Hi, Jamie! Welcome back! How have the past two years been since we last spoke?

Hi, hi! Thank you so much for having me back. The past two years have been a whirlwind. Most of my life I’ve felt like an outsider, a poser, or a shadow. I expected being an author to feel the same. So when I attended conferences and book festivals as a panelist, I had no idea how welcoming the YA book community would be. Like, I’ll never forget this moment: I was at this big conference surrounded by authors I had long admired from afar and someone said, “Let’s take a group photo.” Just kind of on autopilot, I stepped away, and Ellen Oh—the Ellen Oh—said, “Jamie, what are you doing? Get in here.” It’s such a small thing, right? To be included. But I felt transformed in that moment because I realized I’d been confusing acceptance with sameness, and now I was being shown that acceptance is less like a mirror and more like an open doorway with a sign overhead that reads: Come as you are.

Your latest novel, My Mother, the Mermaid Chaser, is out September 23! If you could describe it in five words, what would they be?

Humorous. Haunting. Hard-hitting. Healing. Hopeful.

What can readers expect?

If My Father, the Panda Killer was trial by fire, My Mother, the Mermaid Chaser is a more of a guided riverboat ride with a few roaring rapids. As companion books, they can be read out of order, and the points of view are purposefully different. If some readers found Jane’s hardness difficult to relate to in My Father, the Panda Killer, they will likely appreciate Paul’s more laid-back demeanor. I think readers are going to find a lot of the book surprising because it veers away from the American narrative of Vietnamese poverty and submissiveness, highlighting instead our growth, resilience, and grit.

Where did the inspiration for My Mother, the Mermaid Chaser come from?

My mom, my grandmothers, my sisters. It’s really a tribute to womanhood and the challenges we face during and after war. When we read about war, women are so often not included, and yet we carry the burdens—both mentally and physically—of every bomb dropped and every bullet fired. I wanted to show our power and our resilience, but also how sometimes we falter in the face of so much tragedy. I believe showing a broader, more complicated truth, which includes both our survival and our challenges, honors the women who endured, while reminding the world that empathy should not depend on victims being perfect.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

The opening scenes between siblings in both Paul’s and Ngoc Lan’s stories. I love Paul’s memory of the family ride in the forest: The parents are arguing, while Jane distracts him with her hilariously botched version of “The Three Little Bears.” Even though the siblings irritate each other sometimes, the way Jane instinctively protects Paul is so primal; it mirrors the kind of bond I’m lucky to share with my own siblings. On the other side of the story, I loved writing the opening montage of Ngoc Lan, Chi Diem, and Anh Hoa biking to work, with Anh Hoa teasing them about a ghost tickling their stomachs. It was deeply satisfying to write because I rarely see joy depicted in Vietnam War stories, and for me, that moment captures not just joy but also the fierce love these siblings carry for one another.

Did you face any challenges while writing? How did you overcome them?

You mean besides the typical challenges of imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and the fear that every Vietnamese person who picks up these books will shun me for exposing subjects that are culturally taboo? Ha! Honestly, I’m not sure I’ll ever overcome those thoughts. What I’ve learned to do is to write through them, to carry those worries with me in the form of vulnerability and let them live in the work. It also helps that Vietnamese readers by and large have been extremely supportive of my work. And through the books, I’ve been able to connect with my community in ways I never could before.

For example, I used to be so ashamed of what I didn’t know about the Vietnam War. Take that famous photo of a soldier with his gun cocked at the temple of man kneeling on the ground in a tattered plaid shirt. For years, I assumed the soldier was a North Vietnamese “bad guy” murdering a South Vietnamese “good guy” civilian. The truth was the opposite: It’s a South Vietnamese soldier committing a war crime. Did I feel like an idiot when this was pointed out to me? Absolutely. But I gained something valuable: a desire to dig deeper. Without that experience I never would have written these books.

What do you hope readers take away from My Mother, the Mermaid Chaser?

Other than the strong and urgent belief that I’m their new favorite author and they must immediately go out and get all my other books?! Hehe. I’m deflecting because this is a tricky question for me. I never want to tell the reader what their takeaways should be. If I could make a request, though, it would be this: While you’re reading, if you come across something that doesn’t sit right and you find yourself judging the character for their actions, take a moment to ask why they think that way or made that choice. Look for ways to empathize with—not excuse—actions you disagree with.

Okay, I lied. I do have a takeaway hope. I hope readers broaden their vision of war to include the human impact. When we see scenes of battles and bombs, it’s easy to dissociate ourselves from them. Try not to do that; there is a real human toll to war that often gets overlooked. There’s a civilian impact that no one wants to acknowledge, and yet, when the fighting is done and the land is destroyed, it’s regular people who put it all back together. Learn about them, think about them, remember them.

What’s next for you?

In My Mother, the Mermaid Chaser and My Father, the Panda Killer, I spent a lot of time reflecting on the history that brought my family to America. In my next book, I’m focusing more on what it means to be Asian American and how, as a community, we’ve found ways to rebuild, rebrand, and redefine ourselves. I love that Vietnamese Americans have brought our coffee, our food, and our culture to the forefront of what we do, and I’m working on a story that reflects that shift. That said, can I promise you no tears? Absolutely not. =)

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?

• The most informative book I read this year: Viet Thanh Nguyen’s A Man of Two Faces
• The book I devoured the fastest: Jason Reynolds’s Ghost
• The book that reminded me of how connected we all are: Ellen Oh’s Finding Junie Kim
• The book that made me laugh the loudest: Huda Famy’s Huda F Cares?
• The book that reminded me of childhood: Pedro Martin’s Mexikid
• The book I’m reading next: Angeline Boulley’s Sisters in the Wind

Will you be picking up My Mother, the Mermaid Chaser? Tell  us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Jamie Jo Hoang, Author of ‘My Mother, the Mermaid Chaser’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi, Jamie! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

I love a good adventure. My motto in life is to say “yes” to every opportunity. Skydive? Yes. Nevis Bungy Jump? Done. Climb Half Dome? Sure. Repeat Half Dome? Never. Eat a tarantula? Mmm, tasty. Haunted house? Armed with garlic, I’m in.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I don’t know if there was one specific moment, but when I was a kid, after getting in trouble, my dad would always say, “Go wash your face,” and it was in the quiet reprieve of the bathroom that my imagination came to life. I’d fill the sink with scalding hot water, splash my face to quickly wash away my tears and then sit on the toilet and imagine a different life. I always wanted to be someone else.

In a way, I am an accidental writer. I stumbled into UCLA’s prestigious film school on a whim. I applied as a fluke, and my admittance was a miracle. Until the day of my interview, I’d probably seen twenty movies in my entire life. When asked about my top five films, I named “The Picture Bride,” a movie I, to this day, have not seen. The poster was hanging in the waiting area, and as my brain scrambled to find a fifth title, I blurted out the name. Now here’s the miraculous part. This movie was edited by a faculty member. If any of the three interviewers had asked about what I liked or which character I was most drawn to, I would not have had an answer. But the story gods were looking out for me, and instead of asking me for my thoughts, they proceeded to tell me theirs. As I said, a miracle.

One would think that such a close call would lead me to then race home and watch the film. But one would be wrong. I still haven’t seen it.

Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!

The first book: Charlotte’s Web

The one that made me want to become an author: Tuesdays with Morrie

The one I can’t stop thinking about: Magic Fish

Your latest novel, My Father, The Panda Killer, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Honest, raw, imaginative, heartbreaking, and healing.

What can readers expect?

Readers can expect a shockingly real, emotionally resonant story about generational trauma. I imagine some readers will want to look away from a few really challenging moments in the book. Please don’t. Jane’s story is not unique, and understanding how history shapes who we become allows us to recognize and confront certain qualities that need to change. At its core, this book is about breaking the cycle.

Where did the inspiration for My Father, The Panda Killer come from?

In some ways, I’ve been writing and rewriting this book my entire life. I remember seeing this old movie called “Life is Beautiful” by Roberto Bernini and thinking I wanted to do for Vietnamese people what Bernini did for Italians. I knew that because I was not a refugee, I could not write a retelling, so it wasn’t until I began weaving in magical realism that the book really came to life for me. This book is not a history lesson; it’s a partial history as seen through the lens of someone who, living in America, can feel her heritage slipping away.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

Jackie. Jackie is Jane’s best friend, and in telling the story of their friendship, I was forced to confront some ugly truths about myself as a teenager. As American-born teens, some of my friends and I were so mean to the new fobby kids. FOB stands for fresh off the boat, and there was a divide between those born here and Vietnamese teens who arrived later. I cringed writing those moments but forced myself to keep them in because I wanted to hold myself accountable. Just as I am not perfect, Jane is not perfect.

What do you hope readers take away from reading your novel?

I hope that readers will see that there is immense power in being vulnerable. As heartbreaking as this story is to read, it was equally painful to write. I hope that children of immigrants find a friend in Jane and that all readers will seek to discover and explore their own family histories. I really believe that empathy and understanding are the roadmap to healing.

What’s next for you?

I’m working on the sister novel to MY FATHER, THE PANDA KILLER. In this book, we follow Jane and the Dad, Phúc; my next book is about Paul, the brother, and Ngoc Lan, the mom. I’m excited and nervous because while the two stories are connected, they are pretty different.

Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?

My recs change every month, but a few of my recent favorites are: SHE’S A HAUNTING by Trang Thanh Tran, THE SERPENT KING by Jeff Zentner, PUNCHING THE AIR by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam, and SLAY by Brittany Morris.

Will you be picking up My Father, The Panda Killer? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Jamie Jo Hoang, Author of ‘My Father, The Panda Killer’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover just a few of our YA picks and let us know in the comments if you will be reading any of them!

Together We Rot by Skyla Arndt
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A teen girl looking for the truth about her missing mother forms a reluctant alliance with her former best friend…in exchange for hiding him from his cult-leading family.

Actually Super by Adi Alsaid
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A globetrotting novel that takes a determined teen from Japan to Australia and to Argentina and Mexico on a quest to prove that humanity is more good than bad from the author of Let’s Get Lost and Before Takeoff.

Damned if You Do by Alex Brown
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Queer Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Filipino folklore in this horror comedy about a high school stage manager who accidentally sells her soul to a demon.

Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim
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From the New York Times bestselling author of SIX CRIMSON CRANES comes a tale of two sisters—one as beautiful as the other is monstrous—who must fight to save each other when a betrothal contest gone wrong unleashes an evil that could sever their bond forever.

Pride and Prejudice and Pittsburgh by Rachael Lippincott
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From the New York Times bestselling coauthor of Five Feet Apart and She Gets the Girl comes a fresh and inventive sapphic romantic comedy that’s What If It’s Us meets Bridgerton.

Face the Night by Lani Forbes
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On a harsh frontier where good and evil contend for people’s minds, a young woman must fight for her true identity in this scintillating YA fantasy from the author of the award-winning Age of the Seventh Sun trilogy.

Unnecessary Drama by Nina Kenwood
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From the award-winning author of It Sounded Better in My Head comes a deliciously entertaining enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy about two high school nemeses who end up sharing a house together their first year of college

Forgive Me Not by Jennifer Baker
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In this searing indictment of the juvenile justice system, one incarcerated teen weighs what she is willing to endure for forgiveness.

A Tall Dark Trouble by Vanessa Montalban
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Perfect for fans of Shea Ernshaw, Nina Moreno, and Elizabeth Acevedo, Vanessa Montalban’s YA debut is a dazzling Latine twist on Practical Magic that follows a family of Cuban American brujas entangled in love, magic, and murder.

Who Could Love You, Astor Price? by Amy Jane Lehan
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Set in a small Australian town and promising moments of heartache and hope, Who Could Love You, Astor Price? is the debut novel from Amy Jane Lehan.

I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me by Jamison Shea
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Tilly in Technicolor by Mazey Eddings
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Tilly in Technicolor is Mazey Eddings’s sparkling YA debut about two neurodivergent teens who form a connection over the course of a summer.

My Father, The Panda Killer by Jamie Jo Hoang
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A poignant coming-of-age story told in two alternating voices: a California teenager railing against the Vietnamese culture, juxtaposed with her father as an eleven-year-old boat person on a harrowing and traumatic refugee journey from Vietnam to the United States.

Rook by William Ritter
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This standalone adventure set in the world of the  New York Times  bestselling Jackaby series brims with humor, heart, and—of course—a hefty dose of supernatural mayhem.

The Boy You Always Wanted by Michelle Quach
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From Not Here to Be Liked author Michelle Quach comes a smartly funny, heartfelt story told in dual POV about a young woman roping in her childhood crush to act as an honorary male heir to fulfill her grandfather’s dying wish. A story about first love, familial duties, and finding yourself—perfect for fans of Emiko Jean and Loan Le.

The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
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Four brothers. Two missions. One explosive read. Jennifer Lynn Barnes returns to the world of her #1 bestselling Inheritance Games trilogy, and the stakes have never been higher.  

What August YA releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post August 2023 YA Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.