#219 – Author Chat w/ Victoria Ying

On this episode, we chat with author and illustrator Victoria Ying about her new YA graphic novel, Hungry Ghost, a coming of age story about a Chinese American girl dealing with adolescence, parental expectation, and eating disorders. We talk with Victoria about her background in animation as well as her semi-autobiographical inspirations behind the story of Hungry Ghost.

Follow Victoria on IG at @victoriaying and check out her new graphic novel, Hungry Ghost, availaible now on the Books & Boba bookshop!

Asian Books Challenge 2023!

It’s Heritage Month once again which means the return of Books & Boba’s Asian Book Challenge, a reading challenge where we celebrate the depth and breath of books by Asian authors! This year we’re focusing our challenge on our favorite tropes and we’re asking you to recommend books (that you’ve read OR have been meaning to read) by Asian and Asian diaspora authors that either contains the trope, subverts it, or plays with it in a clever way!

As always, you can play however you like (fill out the whole grid, play bingo, etc.), just remember to tag us (@booksandboba) and the hashtag (#asianbookchallenge) so we can see all your wonderful picks!

Download the templates below:

Happy APAHM!

#218 – Author Chat w/ Vibhuti Jain

On this episode, debut author Vibhuti Jain joins us to chat about her new novel, Our Best Intentions, a thriller taking place in an affluent New York neighborhood that has been thrown into chaos after a high school was stabbed. In the center is Angie Singh, a gifted teenage swimmer, who’s life with her single father Babur gets uravelled as she delves deeper into the case.

Follow Vibhuti on IG at @vibhutiwrites and check out her debut novel Our Best Intentions, availaible now at the Books & Boba bookshop!

*Support the podcast by supporting our new Patreon*

Books & Boba started a Patreon! Introducing Boba Chats!

Introducing Boba Chats! Books & Boba’s new monthly bonus podcast where Reera and Marvin (and future guests) chat about non-book related things and answer listener questions. This bonus podcast is a perk for “Honey Boba” subscribers of our new Patreon, but we’re making this first episode available for everyone as a treat.

On this inaugural episode of Boba Chat, Reera chats about the new Dungeons & Dragons film while Marvin reflects on his love of the cooking competition show Top Chef. Our hosts also discuss their boba origins.

Learn more about our Patreon by going to patreon.com/booksandboba

*You can also support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop or by buying Books & Boba merch at our Bonfire store*

#217 – April 2023 Book News

On this episode, we check out the latest book and publishing news in Asian American literature for our April 2023 mid-month check-in, including going over some book to film adaptation news!

New books and authors mentioned in our publishing news:

  • Maybe It’s a Sign by E.L. Shen
  • Meet Me on Mercer Street by Booki Vivat
  • Seeker of Truth: Kailash Satyarthi’s Fight to End Child Labor by Srividhya Venkat; illust by Danica da Silva Pereira
  • ASAP by Axie Oh
  • The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen
  • With Twice the Love, Dessie Mei by Justina Chen
  • A Rakhi for Rakesh by Nadia Salomon; illust by Nabi H. Ali
  • The Lotus Flower Champion by Pintip Dunn and Love Dunn
  • A Story of Our Own by Kao Kalia Yang
  • The Rainbow Fair by Diana Ma
  • We Are Warriors by Ellen Lee
  • A Year of Kites by Monisha Bajaj; illust by Amber Ren
  • When a Tiger Flies by Susie
  • Shimcheong by Julia Riew
  • The Wedding Shoe Snatch by Madhu Messenger; illust by Darshika Varma
  • Mountains by Julia Kuo
  • The Pet Placement Society by Primo Gallanosa
  • On Thin Ice by Jessica Kim
  • A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang