Celebrated writer Jean Kwok ’86 returned to New York for a series of reading engagements for her latest novel, Searching for Sylvie Lee (William Morrow 2019). The book focuses on the lives of a Chinese-American immigrant family whose charismatic, independent eldest daughter has gone missing overseas. The text chronicles the search for Sylvie and the family secrets that are unearthed in that process.
Just released in June 2019, the book received advance acclaim from reviewers at publications including Marie Claire, Popsugar, and Booklist. Shelf Awareness described the novel as “A compelling story of how the unsaid can powerfully shape families and lives.” In addition to the recognition Kwok has received for her writings, she was also named a Hunter College High School Distinguished Graduate in 2012.
Kwok, who now lives in the Netherlands, also authored the books Girl in Translation (Penguin Publishing Group 2011) and Mambo in Chinatown (Penguin Publishing Group 2015). She gave a reading of Searching for Sylvie Lee at the Asian American Writers’ Workshop in June, and also spoke at the HCHSAA’s Autumn Reception in 2011.
