Erica goes over a nice mix of new YA books by AAPI authors, while Kelly has a great convo with Erin Entrada Kelly and Kwame Mbalia, authors of the new rom-com On Again, Awkward Again.

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Books Discussed:

Eliza, from Scratch by Sophia Lee

Fitting Indian by Jyoti Chand, illustrated by Tara Anand

Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier

When Devils Sing by Xan Kaur

The Summer I Remembered Everything by Catherine Con Morse

On Again, Awkward Again by Erin Entrada Kelly, Kwame Mbalia

A Universe of Wishes edited by Dhonielle Clayton

Black Boy Joy edited by Kwame Mbalia

The White Guy Dies First edited by Terry J. Benton-Walker

The Black Girl Survives in This One edited by Desiree S. Evans and Saraciea J. Fennell

Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley

Then Again, Maybe I Won't by Judy Blume

The Fell of Dark by Caleb Roehrig

Darius The Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero

You Should See Me In a Crown by Leah Johnson

Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead

Shine by Candy Gourlay

Hurricane Child by Kacen Callender

Hello Universe and Lalani of the Distant Sea by Erin Entrada Kelly

Kaya Morgan's Crowning Achievement by Jill Tew

Moko Magic: Carnival Chaos by Tracey Baptiste

Kwame Mbalia's Freedom Fire imprint (more info)

You can follow both Erin Entrada Kelly and Kwame Mbalia on Bluesky.

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