Tea Talks Book Club Returns: Where Stories Spark Belonging
Last year, Asian Girls Ignite (AGI) launched its very first virtual Tea Talks Book Club, a cozy and creative space where AANHPI girls and gender expansive youth in grades 6 to 8 gathered to sip tea, explore powerful stories by Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Island (AANHPI) authors, and connect through shared reflections and art. Guided by Program Coordinator Annabel Kaey, each session invited students into a deeper understanding of identity, culture, and community.
As we prepare to launch Tea Talks again this June, we're reflecting on the magic that unfolded during our 2024 summer book club sessions. Through books, short stories, and songs, middle school students didn’t just analyze characters or plotlines, they saw themselves. And they told their own stories, too.
"I felt like I could really express myself, especially through art."
— AGI x Grade Student
AANHPI Stories We Explored
Session 1: "Front Desk" by Kelly Yang
We began with a chapter from Front Desk by Kelly Yang, exploring themes of Asian stereotypes, immigrant parent survival, and identity. Students reflected on moments where they felt boxed in by assumptions and decorated affirmation journals to reclaim the parts of themselves that felt overlooked.
Session 2: "Feeling Like a Woman Lately" by NoSo
We listened to NoSo’s powerful track about gender dysphoria, body image, and embracing self. Through watercolor postcards, students painted their "happy place" and reflected on what it means to feel most like themselves, even in a world full of expectations.
Session 4: "Fish Cheeks" by Amy Tan
Amy Tan’s short story helped students talk about cultural shame, food, and family. They wrote about their own food memories and created illustrated recipe cards, turning everyday meals into moments of pride and heritage.
Session 5: "The Silence That Binds Us" by Joanna Ho
We closed the series with a chapter from Joanna Ho’s novel, touching on the model minority myth, storytelling as resistance, and the legacies of Asian women. Students imagined the Asian adults in their lives as heroes and created superhero keychains to honor them.
Each session paired storytelling with a creative project that encouraged personal reflection. Students walked away with art pieces that not only expressed who they are but also served as reminders that their stories matter.
What’s Brewing in 2025
“Tea Talks started as an idea from my middle school love of reading, a safe space where I could imagine freely and feel represented. Last summer’s pilot was heartwarming, as students shared vulnerably through art and conversation on topics like gender identity, microaggressions, food, and ancestral legacies. I learned so much from them. Tea Talks is about exploring literature creatively and vulnerably, without the pressure of academics.”
– Annabel Kaey, Program Coordinator
This year, Tea Talks Book Club returns with new stories and more space to be your full self. Still virtual and still led by Annabel, the series continues to center joy, reflection, and representation through the voices of AANHPI authors and creatives.
Whether you love to read, write, create, or just be around others who get it — Tea Talks is for you.
Upcoming Sessions:
📅When: June 1, 15, and 29, 2025
💜Who: AANHPI girls and gender expansive youth in grades 6 to 8
📍Where: Hosted virtually from Denver, Colorado
Join us to sip something warm, share something real, and let your story steep.
