East and South East Asian Heritage Month takes place every September, and this year we’re sharing some of our top picks from East and South East Asian authors.
The Sacred Willow by Duong Van Mai Elliott
The Sacred Willow traces four generations of a Vietnamese family, from French colonial rule through war, division, and diaspora. It’s a powerful story of resilience, identity, and the impact of history on everyday lives.
About Duong Van Mai Elliott
Born in Vietnam and educated in the US, she worked at RAND during the war and later turned her own family’s story into a powerful story. Her work focuses personal memory and national history.
A Dutiful Boy by Mohsin Zaidi
Winner of the LAMDA Literary Award for best Gay Memoir, A Dutiful boy is a memoir of Mohsin’s experience growing up in a devout Muslim household while managing his sexuality, including denial, acceptance and belonging.
About Angela Hui
Mohsin is a qualified lawyer having previously worked as a Criminal Barrister in the UK. An advocate for LGBTQ rights, racial justice and social mobility, Mohsin sat on the board of Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ rights charity Stonewall and before that was on the board of London Pride.
Takeaway by Angela Hui
Growing up in a Chinese takeaway in rural Wales, Angela Hui was made aware at a very young age of just how different she and her family were seen by her local community. Takeaway follows Angela’s journey of culture, confrontation and belonging.
About Angela Hui
Born in rural Wales, Angela grew up balancing life behind the counter with the challenges of identity, belonging, and resilience. Now a celebrated food writer, she has turned lived experience into powerful storytelling.
Burning My Roti by Sharan Dhaliwal
With chapters covering sexual and cultural identity, body hair, colourism and mental health, and a particular focus on the suffocating beauty standards South Asian women are expected to adhere to, Sharan Dhaliwal speaks openly about her journey towards loving herself, offering advice, support and comfort to people that are encountering the same issues.
About Sharan Dhaliwal
As the Director of Middlesex Pride and leader of South Asian culture magazine Burnt Roti, Sharan focuses on increasing the representation of youth, particularly South asian and queer women.
Stolen History: The truth about the British Empire and how it shaped us by Sathnam Sanghera
Stolen History opens the door for children 9+ to learn about the history of the British Empire from an accessible level, exploring how Britain’s empire once made it the most powerful nation on earth, and how it still affects lives in many ways today.
About Sathnam Sanghera
Sathnam is a journalist, author, and Fellow of the Royal society of Literature, writing for The Times and creating a documentary with Channel 4 about race that received high praise.
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