Get To Know
Gene Luen Yang

Gene Luen Yang writes, and sometimes draws, comic books and graphic novels. As the Library of Congress’ fifth National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, he advocates for the importance of reading, especially reading diversely. American Born Chinese, his first graphic novel from First Second Books, was a National Book Award finalist, as well as the winner of the Printz Award and an Eisner Award. In 2023, it was made into a television series for Disney+. His two-volume graphic novel Boxers & Saints won the L.A. Times Book Prize and was a National Book Award Finalist. Dragon Hoops, his non-fiction graphic novel about a high school basketball team, was a Printz Honor winner, Eisner Award winner, and Harvey Award winner. His other works include Secret Coders (with Mike Holmes), Superman from DC Comics (with various artists), and the Avatar: The Last Airbender series from Dark Horse Comics (with Gurihiru). In 2016, he was named a MacArthur Foundation Fellow.

Gene’s Story

Gene Luen Yang was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. His life changed one night in fifth grade, when his mother took him to the local bookstore and bought him his very first comic book: DC Comics Presents #57, starring Superman and the Atomic Knights. Soon after, he began writing and drawing comics of his own.

In 1996, Gene received the prestigious Xeric Grant, which allowed him to self-publish Gordon Yamamoto and the King of the Geeks #1, his first comic as an adult. Soon after, he joined Art Night, a collective of Bay Area cartoonists that included notable creators like Derek Kirk Kim, Lark Pien, Jason Shiga, Jason Thompson, Thien Pham, and Briana Loewinsohn. Around this same time, he began teaching Computer Science at Bishop O’Dowd High School, a position he held for 17 years.

In 2006, Gene published American Born Chinese with First Second Books. The book’s success eventually launched him into a full-time career as a cartoonist and writer. He’s been working hard at his dream job ever since.

Awards & Honors

Fifth National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature
2016 MacArthur Foundation Fellow
2017 St. Katharine Drexel Award Winner
2023 NSK Neustadt Prize Winner
2023 Southern Miss Medallion Winner
2024 Steinbeck Awardee

Get in touch

author visits contact:

information on Gene's books or queries concerning events that require publisher sponsorship:

First Second Books
mail@firstsecondbooks.com

rights information or queries concerning projects:
Hansen Literary Agency
hansenliterary@msn.com