Qian Wang Knihy

This heartrending memoir recounts Qian Julie Wang's five years as an undocumented immigrant in America after moving from China to New York City in 1994. The term "beautiful country" translates the U.S. name in Chinese, but for seven-year-old Qian, it represents a stark contrast to her previous life filled with family warmth. Thrust into a world of fear and poverty, she faces isolation due to her limited English, placed in special education classes, and experiences humiliation from peers and teachers. Confronted with racism and the harsh realities of her family's status compared to their educated life in China, Qian works alongside her mother in Chinatown sweatshops after school. Survival rules are instilled in her: avoid police, claim to be born in America, and comply to avoid separation from her family. Witnessing her parents' struggles, she tries to uplift them and ease tensions, believing her goodness can keep them together. Through unsentimental prose, Wang captures the cruelty of the immigration system while highlighting moments of resilience and joy, such as their first pizza or treasure hunts in Brooklyn's trash. This powerful narrative sheds light on the cost of finding a home in a hostile environment, showcasing an extraordinary talent.