistic approach or experienced (and savored) by dipping in and out.

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2025

(2) 4-6 In this collection of linked short stories, a nasty storm strikes Chicago's (fictional) Gateway International Airport, delaying flights and suspending travel plans. Twelve-year-old Paul and his family, who are flying to Thailand to visit family, are stopped by security when his grandfather's remains, which his grandmother is trying to bring aboard the plane, trigger an alarm; then Paul's missing little sister causes subsequent delays. In the midst of the chaos, readers meet eleven other Asian American young people throughout the airport who find themselves in situations where they witness and experience (and also stand up to) racism: Mindy, an adoptee from Korea who doesn't feel ready to visit the country of her biological origin; Ari, who is tired of explaining that she is Jewish and Chinese; Jane, whose Gonggong (grandfather) was attacked for simply being Asian. Oh and the other eleven short-story authors--who include Erin Entrada Kelly, Grace Lin, Linda Sue Park, and Christina Soontornvat--paint a picture of what it means to navigate being Asian American in a post-2020 world, where the burden of being blamed for COVID-19 is thrust on young shoulders. An editor's note defines the term Asian American and explains the rationale for highlighting East and Southeast Asian American experiences.

Reviewer: Gabi K. Huesca | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2023

(2) YA Also edited by Elsie Chapman. Fifteen authors of East and South Asian descent present original short stories inspired by culture-specific tales from their childhoods, followed by information about their source material. The stories achieve emotional depth and connection while showcasing each storyteller's unique literary voice. The co-editors' choice to preserve culturally authentic words and expressions allows fluidity in the storytelling and shows respect to young readers.

Reviewer: Roxanne Hsu Feldman | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2018

(2) 4-6 Edited by Oh, cofounder of We Need Diverse Books, ten stories by (mostly) well-known authors of diverse backgrounds present young protagonists dealing with common themes of growing up--love, family, friendship, dreams, fitting in, etc. Stories by Soman Chainani, Matt de la Peña, Jacqueline Woodson, Kwame Alexander, Meg Medina, Grace Lin, and Walter Dean Myers are included in the unusually strong collection.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2017