Boston University Creative Writing alum Ying-Ju Lai (Fiction ’13) has received one of two Writer-in-Residence fellowships awarded by the Associates of the Boston Public Library in 2021. She, as well as fellow winner Katy Doughty, will receive a stipend, editorial assistance, and office space in the Boston Public Library.
Going to Disneyland, Ying-Ju’s proposed young adult novel, focuses on the experiences of a sixteen-year-old girl named Jiajia, a “parachute kid” with parents being pursued by the Chinese government after being accused of fraud and bribery. After her father abruptly arrives in the United States, Jiajia embarks on a cross-country adventure that forces her to confront the consequences of her parents’ behavior as well as her own privilege. Sian Gaetano, the Children’s and YA Editor at Shelf Awareness said of the project: “The ripped-from-the-headlines quality of Going to Disneyland mixed with the captivating writing and realistic character development make for an utterly entertaining YA novel.”
A virtual celebration and reading will be hosted by the Associates of the Boston Public Library on Monday, October 25, 2021 at 6:00 PM. The event is free and open to the public. Those who wish to learn more or register to attend can use this link.
Congratulations, Ying-Ju!
