“Elaine Yu has written an amazing book that recounts her journey from growing up with a ‘deevorced,’ immigrant mom who feared not being able to pay the rent to Stanford alum and more. Her honesty and transparency touched me at a deep level. Looking at her now, some say that Elaine has lived a charmed life. If only they knew. On second thought, find out by reading her book! I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommended.”

— Martin Hellman; 2015 Turing Award winner and author, A New Map for Relationships: Creating True Love at Home and Peace on the Planet

People know the story of the ugly duckling who turns into a beautiful swan, but what about the ugly dumpling? And how does that ugly dumpling grow up to become part of a banquet of love, belonging, and joy? In her compelling memoir, Elaine Yu shares how family devotion and the presence of caring adults can help heal even the most painful adverse experiences.

— Russell Jeung, PhD; Time 100 Honoree; Professor, Asian American Studies San Francisco State University/ Co-Founder, Stop AAPI Hate; Author of At Home in Exile

“For all the stories of Asian American success, Ugly Dumpling shows how fragile and shallow these measures are, and the terrible costs behind the scenes to mental health, loving relationships, and overall well-being. Many have gone through similar hardships as Elaine Hsieh Yu, but few have had the resilience to tell of them. I’m staggered by her book.”

–-Ed Lin, author of Ghost Month and David Tung Can’t Have a Girlfriend Until He Gets Into an Ivy League College

“Elaine Hsieh Yu seems to have a photographic memory of her early life, illuminating the details of her journey from Hong Kong to Hawaii to Baldwin Park and later to Stanford, California… Though her father tells her she’s ‘fat, dark and short,’... she finds in herself the grit and ambition to pursue tough challenges… the author keeps it all together till she comes to the end of her journey in a way you’ll be glad you traveled it with her.”

— Merrill Joan Gerber; Wallace Stegner Fellow; former fiction writing professor, Caltech; author of Someone Should Know This Story

“This poignant memoir captures the small and large indignities of poverty, as well as the challenges and complexities of loving unstable people. Yu conjures the surreal disconnect between the details of dysfunctional family life that feel normal to a child but are actually shocking to outsiders. Every victory in this story feels hard-won, giving the uplifting moments a special resonance.”

— Felisa Rogers, Editor, Mezcalistas; essayist and writer

“The writing moves smoothly between humor and heartbreak… One of the strongest elements is the contrast between a child’s interpretation of events and the adult understanding that emerges beneath the surface. This contrast creates tension throughout the book and gives many scenes additional meaning.”

— Carol Thompson, Readers’ Favorite ★★★★★

“Funny and deeply moving, Ugly Dumpling is the type of memoir that not only has a meaningful message but remains embedded in your heart long after turning the last page… Elaine’s candid honesty, humility, tolerance, and easy humor stood out to me; her authenticity is what makes Ugly Dumpling so special… ”

— Danelle Petersen, Readers’ Favorite ★★★★★

“Ugly Dumpling has the quiet intimacy found in conversations that daughters sometimes have only after becoming mothers themselves… The book becomes especially moving in the passages concerning ambition, not because Elaine condemns achievement, but because she gradually recognizes how easily fear disguises itself as devotion in families affected by financial insecurity… Love cannot survive if every generation mistakes pressure for protection.”

— Jamie Michele, Readers’ Favorite ★★★★★

“A powerful story of survival against the odds and the ultimate redemptive power of love.”

— Grant Leishman, Readers’ Favorite ★★★★★

“This excellently written work evokes candid emotions about the realities of life, especially for immigrants… Themes covered, like the hope of recovering from life’s tragedies, will resonate with many readers.”

— Frank Mutuma, Readers’ Favorite ★★★★★