Where can I begin about this book? I guess where so many things in my life start–with me. As an author, in so many ways, I really felt the main character’s pain. More than that, the book made me think. A lot. And, almost needless to say, I recommend it to you!
Yellowface is about two authors, one Asian American (Athena) and one white (June). Both went to Yale, are young, and now live in Washington DC. There the similarities end. Athena quickly becomes “ridiculously successful,” whereas June struggles in the way that the vast majority of authors do. So, when Athena dies in a freak accident, June takes the opportunity to help herself to Athena’s unpublished work, polish it up, and pass it off as her own. But there are problems, because the book is about Chinese laborers during WWII. Her publisher has the answer. She rebrands her as Juniper Song, uses a darkened photo, and the novel hits the New York Times bestseller list. Juniper made it! Or did she? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
Time called this book “razor sharp.” With the many ethical dilemmas it poses, I would go further. As another famous manuscript says, it “pierces to the dividing of joints and marrow.” Allow me to mention just a few ways in which I felt pierced.
The most obvious question posed by this book is, how much “borrowing” is too much? Obviously, taking an entire manuscript is too much. Or is it? I recently read Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. The events and even names in that books were almost entirely “borrowed” from David Copperfield, not that Kingsolver denies this. But what about listening to what people tell you and incorporating that into a book? What about modeling a character on someone you know? Authors are regularly encouraged to do both these things, but Juniper calls it “stealing.” Is it? And to be even more modern, how much AI is too much? I personally used ProWritingAid to do a final copy edit before sending off the galleys of my work-in-progress (WIP). Is that wrong? One can see how this dilemma has further application, affecting students, lawyers, politicians, and other professions.
Yellowface also highlights the necessity and dangers of social media. Few would disagree that being recognized on the Internet can be exhilarating, addictive, and powerful. But it can also be toxic. When I sent my WIP to an agent, she told me to build up my platform and then get back to her. That means tweeting, posting photos, sharing on Facebook, and releasing videos. I’m trying. Currently, much of what I post about my writing is ignored. That’s frustrating and, at times, a bit depressing. But I have a rich and wonderful life; social media is a very small part of that, so I can rise above. Those who treat writing as a vocation instead of a hobby can’t, and the Internet is a cruel place. We all know how easy it is to honk at someone who cuts you off, even though you’d never get out of the car and confront them. It’s even easier to do harm on social media. Since many there want/need a big following, the temptation to tear others down and even lie for personal profit is huge. And many give in. Another dilemma.
Racism and reparations. I’ve been to children’s writer’s conferences where one agent after another said they give preference to authors of color and/or those in the LGBTQ community. They also stressed “own voices.” They’re trying to redress imbalances that have plagued our society for decades. As an aside, my children’s books are about a bulldog—oops! In Yellowface, June’s people addressed the race issue by giving a misleading impression, resulting in quite a negative reaction from many. The reader is left wondering why manuscripts can’t be evaluated on their own merits rather than the race, gender, and sexual preferences of the author. After all, Juniper did the historical research required. Obviously, this is a complex issue, but I was very intrigued by a statement by Candace at the end of the book. Quite a thought-provoking twist! Kudos to Kuang, who incidentally is a Chinese woman writing about a white one!
As if all this were not sufficient, Yellowface poses yet another question. How much punishment is enough? When we fire someone, should we care if it negatively impacts the rest of their life? Again, on a personal level, I lost my job at George Mason University after allegedly teaching creationism. It was a demonstrably false accusation, but instead of quietly going away, encouraged by some who thought to use me for their own ends, I fought. The result was that I was crucified on the Internet (just google my name) and never got another full-time teaching job. In my case, I chose not to exact revenge. Rather, I pursued other professional avenues (research, tutoring, running a nonprofit, co-starting a tech company, and writing books). But what if teaching had been all I was capable of doing? What if I hadn’t had a husband who could support me during my job search? I certainly felt for Juniper when she did all in her power to avoid having to give up her earnings and her career. And what about that other lady? Can we blame her?
In the manner of many good books, Yellowface doesn’t provide us with answers. But, in a very winsome and engaging manner, it sure does make us think. And that is never a bad thing.