Immerse yourself in the world of Amy Wu, a funny and fierce little girl and the main character of the book series by Kat Zhang. Kat Zhang will be in conversation with Phuong Ha, the Education and Outreach Manager for Asia Society Texas. There will also be a special performance of the Lion Dance by Unity Dragon and Lion Dance Troupe, a booking signing with Kat Zhang, and some fun activities for the kids.  

About the Author

Kat Zhang spent most of her childhood tramping through a world woven from her favorite stories and games. When she and her best friend weren't riding magic horses or talking to trees, they were writing adaptations of plays for their stuffed animals (what would The Wizard of Oz have been like if the Cowardly Lion were replaced by a Loquacious Lamb?). This may or may not explain many of Kat's quirks today.

By the age of twelve, Kat had started her first novel and begun plans for her life as a Real Live Author. Said plans didn't come into fruition until seven years later, when her agent sold her Young Adult trilogy, The Hybrid Chronicles, to HarperCollins. The series, about a parallel universe where everyone is born with two souls, concluded in 2014.

She has also published two Middle Grade novels with Simon & Schuster. The first, The Emperor's Riddle, is about hidden treasure, lost aunts, and China. The second, The Memory of Forgotten Things, is about grief, solar eclipses, and misfit children. She also has four picture books, Amy Wu & the Perfect Bao, Amy Wu & the Patchwork Dragon, Amy Wu & the Warm Welcome, and Amy Wu & the Ribbon Dance. Last but not least, she is working on a series of books with Baobab Studios and Penguin Random House about the Magic Paintbrush legends!

About the Moderator
Phuong has been seen overstaying her welcome in libraries and bookstores across Houston, Texas from an early age. When she wasn’t reading magical books and manga, she was daydreaming about her own adventures. Her obsession with the art of storytelling led her to pursue a B.A. in Literature and Broadcast Journalism from the University of Houston and become a program manager for a local literacy organization. As a literacy advocate, she worked closely with educators to develop strategies on incorporating more writing in the classroom and delivered creative writing programs to over 23,000 kids. As Education and Outreach Manager she spends her time collaborating with educators and community partners to make cultural studies accessible for all audiences.