The Hmong-American Journey - Kao Kalia Yang

Hmong-American writer Kao Kalia Yang, author of The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir (2008), will speak about her book to CLU freshmen, faculty, staff and the larger community.

Noted for her beautiful writing style, Yang has created a moving account of her parents’ difficult life in Laos, her early childhood in a refugee camp in Thailand, and her adolescent struggles to adapt to American culture in St. Paul, Minn.

Yang's poignant reflection on the Hmong-American way of life has captured the attention of enthusiastic readers and critics. Publishers Weekly has praised her remarkable skill of “beautifully weaving in Hmong folklore and culture,” and Christian Science Monitor has described her as a “reformer who believes that words can help to make a better world.”

In her presentation, Yang will read from her book and talk about the Hmong-American experience. The audience will have an opportunity to pose questions.

Admission is free. Soiland Recreation Center is located in Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center.

Photo of Kao Kalia Yang by Der Yang