There are a lot of things I want to say before I get into this list of books, and to be honest, I’m not sure how to say it. Racism against Asian American and Pacific Islanders isn’t new, but it’s no secret that things have been particularly tense lately. Violence against Asian-Americans across the country has been on the rise. Then last week, there were shootings at three Atlanta-area spas, resulting in the death of six Asian-American women.

As someone who lived in Atlanta for a long time and has many friends and loved ones currently living in Atlanta, these murders hit close to home. I’ve spent the last several days reflecting, reading, and trying to understand what I can do and what I should say. Let me start by saying this: This was a hate crime. Period. And there’s no easy way to fix hate.

Reading books is not going to fix hate. Spending money at Asian-owned businesses isn’t going to fix hate. But it doesn’t hurt to do these things. These aren’t the only steps you can take, but it’s a start. Reading about other people’s experiences makes us more empathetic as people and give us a better understanding of lives that are unlike our own. But understanding is only the beginning. So after you read these books—fiction, non-fiction, young adult, adult, fantasy, contemporary, and so on—written by AAPI authors, ask yourself what you can do next.

To help you, I’ve included a list of resources and calls to action after this list of books, so stay til the end.