INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK - EXCERPT TO NEW NOVEL KATABASIS! "Hard to put down, harder to forget." -- Stephen King White lies. Dark humor. Deadly consequences... Bestselling sensation Juniper Song is not who she says she is, she didn't write the book she claims she wrote, and she is most certainly not Asian American--in this chilling and hilariously cutting novel from R.F. Kuang, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Babel. Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars. But Athena's a literary darling. June Hayward is literally nobody. Who wants stories about basic white girls, June thinks. So when June witnesses Athena's death in a freak accident, she acts on impulse: she steals Athena's just-finished masterpiece, an experimental novel about the unsung contributions of Chinese laborers during World War I. So what if June edits Athena's novel and sends it to her agent as her own work? So what if she lets her new publisher rebrand her as Juniper Song--complete with an ambiguously ethnic author photo? Doesn't this piece of history deserve to be told, whoever the teller? That's what June claims, and the New York Times bestseller list seems to agree. But June can't get away from Athena's shadow, and emerging evidence threatens to bring June's (stolen) success down around her. As June races to protect her secret, she discovers exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves. With its totally immersive first-person voice, Yellowface grapples with questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation, as well as the terrifying alienation of social media. R.F. Kuang's novel is timely, razor-sharp, and eminently readable.
R.F. Kuang
R.F. Kuang is a Chinese-American author known for her dark and immersive fantasy novels. Her most notable work is "The Poppy War" trilogy, which explores themes of war, imperialism, and power through a richly imagined world inspired by Chinese history. Kuang's writing style is characterized by its vivid imagery, complex characters, and unflinching portrayal of violence. She has been praised for her ability to blend historical events with fantastical elements, creating a unique and compelling reading experience. Kuang's contributions to the fantasy genre have been widely celebrated, with "The Poppy War" trilogy earning critical acclaim and a dedicated fan following. Her impact on literature lies in her ability to challenge traditional tropes and conventions, offering readers a fresh and thought-provoking perspective on familiar themes.