Some recent reads that I really enjoyed:
The Silence of Bones, by June Hur. It's the year 1800 in Korea and there's political tension between different factions in the government (some of which support "western" (ie Chinese) ideas of newfangled science as well as Catholicism and some of which definitely DON'T). In the midst of this is Seol, a damo (female assistant) to the police force. She's in Seoul to find her disappeared older brother, but circumstances have bound her to the police force, where she has to inspect murders (some of which are politically/religiously motivated). I really liked this book because it took a culture we seldom see in western books and made it really accessible. It's a good crime novel as well as a warm human story. I'll definitely read more by this author! (Mystery, although since the main character is a teen, it's just as easily read as YA)
Almost American Girl, graphic novel by Robin Ha. It's about how her single mother moved her to Alabama from Korea when she was a teenager. It was HARD. She was an artist and relied on that a lot as she tried to fit into her new life. As someone who has been a foreigner living in a strange land, someone who likes Korea, who draws and who has even lived briefly in Alabama...I knew I had to read this book. It was great!
A Wish in the Dark, by Christina Soontornvat. Loved this one! It's a middle grade fantasy inspired by Thailand. I haven't read every middle grade book this year, but of the ones I have read, I can't help hoping this one is in the running for a Newbery. It was lovely!