"The Other Side of Perfect" is the story of Alina’s understanding of her biracial background is one among many shifts she goes through. There are an endless number of ways biracial and multiracial people experience and understand their racial and cultural identities as they live their utterly individual lives. Books starring biracial and multiracial characters written by biracial and multiracial authors help show some of that diversity. Being asked “what are you?” so much made me realize that while I’m often recognized as mixed, I’m not always recognized as Asian. This has hit me in different ways at different times. When I was little and wanted to look more like my Japanese mom, it felt sad. When I learned the word “hapa” while visiting my grandparents in Hawai’i, it felt special. When anti-Asian racism and hate crimes skyrocketed this past year, but I didn’t have to worry for my own personal safety, it felt complicated and unfair. Mostly, my feelings about my biracial identity have come in phases, shifting over time and circumstances, sometimes in the background and sometimes in the forefront of my mind. These feelings helped shape my debut YA novel. . 🖌Mariko Turk . . . #diversebooks #bookstagram #book #mixedbooks #biracialbooks #biracialbookworms https://www.instagram.com/p/CTwkQhGs1b1/?utm_medium=tumblr