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 Kuojanekuo.com for upcoming tour dates and projectsinstagram.com/janekuowritesfacebook.com/janekuowritestwitter.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 LaiMaslow’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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