Xu has added 100 new entries and 13 years of coverage of Asian American literature and theater to this impressive and broad-reaching work since the first edition (CH, Oct'12, 50-0624). The challenge is which Asian Americans to include, and Xu's scope is ethnic Americans whose ancestral roots branch out to Asia, with the exception of Western Asia and the Middle East. Xu has added valuable content on emergent groups such as Afghan, Cambodian, Hmong, Laotian, and Thai American authors. The 740 entries include authors, creators, concepts, cultural features, and theater troupes dating from 1887 to 2021. The chronology and the excellent bibliography, as well as the introduction, offer much both to those new to the topic and to those who have devoted themselves to the study of Asian America. Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty; general readers

Choice Reviews

Building upon the first edition of this work, published in 2012, Xu provides an updated chronicle of the literary achievements of Asian American writers, poets, memoirists, screenwriters, and playwrights from 1887 to 2021…. Entries are arranged in alphabetical order, with cross-references listed in bold. A nearly 120-page bibliography at the end of the dictionary provides an extensive listing of anthologies, sourcebooks, websites, criticism, and selected bibliographies. This work is notable for its thorough coverage of Asian American theater, from the Chinese Tung Hook Tong Dramatic Company established in 1852, through the Japanese American theater group Grateful Crane Ensemble founded in the 2000s. This exceptional resource will be useful for students and researchers wishing to know more about the remarkable works of Asian American artists and writers over the past 150 years. A recommended purchase for large public libraries and all academic collections.

Library Journal