Award-winning Ying Chang Compestine is the multi-talented author of 25 books, including novels, picture books, and cookbooks. Named as one of the “50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading” by the Author’s Show, her books have sold worldwide in multiple languages.
Her picture books have won numerous awards and are read globally. Her middle-grade novel, Revolution Is Not A Dinner Party, has won 33 awards and is required reading in many schools. Her young adult novel, A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts, is currently being adapted into a TV series. Ying’s new novel, Morning Sun in Wuhan, received great recognition and reviews and has earned prestigious awards like the Gold Standard Selection by the Junior Library Guild and was named The Best Book of the Year by The New York Public Library. Her new picture book Little Red Riding Hood and the Dragon, has been named one of the best books of 2022 by Common Sense Media. Ying is frequently invited to teach writing workshops and speak about her work throughout the world.
Download Bio
 Hardcover
|
 Ming Da is only nine years old when he becomes the emperor of China, and his three advisors take advantage of him by stealing his stores of rice, gold, and precious stones. But Ming Da has a plan. With the help of his tailors, he comes up with a clever idea to outsmart his devious advisors: He asks his tailors to make “magical” new clothes for him. Anyone who is honest, the young emperor explains, will see the clothes’ true splendor, but anyone who is dishonest will see only burlap sacks. The emperor dons a burlap sack, and the ministers can’t help but fall for his cunning trick. |
 Trade Paperback
|
Nine-year-old Ling has a very happy life. Her parents are both dedicated surgeons at the best hospital in Wuhan, and her father teaches her English as they listen to Voice of America every evening on the radio. But when one of Mao's political officers moves into a room in their apartment, Ling begins to witness the gradual disintegration of her world. Will she be able to grow and blossom under the oppressive rule of Chairman Mao? Or will fighting to survive destroy her spirit—and end her life? |
 Paperback
|
A Banquet for Hungry GhostsA Collection of Deliciously Frightening Tales
According to Chinese tradition, those who die hungry or unjustly come back to haunt the living. Some are appeased with food. But not all ghosts are successfully mollified. In this chilling collection of stories,Ying Chang Compestine takes readers on a journey through time and across different parts of China. From the building of the GreatWall in 200 BCE to themodern day of iPods, hungry ghosts continue to torment those who wronged them. |
 Hardcover
|
In Cooking with an Asian Accent, award-winning author Ying Compestine, a nationally renowned authority on Asian culture and cuisine, reveals how to make delicious home-cooked meals that nourish the senses and the soul using accessible ingredients, simple preparations, and thrilling flavors. |
 Hardcover
|
In this action-packed adventure and coming-of-age story that finely weaves fact and fiction, thirteen-year-old Ming lives in a small village in Maoist China in the 1970s. From the stories of a terra-cotta soldier who has survived through the centuries, Ming learns the history of Emperor Qin, known for building the Great Wall of China, and how and why the terra-cotta soldiers came to be. |
 Hardcover
|
Ying's Best One-Dish MealsQuick & Healthy Recipes for the Entire Family
A collection of quick, healthful, and delicious one-dish meals that include protein, high fiber carbohydrates, fresh vegetables, and more. Prepared using fast cooking techniques and nutritious ingredients, these recipes allow readers to pull together satisfying meals in a snap. Bonus materials include: meal-planning tips; ingredient short-cuts; grains and pasta cooking and storage guide; and pantry lists to make last-minute meals a breeze. |
 Hardcover
|
As night falls, one hungry ghost is looking for his dinner. Yum! He spots a plump, delicious-looking boy just right for boy dumplings. Even better, the boy knows the perfect recipe. He sends the ghost all over China for stinky garlic, wormy cabbage, and moldy dumpling wrappers. There's always one more ingredient the boy tells the ghost to find, but the hungry ghost knows the boy dumplings will be worth it. But when dawn arrives, will this crafty youngster escape--or will the plan he's cooked up lead him to the cooking pot? |
 Hardcover
|
The Runaway WokA Chinese New Year Tale
When a boy goes to the market to buy food and comes home with an old wok instead, his parents wonder what they'll eat for dinner. But then the wok rolls out of the poor family's house with a skippity-hoppity-ho! and returns from the rich man's home with a feast in tow! With spirited text and lively illustrations, this story reminds readers about the importance of generosity. |
 Hardcover
|
Grieving the death of her mother and an outcast at school, thirteen-year-old Mei finds solace in cooking and computer games. When her friend’s grandmother falls ill, Mei seeks out her father, a doctor, for help, and discovers the hospital is overcrowded. As the virus spreads, Mei finds herself alone in a locked-down city trying to find a way to help. Selected as one of the best books of 2022 by the New York Public Library. |
 Hardcover
|
This is not the story you think you know. In this version of the classic fairy tale, Little Red lives in a village near the Great Wall and trains in kung fu. When she ventures to her grandmother’s to deliver rice cakes and herbal medicine, she encounters something much more fearsome than a wolf—a mighty dragon. With her wits and a sword in hand, Little Red must valiantly defend herself and her grandmother in this vibrant retelling from Ying Chang Compestine and Joy Ang. Selected as one of the best books of 2022 by Common Sense Media. |
 Hardcover
|
It’s almost time for the party! One-by-one all the animals of the zodiac go up the hill, each one carrying an ingredient. Horse trots up the hill with a big wok. Goat strolls up the hill with wild onions. Except for Snake, that is. It’s his birthday! All of his friends have prepared long noodles to celebrate his long and happy life. Simple text is paired with delightful, friendly art in this joyous look at the Chinese tradition of preparing long noodles to celebrate birthdays, the New Year, and other festive occasions. |
Check out more of Ying Compestine's books, including cookbooks, novels, and picture books, here.
Empowering Girls
Ying will share her journey of growing up during the Cultural Revolution, and how she overcame adversity as a Chinese-American woman to become a successful author. She will talk about how the post-COVID, anti-Asian social landscape inspired her to write strong, Asian female protagonists in her new books Morning Sun in Wuhan and Little Red Riding Hood and the Dragon.
Rising above Adversity – Growing up During the Chinese Cultural Revolution Ying will share her journey from East to West, and how her life growing up in Wuhan China during the Cultural Revolution inspires her works.
How to Use Writing as Self-Therapy The relief that comes from writing is not only psychological. When people write about emotionally difficult events, their immune system and capacity to handle stress improves. Ying will share the techniques of journaling as well as demonstrate how one can tap into their memories to write their own chronological story.
The Intersection of Food and History Ying will trace different countries' culinary histories, showcasing how food influences people's daily life, enriches beauty and health, and—most importantly—binds communities together. She can also lead the guests to the local market to shop for fresh ingredients and conduct cooking classes, as well as demonstrate how to use the local flowers and herbs for beauty purposes.
Rising above Adversity – Growing up During the Chinese Cultural Revolution Ying will share her journey from East to West, and how her life growing up in Wuhan China during the Cultural Revolution inspires her works.
How to Use Writing as Self-Therapy The relief that comes from writing is not only psychological. When people write about emotionally difficult events, their immune system and capacity to handle stress improves. Ying will share the techniques of journaling as well as demonstrate how one can tap into their memories to write their own chronological story.
The Intersection of Food and History Ying will trace different countries' culinary histories, showcasing how food influences people's daily life, enriches beauty and health, and—most importantly—binds communities together. She can also lead the guests to the local market to shop for fresh ingredients and conduct cooking classes, as well as demonstrate how to use the local flowers and herbs for beauty purposes.
Listen to Ying Compestine discuss the Chinese New Year on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Check out Ying Compestine’s many interviews with news sources around the world, including: The Boston Globe San Francisco Gate Mercury News Asian Festival of Children’s Content Children’s Book Council Beijing Kids New Asian Writing
Watch Ying Compestine’s Youtube channel for more appearances and cooking tutorials.
Learn more about Ying Compestine on her website and LinkedIn.
YA horror novel to be adapted into an animated series by 108 Media.
A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts to be optioned for a horror series. Learn more at DEADLINE.
Read a profile of Ying and a review of Morning Sun in the San Francisco Chronicle. as well as a recipe for Colorful Egg Fried Rice from Morning Sun featured in Mochi Magazine.
Read about Ying’s work on Lamorinda Weekly.
For Chinese speakers: Here is Ying’s bio in Chinese
“Ying Chang Compestine is a dynamic and inspiring speaker. Ying is particularly gifted in speaking to upper elementary as well as high school students and her life story is well worth hearing. [...] Ying’s tips on how to be better writers together with her personal anecdotes relating to growing up during the Cultural Revolution stimulated further discussion in the middle and high school LA classrooms.”
– Megan Noble, EMS librarian, Morrison Academy, Taiwan.
“Year 8 students at Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong received a crash course in novel writing, thanks to Ying Chang Compestine’s recent visit to our school. Using metaphors and anecdotes from her personal life, she painted a realistic picture of what a career as a published author can entail. Here’s hoping her words inspire the young writers in our midst to keep working towards their goals!”
– Lauren Bull, Senior School Librarian, Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong
"I liked how encouraging she was to the students and how she made them feel like they've already got a great start towards their writing careers. She made them feel smart and capable."
– Scott Pagel, EMS librarian, Morrison Academy, Taichung
“Be prepared for an inspiring presentation. Also, be prepared for Ying’s books to fly off the shelves!”
– Debbie Alvarez, Teacher Librarian, Bradbury School
“We were most fortunate to have this exceptional author and chef visit our students and teach them, directly and indirectly, language, history, cooking, and the craft of writing.”
– Kathy Ilyin, Librarian, Bentley School
“Strong, eloquent and touching. Ying has a way with words both vocally and in writing. She is an inspiration to writers around the world.”
– Asian Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC)
“Ying is a breath of fresh air!! Her secret recipe for inspiring, crowd pleasing events consists of contagious enthusiasm for healthy living and motivational and empowering encouragement to follow one’s dreams. As a coordinator and a liaison for many community events for Whole Foods Market, collaborating with Ying to inspire and educate was not only easy but so much fun! Ying’s can do attitude and relentless determination to succeed is a recipe I look forward to creating over and over again.”
— Jane Shafer, Marketing Team Leader, Whole Foods Market
"This October we were so excited to have Ms. Ying Compestine to visit our children aged from 5-10. She held five amazing sessions that were filled with rich Chinese culture, book talks, and fun, engaging activities. It was such an incredible experience for our students to learn about how her books were created from getting inspirations to how she worked with publishers. What's more, for our children who are on the Chinese immersion track, it was also a valuable experience to hear her presentation in Mandarin!"
- Avenues: The World School
"Ying Chang Compestine is such an inspiration, writing truths from the heart in the hopes that others' heads will follow. It was wonderful to welcome her back as she was one of our first authors visits on this campus."
- Virginia Hunt, PS Principal, Hong Kong Academy
Read more testimonials about Ying Compestine here.
– Megan Noble, EMS librarian, Morrison Academy, Taiwan.
“Year 8 students at Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong received a crash course in novel writing, thanks to Ying Chang Compestine’s recent visit to our school. Using metaphors and anecdotes from her personal life, she painted a realistic picture of what a career as a published author can entail. Here’s hoping her words inspire the young writers in our midst to keep working towards their goals!”
– Lauren Bull, Senior School Librarian, Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong
"I liked how encouraging she was to the students and how she made them feel like they've already got a great start towards their writing careers. She made them feel smart and capable."
– Scott Pagel, EMS librarian, Morrison Academy, Taichung
“Be prepared for an inspiring presentation. Also, be prepared for Ying’s books to fly off the shelves!”
– Debbie Alvarez, Teacher Librarian, Bradbury School
“We were most fortunate to have this exceptional author and chef visit our students and teach them, directly and indirectly, language, history, cooking, and the craft of writing.”
– Kathy Ilyin, Librarian, Bentley School
“Strong, eloquent and touching. Ying has a way with words both vocally and in writing. She is an inspiration to writers around the world.”
– Asian Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC)
“Ying is a breath of fresh air!! Her secret recipe for inspiring, crowd pleasing events consists of contagious enthusiasm for healthy living and motivational and empowering encouragement to follow one’s dreams. As a coordinator and a liaison for many community events for Whole Foods Market, collaborating with Ying to inspire and educate was not only easy but so much fun! Ying’s can do attitude and relentless determination to succeed is a recipe I look forward to creating over and over again.”
— Jane Shafer, Marketing Team Leader, Whole Foods Market
"This October we were so excited to have Ms. Ying Compestine to visit our children aged from 5-10. She held five amazing sessions that were filled with rich Chinese culture, book talks, and fun, engaging activities. It was such an incredible experience for our students to learn about how her books were created from getting inspirations to how she worked with publishers. What's more, for our children who are on the Chinese immersion track, it was also a valuable experience to hear her presentation in Mandarin!"
- Avenues: The World School
"Ying Chang Compestine is such an inspiration, writing truths from the heart in the hopes that others' heads will follow. It was wonderful to welcome her back as she was one of our first authors visits on this campus."
- Virginia Hunt, PS Principal, Hong Kong Academy
Read more testimonials about Ying Compestine here.