Hua Hsu Knihy

In the eyes of 18-year-old Hua Hsu, the problem with Ken - with his passion for Dave Matthews, Abercrombie & Fitch and his fraternity - is that he is exactly like everyone else. Ken, whose Japanese American family has been in the United States for generations, is mainstream - for Hsu, the son of Taiwanese immigrants, who makes 'zines and haunts Bay Area record shops, Ken represents all that he defines himself in opposition to. The only thing Hsu and Ken have in common is that, however, they engage with it, American culture doesn't seem to have a place for either of them. But despite his first impressions, Hsu and Ken become friends, a friendship built of late-night conversations over cigarettes, long drives along the California coast and the textbook successes and humiliations of everyday college life. And then violently, senselessly, Ken is gone, killed in a carjacking, not even three years after the day they first meet. Determined to hold on to all that was left of one of his closest friends - his memories - Hsu turned to writing. Stay True is the book he's been working on ever since. A coming-of-age story that details both the ordinary and extraordinary, Stay True is a bracing memoir about growing up, and moving through the world in search of meaning and belonging

This poignant memoir explores the themes of music and belonging through the lens of a coming-of-age journey. It delves into the author's experiences as an outsider, highlighting the profound relationships that shape identity and understanding. Awarded the Pulitzer Prize, this narrative captures the emotional landscape of growing up, emphasizing the power of connection and the transformative impact of music on personal growth.