The Chinese name for America, 美国/美國/měiguó, translates to “Beautiful Country”. We talked with author Jane Kuo about her experience as a 1.5-generation immigrant bridging Chinese, Taiwanese, and American identity. Her family’s pursuit of the American Dream inspired her debut novel In the Beautiful Country which is available for pre-order before its June 28 release (delayed from June 14 due to supply chain issues).
Featuring Jane Kuo:
- In the Beautiful Country by Jane Kuo
- janekuo.com for upcoming tour dates and projects
- instagram.com/janekuowrites
- facebook.com/janekuowrites
- twitter.com/janekuowrites
About Jane: Jane Kuo is a Chinese and Taiwanese American writer. She is an immigrant and the daughter of immigrants. Jane grew up in Los Angeles in the 1980s and as a child, she spent her weekends and summers working in her family’s fast food restaurant. Jane’s middle grade novel, In the Beautiful Country, is a fictional story inspired by the events of her childhood.
Other works mentioned:
- Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai
- Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (Wikipedia)
- Asian Comedian Destroys America!, Ronny Chieng’s first special on Netflix
English language writing by Taiwanese Americans about the May 15 shooting in Laguna Woods, California
- Brian Hioe for New Bloom Magazine, “Confusion About ‘Chinese’ Or ‘Taiwanese’ Identity Of Gunman After Shooting At Taiwanese Church In California”
- HoChie Tsai and Leona Chen for TaiwaneseAmerican.org, “We grieve the May 15th Shooting at Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church”
- Jocelyn Chung for USA Today, “Church shooting is deeply personal for us as Taiwanese Americans”
- A prayer by Jocelyn’s ama for the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church (Instagram video in Taiwanese with English translation in the caption)
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