Stories aren’t just for delight. They can be weapons, too.
Yellowface by Rebecca F. Kuang, which I recently finished reading. I’ve seen this book circulating on the book internet and contrary to the overwhelmingly positive things I’ve heard, my experience was quite different. So, I’ve jotted down my thoughts in my bullet journal, and I’m here to share them with you.
Yellowface by Rebecca F. Kuang, also known as R.F. Kuang, is a departure from her typical genre. She’s known for The Poppy War series, a beloved fantasy series, and Babel, which I believe is a mix of dark academia and magical realism. However, Yellowface is more of a contemporary literary fiction piece, focusing on a white author, June Hayward, who assumes the pen name Juniper Song. She ends up plagiarizing the manuscript of her late friend, Athena Liu, who had written about the Chinese labor force during World War I. June not only steals the work but also adopts an ambiguous persona that allows others to assume she is Asian American.
Yellowface: A Comprehensive Summary
In the synopsis, Yellowface is an intelligent, satirical thriller. It follows the first-person, present-day account of June Hayward, a white American writer in her late 20s. June had mild success with her debut novel, but it didn’t make the splash she’d hoped for, leaving her floating in mild obscurity. However, June is friends with another writer, Athena Liu, a Chinese American who has seen enormous success, writing books that perfectly skirt the line between accessible commercial fiction and high-art literary fiction.
They met at Yale, took classes together, and though they were never that close, they had enough in common to fall into a friendship rather than forging one. At Athena’s lavish apartment in DC, Athena reveals that she’s written a manuscript. This novel, a war epic about the Chinese labor force forcefully recruited by the British to fight in World War I, is something Athena is incredibly proud of. However, in a tragic turn, Athena chokes to death on a pancake while drunkenly making them with June.
After this shocking incident, June leaves Athena’s apartment, but not before stealing the manuscript. What follows is the crux of the novel: June finishes the half-completed manuscript, sends it to her agent, and becomes a New York Times bestselling author off the back of a stolen and plagiarized work. The novel then centers on June’s attempts to keep her secret as she faces criticism for cultural appropriation—being a white writer tackling a distinctly Chinese subject. Her publisher cleverly rebrands her under her middle name, Juniper Song, instead of her real name, June Hayward. Her new author photo is also edited to make her appear racially ambiguous.
The story of “Yellowface” revolves around the main character’s attempts to maintain her web of lies as she faces backlash, particularly over the issue of a white woman writing a Chinese historical novel. The book delves into the discourse surrounding cultural appropriation, plagiarism, and the authenticity of voices in storytelling. The main character spirals as she deals with the mounting evidence against her and the public’s growing suspicion. Interestingly, the book even includes a cameo of a YouTuber who posts a video dissecting the problematic lines in the main character’s work.
The publishing industry, as depicted in “Yellowface,” is not just about race and diversity but also about class and privilege. It’s worth noting that while it is indeed harder for marginalized writers to succeed, those who do often have some form of privilege that helped them get their foot in the door. Writing a novel requires time, space, and resources, which are often only available to those with financial stability or support.
Yellowface book Review
“Yellowface” is a book that had the potential to offer a deep critique of the publishing industry and the complexities of race, privilege, and authorship. However, it falls short by focusing too much on the petty grievances of its main character and not enough on the more nuanced aspects of the story. I found this book very readable but also stressful and underwhelming.
Yellowface isn’t just a thriller; it’s a clever critique of modern-day issues. It offers a behind-the-scenes look at the publishing industry, exposing its darker, more cynical side—how diversity is often capitalized upon, how specific authors are chosen to be the “darlings” of their time, and how the industry strategically manages representation for profit. It also delves into social media’s role in modern literature, capturing the obsession with cancel culture and the way online discourse can be both toxic and revealing.
Yellowface is incredibly well-plotted and paced, with each act delivering perfect payoffs. It’s a book that would make a fantastic TV show due to its systematic structure and escalating tension. However, it’s also polarizing—many readers didn’t like it, but I struggle to see how that’s possible. Kuang’s exploration of racism, xenophobia, and homophobia within an industry that pretends to care about these issues is both endearing and incisive.
What is Yellowface about?
Yellowface is a wild journey about a white writer named June who does something seriously wrong. Her friend Athena, a highly accomplished Chinese American author, chokes on a pancake (yes, strange, I know) and dies in her posh DC apartment. June is present when it happens, and she chooses to steal Athena’s secret manuscript. Talk about opportunism, right?
The book follows June as she completes Athena’s work and publishes it as her own. She even lets people assume she’s Asian American. It’s all about how she justifies this to herself and copes with the newfound fame. But it’s more than just June’s crazy narrative. It’s also a look behind the scenes of the publishing industry.
Meet the main characters of ‘Yellowface’
June Hayward: The protagonist and narrator. She’s a white American writer in her late 20s who had mild success with her debut novel. June is described as petty, vindictive, and entitled. She steals Athena’s manuscript and publishes it under the pen name Juniper Song. Readers often find themselves both sympathizing with and despising June as she navigates the consequences of her actions.
Athena Liu: A highly successful Chinese American author who dies at the beginning of the novel. Athena was June’s friend from Yale, though their relationship was strained by June’s jealousy. She had written a manuscript about Chinese laborers in World War I, which becomes the center of the story after her death. While portrayed as more successful than June, the discussions suggest she wasn’t entirely likable either.
Books like Yellowface
- “White Ivy” by Susie Yang – It’s got that same vibe of an Asian-American experience mixed with some serious moral gray areas. The main character, Ivy, is just as complex and morally ambiguous as June.
- “My Dark Vanessa” by Kate Elizabeth Russell – If you’re into that whole unreliable narrator thing, this one’s a doozy. It tackles some heavy themes about power and perspective, kinda like “Yellowface” does with cultural appropriation.
- “Such a Fun Age” by Kiley Reid – Another book that dives into racial dynamics and privilege, but with a bit more humor. It’s got that same page-turner quality too.
- “The Other Black Girl” by Zakiya Dalila Harris – This one’s all about the publishing industry and racial tensions. It’s got thriller elements mixed with social commentary, just like “Yellowface”.
Author: R.F. Kuang
Date Published: May 16, 2023
Pages: 336 pages, Hardcover
Goodreads Rating: 3.7/5
Also Read: Book Review: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Yellowface ending explained
In conclusion, Yellowface didn’t meet my expectations. I gave it three stars because, in my opinion, it was mediocre at best. Some appreciate it for providing a clear, compelling critique of racism and cultural appropriation in publishing, while others believe it lacks the depth and nuance required for such difficult themes. If you’ve read this book, I’d love to hear your thoughts, especially if you loved it.
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