The Secret Battle of Evan Pao

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussions of racism.

Wendy Wan-Long Shang is a Chinese-American middle-grade fiction author. Shang grew up in Northern Virginia, where the past and present intersect. Northern Virginia is famous not only for its “technology corridor” but also for Civil War Memorials.

Shang grew up in this area with Chinese parents who first immigrated to Taiwan before settling in the United States (White, Amy Brecount. “You Can Be American But Not Always Feel Like You’re Seen as One.” Arlington Magazine, 16 Sept. 2022). She recalls feeling a lack of Asian role models, particularly in literature, during her formative years. Despite this, Shang excelled academically, earning her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Virginia. She later worked for the American Bar Association, focusing on juvenile policy (White). Shang continues to live in Northern Virginia and is the mother of 3 children.

After her 20th high school reunion, Shang decided to pursue her long-held dream of writing (White). She fills her books with characters she longed to see as a child, reflecting her own experiences and perspective. Shang is the author of several middle-grade fiction books, including the award-winning The Great Wall of Lucy Wu and a collaboration with American Girl for the first 2 books in the Corrinne Tan series.