highlighting taiwanese america

Home
- About
Stories
Projects
Creative Writing Prizes
Gift Guides
Bookshop
Parenting Resources
Contact

TaiwaneseAmerican.org

Home
- About
Stories
Projects
Creative Writing Prizes
Gift Guides
Bookshop
Parenting Resources
Contact

DSCF4116

Posted on Tuesday, February 14th, 2023 at 11:41 am.

Written by Leona

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Facebook

Instagram

💕 “Ex” marks the perfect Valentine’s Day

💕 “Ex” marks the perfect Valentine’s Day read! 💕⁠
⁠
We were so excited to chat with one of the most prolific Taiwanese American writers of our generation @gloriacchaowrites about her latest YA novel, Ex Marks the Spot—a heart-racing treasure hunt that unearths family secrets, Taiwanese heritage, and maybe even true love. ⁠
⁠
We are always drawn to the depth and sincerity of Chao’s characters, particularly her female protagonists, who navigate complex romantic and familial relationships with nuance and heart. What moves us even more is how she seamlessly weaves entire families into each other’s schemes, dreams, and desires, creating stories that feel both intimate and expansive.⁠
⁠
Ex Marks the Spot takes this a step further, adding even greater depth to each generation by threading together political trauma, migration, and an unexpected twist (no spoilers!) that binds grandparent, parent, and child. ⁠
⁠
You'll love her clever pinyin puzzles (reader, we could not solve them on our own) and this exceptional love letter to Taiwan.⁠
⁠
Check out our full interview (link in bio) 💌 #ExMarksTheSpot #GloriaChao #TaiwaneseAmerican #YALit #Bookstagram #OwnVoices⁠
⁠
💌 https://www.taiwaneseamerican.org/2025/02/gloria-chao-ex-marks-the-spot/

✨ How do we turn our secrets into stories? ✨⁠
⁠
We are so pleased to share this dream conversation between fellow Taiwanese American illustrator-writers, Jocelyn Chung and Cindy Chang on Cindy's debut graphic novel, HOW TO DRAW A SECRET. ⁠
⁠
For many of us who grew up Taiwanese American, keeping up appearances—saving face—was second nature. But what happens when we let those secrets surface? When we transform the most painful parts of our memories into storytelling?⁠
In this semi-autobiographical story, a Taiwanese American girl named Cindy is caught between crafting the perfect image and confronting the truth about her family. As she embarks on an unexpected journey to Taipei, long-buried secrets unravel, forcing her to redefine what family—and honesty—truly mean.⁠
The conversation is a powerful reminder that storytelling can be a path to healing—and that our vulnerabilities can help others feel less alone.⁠
⁠
🎧 Tune in to our conversation on YouTube! A full transcript is also available for those who prefer to read. 📖💛⁠
⁠
🔗: https://youtu.be/hOFrcF7NURo

🌏✨ Looking for a summer camp where your child

🌏✨ Looking for a summer camp where your child can explore their Taiwanese heritage while building lifelong memories? Enroll in @tacllyf’s LYF Camp! 🏕️🌸
📅 LYF Camp 2025 will take place from Monday, July 14th, to Sunday, July 20th, 2025, at the beautiful Alliance Redwoods Conference Grounds, in Occidental, CA.
🗓️ General registration opens on Saturday, February 1st, at 12:00 PM PST!
At LYF Camp, campers will:
- Learn about Taiwanese heritage, language, and culture through workshops
- Connect with other campers and role models in the Taiwanese American community
- Experience night markets and tsua bing side-by-side with leadership development workshops and campfire s’mores!

In celebration of Lunar New Year, our food editor

In celebration of Lunar New Year, our food editor Tiffany Ran asked some of our recently featured chefs how they like to celebrate and what they like to cook. 🍜🥟⁠
⁠
✨🥢 Tell us in the comments how you like to spend the festivities -- or if you'll be trying something new this year!

“Tell a child nothing, and she will become obses

“Tell a child nothing, and she will become obsessed with knowledge.”
Join Taiwanese American author Kim Liao for a virtual keynote address and Q&A, moderated by Taiwanese American community leaders Kristie Wang and Tim Chng and writer Rebecca Liu. The webinar includes a keynote by Kim Liao, moderator reflections and dialogue, audience Q&A, and a short brainstorming session for audience members to begin reflecting on their own stories and histories. Attendees are invited to submit their inspired work for publication on TaiwaneseAmerican.org (selected pieces will be compensated). This event is hosted by the Taiwanese American Federation of Northern California as part of their annual 228 Commemoration and is co-presented by TaiwaneseAmerican.org. 🔗: http://bit.ly/tafnc-kimliao Free and open to the public; registration required for link to participate.

Out today— Brian Hioe’s @brian.hioe “Taipei

Out today— Brian Hioe’s @brian.hioe “Taipei at Daybreak” from @repeaterbooks is an extraordinary Taiwanese American coming-of-age novel set amongst social protests of the early 2010s in East Asia. In 2014, a veteran of Occupy Wall Street, QQ arrives in Taiwan and finally finds what he’s been looking for in the Sunflower Movement — a grassroots campaign of militant young people that looks set to overthrow the existing government. Setting up an online newspaper, Daybreak, to represent the movement to the outside world, QQ also battles with self-destructive, violent impulses that drive him to the frontlines of protests. His nihilistic streak is fed by those around him, a host of other citizens, activists and journalists who travel together through the depths of the Taiwanese night, when the ghosts of its repressive history loom large. Will QQ manage to outrun his own self destructive impulses on the streets, or will the emptiness he feels eventually consume him? Will he find the connection he needs, or will V, the mysterious, destructive partner who haunts his dreams, claim him as her own? Will QQ be able to confront and survive his own family’s complicity in the era of the White Terror? A unique blend or reportage, memoir and meditation on the unseen forces, personal and political, that propel people to the very edge, Taipei at Daybreak is a coming-of-age novel like no other, following tumultuous conflict both outside and in, and told through a spare style with flashes of dark poetry.

Just a few months we ago, we shared a fascinating

Just a few months we ago, we shared a fascinating inquiry from writer Amy Chen. She'd been writing her father's story: Born into poverty as the eldest son of a farmer, he defied the odds to learn English and graduate from National Taiwan University. He then served as a translator for the Air Force in Taiwan, where he got to know Americans who were stationed there. With Amy's mother’s help, he launched a Taipei-based language publishing company in the '70s. Her father wrote dozens of textbooks (paired with audio recordings on vinyl records, then cassette tapes, CDs, and MP3s) that taught English to hundreds of thousands of Mandarin speakers. After immigrating to the U.S. in '80, he continued publishing while trying (and failing) to launch a second career. Amy was born a few years later.⁠
⁠
David Frazier (Taipei Times) has the background story, linked here and in bio: https://bit.ly/taipei-times-amy-chen⁠
⁠
If you are a part of her father's legacy, please reach out!⁠
From Amy:⁠
1️⃣ Anyone recognize these books written by my father Chen Borong 陳伯榕? Even better: Did you use any of the books/audio recordings to learn English yourself? (Some books are still available at libraries in SF, LA, San Jose, and even Cleveland, so it could be present-day learners...) ⁠
2️⃣ Anyone recall using this Mandarin-English dictionary? With input from 100+ English teachers, my father spent five(!) years editing this 470-page dictionary that was originally published in 1979.⁠
3️⃣ Anyone familiar with the Rotary International Club of Taipei East in the late '70s? Pictured: My father at Rotary Club events in '79 and '80.⁠

Join us for a #TaiwaneseAmericanBingo challenge an

Join us for a #TaiwaneseAmericanBingo challenge and tag us in your endeavors this year!⁠
⁠
(1) Read a book by a Taiwanese American author (hint: we have a fantastic collection organized at bookshop.org/shop/taiwaneseam_org)⁠
(2) Watch a Taiwanese movie (hint: @taiwanplus has a great, free collection to choose from, including the gorgeous documentary "Beyond Beauty: Taiwan from Above" and "Untold Herstory," a film about the women political prisoners in Taiwan's martial law era⁠)
(3) Develop/refine your language skills! We love @realyoumandarin as a self-paced online language course for Mandarin and Taiwan School of TAC's virtual Taigi classes (learn more at https://etaiwanschool.org/ for their Spring 2025 course catalog)⁠
(4) Try a new recipe from a Taiwanese American cookbook (available in our bookshop)⁠
(5) Read translated Taiwanese literature⁠
(6) Gather friends for a teach-in about a Taiwanese social or political issue that interests you⁠
(7) Volunteer at a Taiwanese American summer camp or attend a TAP event near you - if these are not accessible, keep your eyes out for virtual programming!⁠
(8) Shop our #TaiwaneseAmerican gift guide for a special occasion or everyday gifting

New York!! The Taiwanese musical sensation, "Don't

New York!! The Taiwanese musical sensation, "Don't Cry, Dancing Girls ((勸世三姊妹)" is coming to New York City with a very limited run January 23-25 at Theatre Row on 42nd Street. Since playing to sold out crowds across Taiwan for two years, with support from the Taiwanese government, this special presentation is a very early "teaser" for the show at Theatre Row on 42nd Street. ⁠
⁠
It is the first time the show has been performed outside of Taiwan and the beginning of the path to Broadway for the show. ⁠
⁠
NYC locals, you can request tickets (or be added to the waitlist) here and linked in bio: https://dontcrydancinggirlswalist.rsvpify.com/?securityToken=NKAmrcwnePjgpLkakFdC6zzMRKsdbIbP⁠
⁠
#taiwaneseamerican #taiwanesemusical #dontcrydancinggirls

2024 has been another remarkable year for #Taiwane

2024 has been another remarkable year for #TaiwaneseAmerican literature, and we’re excited to close it out by celebrating a book birthday from one of the most prolific Taiwanese American writers of our generation, Gloria Chao.⁠
“Ex Marks the Spot,” out today, takes readers on a soaring adventure through love, loss, and the lively streets of Taiwan. ⁠
⁠
Synopsis: For Gemma’s whole life, it has always been her and her mom against the world. As far as she knew, all her grandparents—and thus her ties to Taiwanese culture—were dead. Until one day when a mysterious man shows up at her door with two shocking things: the news that her grandfather has just recently passed, and the first clue to a treasure hunt that Gemma hopes will lead to her inheritance.⁠
There’s just one major problem: to complete the hunt, she has to go to her grandfather’s home in Taiwan. And the only way Gemma can get there is by asking her ex and biggest high-school rival, Xander, for help. But after swallowing her pride, she finds herself halfway across the world, ready to unearth her life-changing prize. Soon Gemma discovers that the treasure hunt is about much more than money—it’s about finally learning about her family, her cultural roots, and maybe even finding true love.⁠
⁠
Get your copy now from our Bookshop, linked here and in our bio: https://bookshop.org/a/6825/9780593692714⁠
⁠
(We also spy her forthcoming mystery, “The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club” out Summer 2025!)⁠

We are pleased to continue amplifying important re

We are pleased to continue amplifying important research being done on #TaiwaneseAmericans, often by Taiwanese American students!
Sophia Chang @sophiachang24 is a senior at Princeton University studying Public and International Affairs; her senior thesis research aims to gain a better understanding of the differing political perspectives among Taiwanese Americans in the 2024 U.S. Elections, with a specific focus on how foreign policy issues pertaining to U.S.-China Taiwan relations may impact the voting decisions of Taiwanese Americans. In understanding the differing political perspectives among Taiwanese Americans, the broader goal of this project is to form a more comprehensive narrative about the Taiwanese American identity and diaspora. It may also have implications for U.S. elections, as crafting targeted foreign policy messages may become increasingly important to securing votes from particular ethnic constituencies. The survey should only be distributed to U.S. adults (18 and over) who voted in the 2024 U.S. Elections. It will take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete. This study has been approved by the Princeton University Institutional Review Board (IRB). To ensure the privacy of respondents, the survey data will only be accessible to Sophia through a Qualtrics account linked to her Princeton University student account, which is password protected and requires two-factor authentication. Survey respondents have the option to provide their email if they would like to participate in a follow-up interview — providing this information is optional and not required for the completion of the survey. The survey is linked here and in bio: https://princetonsurvey.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8k2dOje6kPYjhuC

Community survey! Carissa Cheng is a researcher a

Community survey!
Carissa Cheng is a researcher at Stanford University interested in studying Taiwanese American identity.
Research Details:
Intended Participants: Taiwanese Americans 18-years or older (Taiwan-born first-generation immigrants welcome).
Instructions: please fill out ONE of the following surveys in your preferred language. At the end of the survey, you will have a chance to sign up for a PAID interview.
Please feel free to share the survey with any Taiwanese American friends and family!
English Survey: https://forms.gle/fnn9vpLQEAjC9XnY9
Chinese (Traditional) Survey: https://forms.gle/YZZPvc1cw7DuAVWm8

Meet Rich and X Wang, the cousin-duo behind Minyol

Meet Rich and X Wang, the cousin-duo behind Minyoli @minyoli.chicago, Chicago’s newest Taiwanese gem. Their restaurant pays homage to the juan cun (military dependents’ villages) where their family once lived, serving dishes inspired by a tapestry of Chinese regional flavors that shaped Taiwan’s culinary identity. From the boldness of their beef noodle soup to the comforting nostalgia of lu wei, every bite tells a story of resilience, community, and connection.⁠
⁠
Explore how they’re navigating cultural expectations, sourcing rare ingredients, and connecting foodies with honest, heartfelt narratives about Taiwan in Chicago. ⁠
⁠
👀 Read more about their journey towards Minyoli in the full interview with our Food Editor, Tiffany Ran @bb6twpopup
Linked here and in bio: https://www.taiwaneseamerican.org/2024/12/minyoli-taiwanese-noodles-chicago/

On #GivingTuesday, please consider supporting Taiw

On #GivingTuesday, please consider supporting TaiwaneseAmerican.org by making a monetary donation. Funds are used to support our programs, contributing writers, and project grants. All donations are tax-deductible, and letters acknowledging your donation will be sent by the end of the fiscal year.⁠
⁠
TaiwaneseAmerican.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization registered in the State of California. We are run by an all-volunteer staff with a strong passion for our community.⁠
⁠
To make a donation, please find us at: https://www.taiwaneseamerican.org/donate/⁠
⁠
Thank you very much! to-siā! 多謝!

And here's part 2 of our 2024 #TaiwaneseAmerican s

And here's part 2 of our 2024 #TaiwaneseAmerican small business gift guide! From one-of-a-kind handcrafted gifts blending fine art and tradition to stinky tofu plushies to a perfect book for every kind of reader, we hope this series helps you shop and support our community this season.⁠
⁠
We will continue to leave our nomination form open (linked in bio) to feature other small businesses and creators throughout the year as we can.⁠
⁠
Updated gift guide, linked here and in bio: https://www.taiwaneseamerican.org/2024/11/2024-taiwanese-american-gift-guide/⁠
#giftguide #smallbusiness #taiwaneseamerican

About

Founded in 2006, TaiwaneseAmerican.org is a web portal site highlighting many of the interesting people, events and organizations that make up Taiwanese America. It is both a volunteer-driven website and a non-profit organization that intends to connect and promote those who identify with the Taiwanese identity, heritage, or culture. By establishing our niche within the broader Asian Pacific American and mainstream communities, we hope to collectively contribute to the wonderful and diverse mosaic that America represents.

© 2025 TaiwaneseAmerican.org