Student Literary Encounters

Students throughout America have been relishing Sweet Mandarin for their lessons in English Literature and World Literature. It was wonderful to visit some of these young readers and share my story and meet with budding authors. I was inspired by their enthusiasm and inquisitive questions. As America approaches new economic, social and spiritual crossroads, the next chapter of America’s epic story will be written by this generation.

On my journey travelling around schools, I asked the question, “Tell Me About Your Roots”. I believe you can only progress forward if you know where you came from and what you stand for.

Sweet Mandarin is my story about my roots. It tells the story of three generations of Chinese women (my grandmother, mother and me) and our journey from East to West. Its a sad story that ultimately tells a journey of survival against the odds. In essence, if I can achieve my dreams, so too can you.  As the Chinese proverb on the front of my book states “A Journey of A Thousand Miles Starts With One Step.”

 Thank you to all the students, schools, librarians, teachers and parents in America, for listening and appreciating my story.