# Ying Chang Compestine

Ying Chang Compestine (born March 8, 1963) is a Chinese American author, speaker, television host and chef. She has written over twenty-seven books including Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party (novel), based on her life growing up during the Chinese Cultural Revolution, and a middle grade novel, Morning Sun in Wuhan, set in Wuhan, China.

## Biography

Ying Chang Compestine was born and raised in Wuhan, China. Her family was considered "bourgeois," so the Red Guard took her family's belongings and her father was put in jail twice. Because of the family's difficulties, Compestine was sent to live with her grandparents.
Compestine earned a degree in English and American literature and taught English in China. She also worked as an interpreter for China's Bureau of Seismology.
Compestine graduated with a master's degree in Sociology from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1990. She met her husband just before she finished graduate school. Before becoming an award-winning author, she taught sociology at various universities and colleges in the U.S. and China until 1998.

## Career

After immigrating to the United States, Compestine taught sociology and writing at universities in both the U.S. and China. Compestine has received various education awards including the Master Teacher Award from both Front Range Community College (1991-1992) and the International School of Beijing (2000).
Compestine has hosted several cooking shows on Chinese Language News Broadcaster for Phoenix North America Chinese Channel, as well as appearing as a guest on the Food Network, Discovery Channel, and HGTV. She also worked a food editor for Martha Stewart’s Body + Soul magazine and is a contributor for Cooking Light, EatingWell, Self, and Men's Health. Compestine is also a spokesperson for Nestle and Celestial Seasonings.

### Writing career

Compestine began writing after her son was born, creating the cookbook, Secrets of Fat-Free Chinese Cooking (1997). She began writing children's books after her parents died, because she missed China and her family. Since then she has written numerous children's books, and is actively writing today.
Her book Revolution is Not a Dinner Party (2007) is based on her life growing up in China. The book has been featured on several lists, such as the 2008 American Library Association's (ALA) Best Books for Young Readers, and Publishers Weekly's best children's books for 2007.
Compestine co-authored Secrets of The Terra Cotta Soldier, with her son Vinson in 2014.
Her picture book, Growing Up Under a Red Flag (2024), illustrated by Xinmei Liu, is a memoir recounting her childhood during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. It has received three "starred reviews" from the School Library Journal, Publisher's Weekly, and Booklist as well as high praise from the Wall Street Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Book Riot, the Association of Children's Librarians of Northern California, Mother's Magazine, Bay Area News Group, ArcaMax Publishing, and more. It has also been awarded the Gold Standard Selection by the Junior Library Guild. Recently, Compestine appeared on Kirkus Reviews'FullyBooked Podcast, episode 401, to speak on her book and writing journey.
Her picture book, Ra Pu Zel and the Stinky Tofu (2024) illustrated by Crystal Kung, has received praise from Kirkus Reviews, Publisher's Weekly, and the School Library Journal. It has also been featured on California’s notable stations, KQED and ABC7@7, and chosen as a Common Sense Selection by Common Sense Media.
Her most recent picture book, The Chinese New Year Helper (2025), illustrated by Ginnie Hsu, was released earlier this year. The audiobook, narrated by Stephanie Sheh, was recently featured on platforms like AudioFile , Audible, and many more
Her most recent middle-grade novel, Morning Sun in Wuhan (2022) has received praise from The San Francisco Chronicle and The Mercury News. It was selected as A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year, an NCSS 2023 Notable Social Studies Trade Book, and was chosen as a Gold Standard Selection by the Junior Library Guild.
Her young adult novel, A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts, is currently being adapted into an animated TV series by 108 Media.
She has one upcoming graphic novel cookbook: Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, and Other Curiously Named Classic Chinese Dishes: A Graphic Cookbook--26 Recipes and Stories, set to be released March 4th 2025. It was recently featured in The Mercury News and other publications.

## Speaking Career

Compestine has been a sought-after keynote speaker/chef at high-end cruise ships, resorts, and private jets, such as The World, Silver Sea, Crystal, Canyon Ranch, and TCS World Travel.
She presents on a wide variety of topics, from Rising above Adversity, about her life in China during the Chinese Cultural Revolution, healthy living and cooking, to writing/publishing books.
Common speaking themes include: Inspirational Speaking, Healthy Eating and Cooking, and Writing Programs. This includes her Writer-in-Residence Program, where she spends one to two weeks working with students and teachers to inspire growth in reading and writing.

## Publications

* Buddha Jumps Over a Wall and Other Curiously Named Chinese Dishes. Chronicle Books. Release date: March 2025.
* The Chinese New Year Helper. Rocky Pond Books. 2024. ISBN 9780593534014
* Growing Up Under a Red Flag. Rocky Pond Books. 2024. ISBN 978-0593533987.
* Ra Pu Zel and the Stinky Tofu. Rocky Pond Books. 2024. ISBN 978-0593533055.
* Dragon Noodle Party. Holiday House. 2022. ISBN 978-0823449507.
* Morning Sun in Wuhan. Clarion Books. 2022. ISBN 978-0358572053.
* Little Red Riding Hood and the Dragon. Abrams Books for Young Readers. 2022 ISBN 978-1419737282.
* D is for Dragon Dance (Chinese/English bilingual edition). Holiday House. 2018.
* Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party (German translation). Verlagshaus Jacoby & Stuart. 2018.
* The Chinese Emperor's New Clothes. Abrams Books For Young Readers. 2018. ISBN 978-1419725425.
* The Chinese Emperor's New Clothes (Audiobook Sample). Abrams Books For Young Readers. 2018.
* A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts: A collection of Deliciously Frightening Tales. Tumbling Dumpling Media. 2016. ISBN 978-0997218701.
* The Story of Chopsticks. Immedium. 2016. ISBN 9781597021203.
* The Story of Kites. Immedium. 2016. ISBN 978-1597021319.
* The Story of Paper. Immedium. 2016. ISBN 978-1597021234.
* Boy Dumplings: A Tasty Chinese Tale. Immedium. 2016. ISBN 978-1597021197.
* Secrets of The Terra Cotta Soldier. with Vinson Compestine. Abrams Books. 2014. ISBN 978-1419705403.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
* Cooking with an Asian Accent. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 2014. ISBN 978-1118130759.
* Ying's Best One-Dish Meals: Quick & Healthy Recipes for the Entire Family. Sellers Publishing, Inc. 2011. ISBN 978-1416206439.
* The Runaway Wok. Dutton Books for Young Readers. 2011. ISBN 978-0525420682.
* Crouching Tiger. Candlewick. 2011. ISBN 978-0763646424.
* Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party. Henry Holt & Co. 2007. ISBN 978-0997218701.
* The Real Story of Stone Soup. Dutton Books for Young Readers. 2007. ISBN 978-0525474937.
* D is For Dragon Dance. Holiday House Inc. 2007. ISBN 9780823420582.
* The Story of Noodles. Holiday House. 2002. ISBN 0823416003.
* Secrets From a Healthy Asian Kitchen. Avery. 2002. ISBN 9781583331279.
* The Runaway Rice Cake. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. 2001. ISBN 0689829728.
* Cooking With Green Tea. Avery. 2000. ISBN 9781583330654.
* Secrets of Fat-free Chinese Cooking. Avery. 1997. ISBN 0895297353.

## Awards

| Book | Award |
| Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party | California Book Award for Young Adult Literature 2008 ALA Best Books For Young Adults 2008 ALA Notable Children's Books 2007 Publishers Weekly Best Children's Fiction Book List 2007 San Francisco Chronicle Best Children's Fiction Book List 2008 Chinese American Librarian Association Best Book 2007 New York Public Library 100 Best Titles for Reading and Sharing 2007 Fall Book Sense Children's Picks 2007 Parent's Choice Silver Honor 2007 Cybils Award Nomination for Young Adult Fiction 2008 Tayshas Reading List (Texas) 2007 Chicago Public Library Best of the Best 2007 Cleveland Public Library Celebrate With Books 2007 Cuyahoga County Public Library Great Books for Kids 2008 Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People — CBC and the National Council for Social Studies 2008 IRA Notable Books for a Global Society 2008 NCTE Award 2008 Capitol Choices — Best Books of the Year, Washington, D.C. 2008 New York Public Library's Teen Age List 2008 Cooperative Children's Book Center — Best of the Year 2008 Bank Street College of Education — Best Children's Book 2008 Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts 2008 Book of the Year Award — Northern California Independent Booksellers Association 2008 Women's National Book Association's Judy Lopez Memorial Awards Honor 2008-09 Maine Student Book Award 2008 Notable Children's Books in the English Language Arts 2009 ATPE Book of the Month 2009 Sakura Medal Book 2008-2009 Nominated for the Maine Student Book Award |
| A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts: A collection of Deliciously Frightening Tales | Notable Book for 2010 by the Children's Literary Assembly AARP as a Grandparent's Book for Children |
| Secrets of The Terra Cotta Soldier | Top 3 Books by The Morning Call Best Multi-Cultural Books of 2014 Award NYPL's 100 Best Children's Books of 2014 Best Fiction on the Bank Street College 2015 List The Nerdy Book Club's Top 10 Historical Fiction List Shortlisted for the Hong Kong Golden Dragon Book Award CALA Best Book Award of 2014 |
| Crouching Tiger | Winner of the Panda Book Award in China Winner of The Morning Calm Award in South Korea The Chinese American Librarians Association Best Book of 2011 CCBC Choices for 2012 |
| The Runaway Wok: A Chinese New Year Tale | Featured title at the Asian Festival of Children's Content in Singapore 2013 Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award (WCCPBA)Nominee 2012 Storytelling World Resource Award 2012 California Collections List, for school libraries Scholastic Book Club Choice 2011 Lasting Connections Top 30 Titles from Booklist |
| The Chinese Emperor's New Clothes | 2018 Parent's Choice Awards 2019 Great Texas Mosquito List 2019 Bank Street College of Education — Best Children's Book |
| Morning Sun in Wuhan | 2022 Selected as one of the best books of 2022 by the New York Public Library 2022 Honorable Mention of the Freeman Book Award by NCTAsia 2022 Recipient of the Common Sense Selection for Books designation 2023 Chosen as a Gold Standard Selection by the Junior Library Guild 2023 Notable Social Studies Book by the NSST/CBC |
| Ra Pu Zel and the Stinky Tofu | 2024 Recipient of the Common Sense Selection for Books designation 2024 Winner of the MOSS Kids National Championship 2024 BookPage’s Best Picture Books of the Year 2024 Evanston Public Library 101 Great Books for Kids 2024 New York Public Library Best Books for Kids |
| Growing Up Under a Red Flag | 2024 Chosen as a Gold Standard Selection by the Junior Library Guild 2024 Recipient of the Common Sense Selection for Books designation 2024 Starred review from the School Library Journal 2024 Starred review from Publisher's Weekly 2024 Starred review from Booklist 2024 CALIBA Golden Poppy Award Finalist 2024 Kirkus Reviews' Best Picture Books of the Year Wall Street Journal's Best Books of 2024: Children’s Books Booklist's Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2024 Common Sense Selection's Best Books of the Year: 2024 |
| The Chinese New Year Helper | 2024 Publishers Weekly's Best Holiday Books For Kids and Teens Book Riot's Best New Children’s Books Out December 2024 |