"Historic contributions and stories of resilience are shared in this dynamic graphic novel. An informative and engaging read!"-Maia and Alex Shibutani, two-time Olympic medalists and authors of Amazing: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Who Inspire Us All

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history is American history. The unique experiences, challenges, and contributions of AANHPIs are an integral part of our country's development, but they are rarely taught in American schools.

For many Americans of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander descent who grew up in the United States, there continues to be a startling lack of opportunity to learn about our own history in our country. Even today, over 70% of Americans have little knowledge about AANHPI history or confuse it with Asian history.

Fighting to Belong! Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders from the 1700s Through the 1800s, written by best-selling writer Amy Chu (Wonder Woman, Deadpool, Ant-Man, Iron Man) and Alexander Chang and illustrated by Louie Chin (Bodega Cat), shares this important and dynamic part of the American experience in an accessible and engaging graphic novel format.

In this book, the first volume of a three-book series, our middle school protagonists Padmini, Sammy, Joe, and Tiana and their guide, Kenji, embark on an amazing journey through time to witness key events in AANHPI history.

They witness the arrival of the "Manilamen" to the United States in the eighteenth century and fly through significant moments in the next 150 years. Fighting to Belong! helps new audiences young and old, AANHPI and non-AANHPI, understand how these stories are truly interwoven within the fabric of America.

• The book is co-published by Leading Asian Americans to Unite for Change (LAAUNCH) and The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), which are planning a months-long marketing and publicity campaign in partnership with Third State leading up to and after publication.
• Third State has entered a strategic alliance with NextShark, the largest Asian American media company in the world, to conduct a combined editorial, marketing, and PR campaign for Fighting to Belong!.
• NextShark garners over 80 million impressions and 60 million social engagements on its social media platforms every month, with engagement levels averaging between 15-30%.

About the Author
Amy Chu is a writer for comics, graphic novels, and TV, currently working on projects for DC, Marvel and Netflix. She has written popular characters such as Wonder Woman, Deadpool, Ant-Man and Iron Man. She wrote Poison Ivy's first solo mini series, and is the first woman to write the Green Hornet series created in the 1930s. She is also the author of children's graphic novels, including Sea Sirens and the sequel Sky Island (Viking). Amy is the co-founder of the imprint Alpha Girl Comics and enjoys nonprofit work, creating comics for the New York Historical Society, Baltimore Museum of Art, and the Museum of Chinese in America. She studied Architectural Design at MIT, East Asian Studies at Wellesley College, and has an MBA from Harvard Business School. Amy is a frequent speaker at conventions around the world and lives in New Jersey. You can follow her on amychu.com, twitter @amychu and on Facebook/iwritecomics. Alexander Chang is a writer and editor for comics and graphic novels. His published credits include Rick and Morty, Red Sonja, and the Where We Live anthology. A third generation Chinese American from Princeton, New Jersey, he loves writing in his journal, growing plants, fire spinning, and Chinese lion dancing. Louie Chin is an illustrator whose work includes the children's book, Bodega Cat (POW! Kids Books), which was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection in 2020. He has created artworks for a variety of publications and projects, including the New York Times, Boston Globe, and Nike. He works in both traditional mediums such as watercolor and gouache as well as with digital art software. He was born and raised in New York City, where he still resides.

Reviews

"The challenges and contributions of AANHPI [Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander] people are an integral part of the development of the United States, yet they are often not viewed as a part of American history and are frequently excluded in American schools. This short, fantastic, and fast-paced graphic novel will fill in that missing piece, providing readers a living history of AANHPI. VERDICT This visually engaged book helps young readers of all backgrounds across the country understand how AANHPI historical events are greatly linked within the foundation of the United States. Recommended purchase."-School Library Journal

"Historic contributions and stories of resilience are shared in this dynamic graphic novel. An informative and engaging read!" -Maia and Alex Shibutani, two-time Olympic medalists and authors of Amazing: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Who Inspire Us All

"This is the history I wish I had learned in middle school."

-Jeremy Lin, professional basketball player and philanthropist

A SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL Recommended Purchase!

'Fighting to Belong!' flawlessly tells the essential story of AANHPI history - AIPT Comics

Praise for Amy Chu:
"An impressive graphic fantasy with adventure, danger, and magic . . . A fast-paced beginning to a stunning new under-the-sea graphic series."-Kirkus Reviews (Sea Sirens)

"Another stunning work of art . . . With mermaids, an evil collector of curiosities, a hero cat, an extraordinary theme park, and twists and turns aplenty, there is something for all fantasy adventure lovers."-Kirkus Reviews (Sky Island)

Book Information
ISBN 9798890130174
Author Amy Chu
Format Paperback
Page Count 32
Imprint Third State Books Inc.
Publisher Third State Books Inc.