An intimate, perceptive coming-of-age story.
Wang examines the cost of reinventing yourself in a changing China. Mark (Cheng) Ma never expected to find himself in his high school’s prestigious international program, where English replaces Chinese and the future seems to point overseas. As he struggles to adapt, a troubling discovery about a teacher and an unexpected friendship reshape his understanding of identity and belonging. Can he find where he belongs between two cultures?
Wang’s coming-of-age novel finds its greatest strength in the quiet moments that shape adolescence. The 2010 setting is richly textured, from Gaokao anxiety and English immersion to early smartphones and the rise of Western pop culture in China. Mark is an engaging narrator whose observations of classmates, family, and school life gradually reveal larger questions about identity, class, and belonging. The reflective pacing occasionally softens the narrative drive, but the memoir-like voice gives the story warmth and authenticity. A diverse cast of classmates adds personality without overwhelming the intimate focus on Mark’s journey.
A thoughtful portrait of growing up between cultures, told with sincerity and insight. A definite winner.
***
Pub date December 8, 2026
Books in Color
ISBN 978-1069506429
Price $17.99 Paperback
