memoirs written by chinese authors

Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang

Summary: Qian Julie Wang recounts her childhood as an undocumented immigrant in 1990s New York City, navigating poverty, fear, and identity in a country that deemed her "illegal."

Themes: Immigration, poverty, identity, family

Know My Name by Chanel Miller

Summary: In this powerful memoir, Chanel Miller reclaims her identity as the woman once known only as "Emily Doe" in the Brock Turner case, chronicling her experience with trauma, the justice system, and her journey toward healing.

Themes: Sexual assault, identity, justice, empowerment

Mott Street by Ava Chin

Summary: Ava Chin uncovers generations of her Chinese American family’s history in New York’s Chinatown, weaving together personal memoir with immigration history, anti-Chinese legislation, and the fight for American belonging.

Themes: Family, history, resilience, identity

Oh My Mother! by Connie Wang

Summary: Connie Wang explores the complexities of her relationship with her Chinese immigrant mother through a series of deeply personal travel stories that blend humor, culture shock, and intergenerational tension.

Themes: Family, cultural identity, generational trauma

Viewfinder by Jon M. Chu and Jeremy McCarter

Summary: Filmmaker Jon M. Chu reflects on his journey from the child of immigrant restaurateurs to Hollywood director, exploring storytelling, representation, and what it means to truly be seen.

Themes: Identity, media representation, family, art, belonging

The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston

Summary: This classic hybrid memoir blends myth and memory as Kingston reflects on her upbringing in a Chinese American household, the silence of women, and the stories that shape identity.

Themes: Storytelling, feminism, cultural duality, immigration, family