Laurence Yep

Laurence Michael Yep (Chinese: 葉祥添; pinyin: Yè Xiángtiān; born June 14, 1948) is a prolific, award-winning Chinese American modern author. Chinese-American, Yep was born in San Francisco, California to Yep Gim Lew (Thomas) and Franche. His older brother, Thomas named him after studying a particular saint in a multicultural neighborhood that consisted of mostly African Americans. Growing up, he often felt torn between both American and Chinese culture, and expressed this in many of his books. A great deal of his work involves characters feeling alienated or not fitting into their surroundings and environment, something Yep has struggled with since childhood. Most of his life, he has had the feeling of being out of place, whether because...