Celebrating this year’s Asian Heritage Month, the Humanities and Social Sciences Library (HSSL) showcases a variety of stories by contemporary Canadian playwrights of Asian Heritage through the Redpath Book Display (also, browseable online).

Why read plays?

In “Why Plays Should be Seen—and Read,” Isaiah Stavchansky points out that reading a play, rather than watching a stage performance, enables us to have a more intimate interaction with the storyteller and to “partake in a shared experience of the text.”

Stavchansky, who edited and published a collection of American plays on the theme of immigration, also raises a practical question. Access to theatres is limited to people living in big cities. Given the underrepresentation of Asian Canadian theatre artists on stages,¹ opportunities to watch Asian Canadian drama performances are even more limited.

Unlike the cultural traditions imported and enjoyed by early immigrants, such as Cantonese operas popular in Victoria’s Chinatown blocks in the 1860s,² Asian Canadian plays today consist of “home-grown” stories that reflect Canada’s multiethnic and multicultural social fabric.

Some of the plays on display explore themes such as immigration, racism, stereotyping, identity, generational tensions, assimilation, and upward mobility.

Some plays depict the lives of ordinary and not-so-ordinary people around us, including but not limited to Asian Canadians.

In addition, some plays depict historical events and fictional stories set in Asia.

1. Chang, Eury Colin. “Unraveling the History of Asian Canadian Theatre“. UBC Public Scholars Initiative Blog. Retrieved 29 April 2026. ↩︎
2. Rao, Nancy Y. (2018). “Inside Chinese Theatre: Cantonese Opera in Canada”. Intersections. Vol. 38, No. 1-2, 2018, p. 81-104. https://doi.org/10.7202/1071675ar ↩︎

Welcome to the first installment of the recurring “New Books at the Humanities and Social Sciences Library” feature. Every few weeks, we will feature a list of new books (new to the library, not necessarily newly published) that have been selected by the liaison librarians at the Humanities and Social Sciences Library. These New Books lists represent only a selection of books acquired by the library in recent months. All new books in print can be found on the main floor of the library, organized by subject area. This is a great collection to browse whether you’re looking for a volume of poetry or the latest deep dive into Big Tech, and everything in between. Come and visit us at the Humanities and Social Sciences Library and enjoy the vast and diverse collection of books selected just for you.

The International Day of Pink takes place this year on April 8, 2026. Millions of people will wear pink to stand against bullying, discrimination, and hate, and to stand in solidarity with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Part of the mission is to empower youth to challenge social norms. As such, most of the curated works for this month’s display come from our Educational Curriculum Resources Centre and are aimed at children and young adults.

Queer Love, Romance & Friendship

Belonging & Cultural Intersectionality

Part of the International Day of Pink’s mission is to stand up to discrimination based on race, age, ability, gender, or sexuality. As such, this month’s book display also features works that poignantly and creatively mix race, culture, gender, and sexuality. The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School, by Sonora Reyes, is a sharp, funny, and heartfelt novel about a queer Mexican American teen balancing strict Catholic school rules, family pressures, and the courage to come out. Patricia Park’s Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim is a witty, thoughtful exploration of identity as a Korean‑Argentinian American teen navigates cultural expectations and academic pressures. My Paati’s Saris, by Jyoti Rajan Gopal, is a picture book celebrating culture and gender expression as a child finds joy and affirmation in wearing their grandmother’s saris. 

Bullying & Resilience

At its core, the International Day of Pink stands against bullying, discrimination, and hate. Many featured works tackle these difficult subjects through different styles: fiction, nonfiction, verse novels, and graphic novels. First is Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone, by Tae Keller, which is a mystery novel where a group of middle schoolers search for a missing classmate. Accountable, by Dashka Slater, is a nonfiction narrative examining a racist social media account created by teens. C. G. Moore’s Trigger is a verse novel depicting a teen’s experience with trauma, bullying, and chronic illness. Weirdo, by Tony Weaver, is a graphic novel about a socially anxious teen who must navigate school pressures, identity, and the journey toward embracing one’s unique self. 

Gender Identity, Expression & Trans Experiences

Many books in this month’s display are nonfiction works that examine 2SLGBTQIA+ experiences in childhood, such as Free to Be: Understanding Kids & Gender Identity, by Jack L. Turban This work is a supportive, research-based guide that helps young readers and their families explore gender identity and expression. Athlete Is Agender: True Stories of LGBTQ+ People in Sports, by Katherine Locke et al., features a collection of real stories highlighting LGBTQ+ athletes who challenge gender norms and redefine inclusion within competitive sports. 

Memoirs

Perhaps the most affecting works in this month’s display are the many memoirs of identity and 2SLGBTQIA+ experiences. Pageboy: A Memoir, by Elliot Page, is a deeply personal account of Page’s life, career, and coming out as trans. Dan Santat’s A First Time for Everything is a humorous graphic memoir that reflects on adolescence, travel, and the awkward but formative moments that shape who we become. From Here: A Memoir, by Luma Mufleh, tells the inspiring story of the author’s journey as a queer Syrian immigrant in the U.S., with a focus on advocacy. Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer: A Memoir is a graphic memoir tracing Kobabe’s journey of discovering their nonbinary and asexual identity.

To learn more about the International Day of Pink, please visit https://www.dayofpink.org/