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Book cover of When Everything Was Everything by Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay

When Everything Was Everything by Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay

Vongsay makes her children’s book debut with this beautiful and tender depiction of the Lao diaspora. Based on the award-winning poem of the same name, When Everything Was Everything takes readers through Vongsay’s childhood experiences, from getting bowl haircuts and picking cucumbers to moving from one public housing address to the next. While the underrepresentation of Lao Americans in popular and historical narratives remains a persistent problem, books like When Everything Was Everything not only help pave the way for Lao American storytellers, but expand the refugee storytelling genre overall.

Hawker Fare: Stories & Recipes From a Refugee Chef's Isan Thai & Lao Roots by James Syhabout with John Birdsall

Syhabout, the first Lao chef to be awarded a Michelin star, teams up with James Beard Award-winning food writer John Birdsall for his cookbook debut. Published by Anthony Bourdain’s book imprint, Hawker Fare goes above and beyond our expectations of a traditional cookbook. Before diving into the recipes, Syhabout discusses his experiences growing up in a refugee family, his journey to chef stardom, cultural identity, and our outdated notions of authenticity. He also delves into the close relationship between Lao food and culture. Learn how to cook a wide range of dishes from fried red peanuts and Lao sausages to rice vermicelli and pork blood in chicken coconut curry broth. In a food world dominated by white men, Syhabout is a refreshing change of pace.

Excerpt from The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui

The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui

Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster. As Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Viet Thanh Nguyen put it, this graphic memoir is “a book to break your heart and heal it.” Bui recounts her family’s journey from war-torn Vietnam to the United States and the profound effects that displacement had on her family. Writing as both a parent and child, she explores themes of sacrifice, intergenerational trauma and unspoken gestures of love. The illustration and writing is poignant, haunting, and tender all at the same time. Readers connected to the Southeast Asian diaspora will likely recognize their own family’s painfully similar story within these pages, but ultimately leave with a sense of validation and appreciation for their own family’s journey.

Cover of Planting SEADs: Southeast Asian Diaspora Stories

Planting SEADs: Southeast Asian Diaspora Stories by Chanida Phaengdara Potter, mk nguyen, Narate Keys and Pheng Thao

Planting SEADS is an empowering celebration of the Southeast Asian diaspora community’s roots and a testament to its resilience. A collaboration between The SEAD Project, ManForward, mk nguyen, and Narate Keys, the publication is Minnesota’s first Southeast Asian-authored anthology of stories, poetry and artwork. The goal of the project is to reclaim, honor and amplify the lived experiences of Hmong, Khmer, Lao and Vietnamese veterans, activists, scholars, and community members. As Southeast Asian readers follow along the storytellers as they look back on their memories and experiences, they will undoubtedly make parallels to their own family’s journey. It is a great read for Southeast Asians of all ages, as well as for those outside of the Southeast Asian community who would like to gain insight beyond what they learned in a Eurocentric classroom setting.

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Poster for Don't Think I've Forgotten: Cambodia's Lost Rock and Roll

Don't Think I've Forgotten: Cambodia's Lost Rock and Roll

Directed by John Pirozzi, this documentary follows the fascinating development of Cambodian rock and roll music following the country’s independence in 1953 and its near extinction during the war and genocide. The narrative is stitched together by the anecdotes of surviving Cambodian musicians, a rich archive of video footage, and music recordings. Although it’s impossible to talk about the development of Cambodian rock and roll without mention of genocide, the documentary’s main focus is on the music itself, as well as the culture, spirit, and resilience of the Cambodian people during this time.

To All the Boys I've Loved Before

Based on the young adult novel by Jenny Han, the teen romance follows high school junior Lara Jean Covey (played by Lana Condor), who writes letters to boys she feels an intense passion for before stashing them away. In a mortifying turn of events, her secret letters are mailed to their intended recipients by her little sister, Kitty. Lara goes to great lengths to avoid embarrassment and rejection from Josh, the recipient of her most recent letter and her older sister’s ex-boyfriend. In true high school romance fashion, we get a fake relationship, multiple love triangles, and a vengeful Instagram video. Despite the rather convoluted circumstances, the movie is entertaining and relatable in its portrayal of awkward adolescent romance in the age of social media. Just don’t take it too seriously.

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#HOOCHIM

Four Hmong women tackling established systems of oppression in their own lives and via podcast—what’s not to like? In this Hmong culture commentary podcast, Linda Hawj, Mim Xyooj, Sandy Oh, and Paj Huab Hawj gather around to discuss whatever comes to mind, including current events, pop culture, politics, their lives and experiences, and things pertaining to the Hmong community. Whether you’re looking for comrades to tear into the patriarchy, gush about pop culture, or make jabs at Hmong culture with, these ladies got you covered.

CALLING JUSTICE

The recently launched podcast by award-winning filmmaker, director, writer, and entrepreneur Sahra V. Nguyen explores a wide range of social justice issues through the perspective of Asian American changemakers. So far, Nguyen has touched on disparities within the Southeast Asian American community and the implications of the Trump administration’s recent attempts to deport Southeast Asian Americans. The podcast works to inform as much as it does to inspire and call people to action. Through conversations with Asian American activists, organizers, and movement builders, listeners are encouraged to support and engage with their own communities.

SAIGON SUPERSOUND, VOL. 2

For those whose only experience with Vietnamese music is through cheesy Paris by Night recordings and worn out cải lương VHS tapes, it may come as a surprise that there’s more to it than awful techno beats, tacky, over-the-top outfits, and poorly choreographed dance routines. No disrespect—they are absolutely essential to the culture, but when it’s all one knows about homeland music, it leaves a rather flat perspective.

Saigon Supersound Vol. 2 uncovers a wealth of Vietnamese music history that not many young Vietnamese Americans are aware of, from the development of Red Music and Yellow Music following the country’s division in 1954 to the introduction of rock and roll, funk and soul brought over by American troops in 1965. Music nerds will rejoice as they dissect the multi-genre influences of the tracks, from traditional Vietnamese folk music and Spanish bolero to French pop and American funk and soul.

The collection is a true testament to the creativity and resourcefulness of Vietnamese musicians, even in the face of war. It is also particularly meaningful because it helps fill a vital gap in our understanding of Vietnamese culture and reveals a history we can be proud of.

Give it a listen—you just might enjoy it as much as the OGs.