Yellowface by R. F. Kuang

Yellowface (2023) by R. F. Kuang White lies. Dark humor. Deadly consequences… This satirical novel takes on questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation in the publishing industry, as well as the persistent erasure of Asian-American voices and history by Western white society. Synopsis: 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. This is a pre-owned paperback book in excellent used condition. The pages are clean and unmarked, and aside from some very minor bending at the cover, there are almost no signs of wear.