A few years ago I set an intention to get back to reading–and at the end of another year, I’m happy to report that I have successfully stuck to that commitment!

And even more recently, I dedicated myself to actively seeking out and spending more time reading books by and about underrepresented identities (in the world of fiction, that essentially means nonwhite identities; you can read why I did this here). And I’m so glad that I did, because every single book on this list is a result of that intention–and I likely would have missed out on these stellar reads if I was doing otherwise.

Part of the joy of reading is of course experiencing a story; but, as a natural storyteller, I’m aware that for me, the other part of the joy lies in sharing my reads with others. And that’s what inspired me to compile this list and present them to you here–with hopes that you all will be inspired to check them out as well~

So in no particular order, here are my best reads from the past 12 months!

Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley (read as audiobook)

So far along in my reading intention (which I’m happy is quickly becoming simply my status quo), I think I can say that this book has been the pinnacle of it. The United States has historically done a grand number at silencing the voices of Indigenous populations in just about all ways, making books like this one all the more important to have in our reading selections.

The narrator here is a witty teenage girl who finds herself emerged in an unthinkable situation, stuck between the so many identities--the Indigineous Ojibwe of her late father’s bloodline and the White from her mother’s side; best friend and murder witness; potential tribal member and FBI informant; as well as community cleanser and loyal sister. Throughout the story Boulley conveys how the narrator gets tugged between each of these sides–sometimes having the luxury of remaining faithful to both, while other times ending up on one side or the other, be it by force or choice. The book also documents hard experiences like death and loss, sexual assault, drugs–but all done with a superb combination of weight and grace that each of them deserve.

I particularly loved how Boulley depicts young people carrying on the Indigenous traditions–because the truth is that society has convinced us that these aspects of Indigenous culture only exist in the past tense. This book also takes you deep into the culture through memories, events and tasteful explanations of tribal history, customs and present-day realities, in a way that is informative without breaking away from the spirit of the plot.

I actually find this book to be so important, that I’ve added it to my ongoing list of ‘Required Reading List for Americans’. (This is a personal list I started back in undergrad–let me know if you want to hear more about what books are on it!) But I couldn’t recommend it enough for everyone, wherever you are in the world.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (read as audiobook)

Let me be truthful: I didn’t want to read this book.

I avoided it for a very long time. Having seen previews of the movie that was based on it, I thought I knew what it was about--a police shooting of an unarmed black person. And the fact of the matter is, I get so much of that narrative in my reality that I had no desire to have it rear itself in my literary consumption as well.

But after seeing it pop up over and over in my digital library, I finally braced myself and dove in.

Let me just say first: even if you’ve already read the text version (or maybe just saw the movie), this is a book that I HIGHLY recommend experiencing through the audio version. This book isn’t just read–it’s performed. The voice actress truly transformed this story from being just black-and-white words on a page, into a vivid documentation of tension and emotion that allows you to experience the work on a deeper level.

On top of that, this story is about much more than an unjust shooting. Angie Thomas’ story doesn’t just follow a Black teenage girl, but also that of a family and a community persevering through a range of circumstances–many of which, unfortunately, are the results of racism and the far-reaching ramifications of it (police harassment/brutality, red-lining, poverty, drug trade, etc.). You get to witness the narrator forced to grow as she navigates both her internal and external world in the aftermath of a tragic event. And it’s particularly sobering when you realize that this storyline isn’t entirely fiction; between police-based shootings and everyday gun violence, children all across the US–and disproportionately black boys and girls–bear the weight of similar realities.

After finishing this book, I was thrilled to discover that Angie Thomas had written another, set as a prequel to this story. Both are excellent reads–but I’d 100% recommend starting with ‘The Hate U Give’ first. 

Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal (read as audiobook)

Yes, you read that title right. 

This is a novel I particularly credit for its novelty--I found the overall story and plot to be fresh and entertaining. This story is a humorous clash of cultures, languages, and ages–but despite all this, there was one topic that where all the cards (and clothes) managed to fall in the same direction: sex. Honestly, the idea of older immigrant aunties writing stories about scandalous encounters and the heat of passion sounded so jarringly good to me that I kept thinking, “How hadn’t I thought of this?!”

Don’t worry, though; this is by no means an entirely raunchy read. This book also tussled with hard topics that many children of immigrants will know all too well, like familial expectations and guilt (as well as reveals the nasty underbelly that is kept hush-hush in all of our communities, like infidelity and near-deadly gossip). And, straddling between her English-ness and Sikh-Punjabi roots, the narrator naturally faces issues when it comes to challenging traditional cultural expectations as she attempts to step into her own self. Also, it was actually rather refreshing to read a story based in England centered on a Brown community! That may sound strange to you–but the reality is that in London, those of Indian and Pakistani ethnic origins make up the largest proportion of city residents after Whites, with the numbers only going up. So what should be more strange is that there isn’t representation of them in literature from the area, no?

I will say, though; there is a crime component of the book that felt sort of like an afterthought to me–I was definitely more intrigued by the main plot device around the widow aunties. But as a writer, I do understand the drive behind inserting it into the story, so I’m not too mad about it. All and all, this book provides for a fresh and spicy read while not being too centered on romance/sex, making it a worthwhile read.

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo (read as audiobook)

This book was one that I actually read by accident. I can get down with just about all genres of prose, but poetry is a form of literature that I generally stay away from. (Something about bad experiences with a 6th grade literature teacher just never allowed me to acquire a taste for it.) But when I checked out the audiobook for ‘The Poet X’, I actually didn’t even suspect it was anything but fluid prose until I was halfway through. But even if you’re like me and aren’t big on poetry, the depth of this story will allow you to at least temporarily overcome your aversion–certainly long enough to enjoy this short and pleasurable read. 

Through the voice of the author herself, the readers follow a high school-aged Afro-Latina teen coming to terms with herself in a number of ways, all of which converge on her budding talent as a slam poet. The story permits us to the passenger’s seat on the protagonist’s thoughts and experiences around self-expression, sexual objectification, body acceptance, love, abuse, and more. As you can tell, the author gets at some really raw themes here. The descriptions aren’t graphic per se; but, in line with the nature of (good) poetry, Acevedo’s words portray very visceral emotions–so be aware if you avoid reading books that talk about certain subjects.

I particularly was touched by how Elizabeth Acevedo let’s the reader see this teenager’s internal and external tug-of-war with religion. I think that many of us who grow up in religious households (especially some of us children of immigrants who hail from cultures that have religion tethered to them in an almost intrinsic manner) weren’t allowed the space to question religion, so it was confirming to see this theme explored in such a raw manner. 

Because I’ve read so many other titles since picking up this one, I actually plan on cycling back to it for another listen at the top of the new year. If you haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing this book, I welcome you to join me in doing so!

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao (read as audiobook)

This was one of the last books that I have read in 2021–and WOW, what a way to end my reading year. This text is sort of a sci-fi fiction that borrows characters from Chinese history and mythology, spinning them together to craft a spunky work of art. There is exactly one word best suited to describe the protagonist, and that is SAVAGE. She isn’t a passive type of character that is thrown around by the plot like a plastic bag in the wind; she is the wind, an inevitable phenomenon that mercilessly drives the plot through both brute force and sheer will. This book really doesn’t pull any punches. And despite being set in a fictional world, it’s informed by real culture; so much of the book’s commentary translates perfectly (and I’d say intentionally) into the world we live in–specifically around the social roles and expectations women are subjected to relative to men. 

One thing I am particularly sensitive to in a novel is predictability–next to being poorly-written, the worst thing in a book for me is when I can see straight through the plot. But Xiran Jay Zhao kept the story fresh and fluid, leaving little room for guessing on the reader’s part. And I was pleasantly surprised by the daring romance component that Zhao sets up between the main characters! This book is one that in so many ways recognizes convention, steps right up to it, and throws it out the window–a great read to serve as a reminder that as we all live our own lives, we have the power to do just the same.

It was hard to choose, but there you have it–my favorite reads from 2021.

Have any reads that you scoff at not seeing on this list? Let me know! I’m more than ready to start reading and compiling contenders for next year’s list.😉

Wishing everyone a safe and joyful entry into the new year–and happy reading!