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)

Connect:

instagram.com/heartsintaiwan
facebook.com/heartsintaiwan
heartsintaiwan.com

Connect:

instagram.com/heartsintaiwan

facebook.com/heartsintaiwan

buymeacoffee.com/heartsintaiwan ← Buy us a boba!

heartsintaiwan.com