Gene Luen Yang

Gene Luen Yang is an acclaimed author and illustrator best known for his work in comic books and graphic novels that explore culture, identity and history.

Yang’s graphic novel “American Born Chinese” brought him national recognition as a National Book Award finalist and winner of the Michael L. Printz Award. The book has since been adapted into an original series for Disney+, expanding its reach to a new generation of audiences. His two-volume graphic novel “Boxers & Saints” earned the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and was also named a National Book Award finalist.

In addition to his fiction, Yang has been recognized for his contributions to nonfiction comics. His graphic memoir “Dragon Hoops” received an Eisner Award and a Printz honor, further solidifying his reputation as a leading figure in the graphic literature field. His ability to blend visual storytelling with rigorous research has helped broaden the scope and credibility of the graphic novel form.

Yang’s body of work also includes popular and critically praised titles such as “Secret Coders,” created with Mike Holmes; “The Shadow Hero,” with Sonny Liew; “Superman Smashes the Klan”; and contributions to the “Avatar: The Last Airbender” series. In recognition of his influence and creativity, he was named a MacArthur Foundation Fellow in 2016. That same year, he was named National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature by the Library of Congress, a role in which he has advocated for the importance of reading, with a particular emphasis on diverse voices and stories.