Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts was first published. They had been given the book in their Autumn Quarter Introduction to the Humanities courses as part of the Freshman Book program, which is now in its third year.
Students are encouraged to read the book, think about it and discuss it with friends and roommates.
Later in the academic year, the book's author talks to the students and answers questions. Kingston described a telephone call she recently received from an Associated Press reporter. It made me feel amazed and grateful because nowadays books have the shelf life of milk and eggs. The book combines autobiography and fiction in evoking memories of the female narrator's childhood in California with her siblings and Chinese immigrant parents. Power comes from a receiving of the old stories and chants.