Author Study from China
Ying Chang Compestine
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Biography
Named one of the “50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading” by The Author’s Show in 2012 
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As an extremely accomplished 49 year-old culinary expert and author, Ying Chang Compestine has excelled since growing up in Wuhan, central China and immigrating to America on a 1986 academic scholarship to attend graduate school at the University of Colorado for a Master’s in sociology. She earned her bachelor’s in English literature while in China. Married to an American software engineer and mother of a 19 year-old son, Vinson, Compestine lives in Lafayette, Indiana where she continues to be an avid writer – her newest book, co-authored with her son, Secrets of a Terra-Cotta Soldier is due out fall 2013 and her newest cookbook, Cooking with an Asian Accent, is set to release in spring 2014 – and a highly sought-after international face for university lectures, television broadcasts, and magazine book talks who continues to view writing and food as aspects of life that go hand-in-hand.
Compestine has nineteen books to her name, and they range from children’s picture books to young adult novels to Asian cooking books. Unknown to her, this stellar, award-winning writing career launched itself when she published her first article at 9 years-old. In elementary school, a magazine published her article after she met with the editor who gave her a hardcover notebook – which she has kept and treasured to this day – as an award. Compestine’s official start as an author, however, occurred two months after her son was born, when she was still a college sociology professor. Published in 1997, her first cookbook, Secrets of a Fat-Free Chinese Cooking, manifested due to her feelings of detachment from China after the recent deaths of her parents. It only took Compestine two months to hook Avery, a publishing house, to take on this debut piece. Her current publisher, however, is Henry Holt and Company. Not wishing to lose touch with her beloved Chinese homeland and heritage, the cookbook opened up writing as her means to stay connected to China and to cope with her grief. Interestingly and even more impressive, Compestine’s entire writing career is in her second language, English. Compestine derives her writing inspiration from innumerable sources Many of her stories are inspired by her atypical childhood personality. As a young girl who didn’t fit seamlessly into Chinese gender roles, she favored playing with boys over sewing, needlework, and fan dancing. Capturing her sense of adventure and mischief in her stories, many of her male characters engage in naughty activities but are ultimately rewarded for their sagacity and ingenuity. Two hobbies – Tai Chi sword, a Chinese exercise, and long walks – usually precede Compestine’s writing time, both acting as a comforting motivator. For her cookbooks, traveling and sampling the best foods in each foreign hotspot serves as her primary form of inspiration, spurring her imagination to create new recipes for her own books. Compestine especially enjoys “coming up with a good recipe, especially if it goes along with a good story.” Viewing food and writing as practically synonymous, most of Compestine’s children’s literature manages to synthesize her love of cooking with her writing prowess, as food often appears as a foregrounded subject in her picture books and recipes for food referenced in the text squeeze themselves in as her trademark endnotes. Compestine’s official website can be accessed here: http://www.yingc.com/index.html |
Career Accomplishments
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- Author of picture books, young adult (YA) novels, cookbooks, and food magazine articles.
- Graduate of the University of Colorado with a Master's degree in sociology
- Contributor to national magazines, like Cooking Light, Eating Well, Self, Men’s Health, Ski, Delicious Living and Diablo.
- Former food editor for Body+Soul, a Martha Stewart magazine that focuses on healthy living.
- Spokesperson for Nestlé Maggi, specifically their “Taste of Asia” product line, which is the Middle East’s leading food brand. Their website can be accessed here: http://www.nestle-family.com/maggi/english/.
- Former spokesperson of Celestial Seasonings, which is one of the largest 100% all-natural, specialty tea manufacturers in North America. Their website can accessed here: http://www.celestialseasonings.com/.
- Host of a 2007 twenty-episode cooking show recorded in Chinese and sponsored by Nestlé e on Phoenix InfoNews, which is the largest international Chinese television station. It is hailed as the Chinese CNN.
- Member of the Women’s National Book Association, San Francisco Chapter (WNBA-SF).
- Former professor of sociology for eight years at various colleges and universities in both the U.S. and China.
- Master Teacher Award, International College at Beijing, 2000
- Former interpreter for China’s Bureau of Seismology.
- Hailed as the "Anne Frank in the Cultural Revolution."
Awards for Literature
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Book Reviews
Picture Books
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The Runaway Wok
Author: Compestine, Ying Chang
Illustrator: Serra, Sebastia Title: The Runaway Wok: A Chinese New Year Tale ISBN: 978-0-525-42068-2 Place of Publication: New York Publisher: Dutton Children’s Books Date of Publication: 2011 Number of Pages: 32 pages Recommended / Listed Price: $16.99 Review: Paralleling the relationship between Ebenezer Scrooge and Bob Cratchett, Papa Zhang works for the richest man in Beijing – Mr. Li – but struggles to provide enough food for his family. So on Chinese New Year’s Eve, he sends his son, Ming, to the market exchange eggs for the rice that will be their feast. Trading the eggs for a dirty wok instead, Ming brings the wok home, intrigued by its ability to sing. As soon as Mama Zhang polishes the wok, the wok hops off to the Mr. Li’s house. Mistaken as an empty dish that would be useful to store all their excess wealth, the wok is filled with pork dumplings, Kung Pao chicken, and walnut shrimp when it visits Mr. Li’s wife as she prepares her family’s feast, with kites and toy dragons when it visits the son, Lan, and with gold coins when it visits Mr. Li himself. Returning to the Zhang’s with its stolen bounty, the wok becomes a Chinese Robin Hood. As the Zhang’s celebrate and share their newfound riches, the wok has one more trick in store to pursue justice. With vibrant, cheery illustrations, Compestine’s “The Runaway Wok” delivers a lively parable about greed and sharing. Picture book (Ages 4-8). |
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The Real Story of Stone Soup
Author: Compestine, Ying Chang
Illustrator: Jorisch, Stéphae Title: The Real Story of Stone Soup ISBN: 978-0-525-47493-7 Place of Publication: New York Publisher: Dutton Children’s Books Date of Publication: 2007 Number of Pages: 32 pages Recommended / Listed Price: $16.99 Review: In Compestine’s “The Real Story of Stone Soup,” a prideful uncle hires his three nephews, the Chang brothers, to work on his boat. Although the uncle holds them to be lackadaisical and incompetent helpers, Ting, Pong, and Kuai surprise him with their creativity and innovation when the family finds themselves without a cooking pot after stopping on the shoreline for lunch one day. Digging a hole in sand, lining it with banana leaves, and throwing random rocks into a fire, the boys concoct a plan to make lunch that seems like just a silly game. As the uncle is ordered around by his nephews to retrieve seasmie oil from the boat, carve chopsticks, and sculpt bowls from a sturdy bamboo stalk, the boys chant at the rocks, integrating Chinese vocabulary into the story. Will these stones transform into a hearty soup satisfying enough for their picky uncle? With whimsical sketches and a humorous, light-hearted narrator, Compestine provides readers with a Chinese twist on a classic folktale. Picture book (Ages 5+). |
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Crouching Tiger
Author: Compestine, Ying Chang
Illustrator: Nascimbene, Yan Title: Crouching Tiger ISBN: 978-0-7636-4642-4 Place of Publication: Massachusetts Publisher: Candlewick Press Date of Publication: 2011 Number of Pages: 40 pages Recommended / Listed Price: $16.99 Review: As Ying Chang Compestine’s sole work not set in China, Crouching Tiger follows a grandfather and grandson’s experience in Chinatown for a Chinese New Year, which is a celebration that occurs between mid-January and early-February. However, with the grandfather’s introduction of tai chi, other Chinese customs practiced in China itself – like a haircut and a new wardrobe prior to the New Year - and Chinese vocabulary – like “Mang Di” and Ni hao” – to his Chinese-American grandson’s world, the book satisfies the criteria for international literature. Providing pictures of various tai chi poses at the bottom of each page, Compestine allows readers to perform traditional Chinese poses along with Vinson. Also offering commentary on traditional Chinese grandfather and grandson relations as her characters are based in her son and father, Crouching Tiger is an interesting, stand-alone addition to Compestine’s work. Picture book (Ages 6-9). |
The Story of Paper
Author: Compestine, Ying Chang
Illustrator: Xuan, YongSheng Title: The Story of Paper ISBN: 0-8234-1705-0 Place of Publication: New York Publisher: Holiday House Date of Publication: 2003 Number of Pages: 34 pages Recommended / Listed Price: $16.95 Review: Chronicling another adventure of the naughty, but ingenious, Kang brothers, Compestine’s “The Story of Paper” presents an amusing account of the invention of paper loosely grounded in the true history. Playing with insects in the dirt instead of paying attention to their teacher, Ting, Pan, and Kual earn an embarrassing punishment: notes to their parents about their wrongdoing scribbled on their hands, which they must hold up for all to see so they won’t smudge. Chastised and sent to do their chores, the Kang brothers mash soaked rice to strain into rice cakes, inspired by the smooth surface of the filtered ingredients. The creative troublemakers confiscate their mother’s cloth scraps to soak and mash. Will their plan yield a new writing material that will let their schoolteacher notify their parents of their mischief with private respect rather than public humiliation? Although operating on logic that may be hard-to-follow for younger readers, the plot is complemented with effective illustrations that resemble the choppy images on stained glass windows. Compestine’s book includes endnotes about the true history of papermaking and instructions for homemade paper. Picture book (Ages 5-8). |
The Story of Chopsticks
Author: Compestine, Ying Chang
Illustrator: Xuan, YongSheng Title: The Story of Chopsticks ISBN: 0-8234-1526-0 Place of Publication: New York Publisher: Holiday House Date of Publication: 2001 Number of Pages: 34 pages Recommended / Listed Price: $16.95 Review: With Kual the mastermind of this Khang brother adventure, Compestine’s “The Story of Chopsticks,” revolves around how, at the dinner table, the youngest sibling is trampled by his older brothers, leaving him with the least amount of food. While his family is distracted at the well as they fetch water for dinner, Kual rushes to the hot meal. Knowing that if he picks it up with his hands, his fingers will be burned, Kual stabs the steaming chicken and sweet potatoes with long twigs from the kindling by the stove. Following in his footsteps, the entire family come to the table with their own twigs and names the eating tools, “Kual zi,” or “quick one.” The boys secretly bring the twigs to the wedding of Mr. Wang’s daughter, gobbling down the banquet at the horror of their parents who are appalled by their children’s manners. But what will all the guests think? Concluding with several rules on proper chopstick etiquette and a recipe for Sweet Eight Treasure Rice Pudding that is referenced in the book, Compestine’s relatable tale of sibling rivalry puts a humorous spin on the origins of chopsticks. Picture book (Ages 5-8). |
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The Runaway Rice Cake
Author: Compestine, Ying Chang
Illustrator: Chau, Tungwai Title: The Runaway Rice Cake ISBN: 0-689-82972-8 Place of Publication: New York Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers Date of Publication: 2001 Number of Pages: 34 pages Recommended / Listed Price: $17.95 Review: As a tale of generosity, Compestine’s Chinese version of the gingerbread man in “The Runaway Rice Cake,” presents a similarly overconfident escapee who outwits almost all of his potential captors. On Chinese New Year’s Eve, the poor Chang family realizes they only have enough flour to make one rice cake, or nián-gāo. The discontent of their three sons, Ming, Cong, and Da is heightened when the rice cake dashes off immediately after it is done cooking. Scooped up after inadvertently bumping into an elderly, starving woman, the rice cake submits when Da offers the Chang’s measly feast to the grateful woman who gobbles up the entire cake. Although the boys complain the entire walk home, neighbors await their return, offering fish and steamed buns to the family upon hearing of their misfortune with the rice cake. However, the Chang family’s reward for their good deed doesn’t end there. Da’s compassion reverberating through his entire family and village in magical ways. Compestine uses soft, muted drawings and two recipes for nián-gāo to extend the story. Picture book (Ages 5-8). In the lower-left corner, the video is a clip from the cooking show, "Home Matters" in which Ying Chang Compestine is a star guest and bakes rice cakes with her son Vinson and talks about her picture book, The Runaway Rice Cake. Retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded& v=PGWxGFAcZbA |
Boy Dumplings
Author: Compestine, Ying Chang
Illustrator: Yamasaki, James Title: Boy Dumplings ISBN: 978-0-8234-1955-5 Place of Publication: Hew York Publisher: Holiday House Date of Publication: 2009 Number of Pages: 32 pages Recommended / Listed Price: $16.95 Review: When food offerings from the village people suddenly stop in Compestine’s “Boy Dumplings,” the Garbage-Eating Ghost captures a plump boy with a broken rooster lamp to satisfy his appetite. Taken back to the ghost’s lair, the boy persuades the ghost to follow an intricate set of instructions to prepare him into one thousand “boy dumplings.” Running around town to fetch rotten onions, soy sauce, and worm-infested cabbage, the ghost follows the time-consuming recipe carefully. However, as he bathes the boy and puts him to sleep as per the directions for maximum taste, the ghost inadvertently takes all night to set up his meal. What will happen when day breaks? Will the boy ultimately outwit the Garbage-Eating Ghost? Along with vivid illustrations that capture the character’s emotions through this funny ordeal, Compestine includes facts about the Chinese Ghost Festival and a recipe for “Boy-Free Dumplings” in the back of the book. (Ages 5-8). In the lower-right corner, Compestine appears on on Mercury News to present her recipe for Chinese dumplings and talk about her picture book, Boy Dumplings. Retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com /watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_Y0-zZM97Q4 |
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Books Reviews
Young Adult (YA) Novels
A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts
Author: Compestine, Ying Chang Illustrator: Polhemus, Coleman Title: A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts: A Collection of Deliciously Frightening Tales ISBN: 978-0-8050-8208-1 Place of Publication: New York Publisher: Henry Holt and Company Date of Publication: 2009 Number of Pages: 180 pages Recommended / Listed Price: $16.99 Review: Breeding tales from both Chinese culture and Chinese cuisine, Ying Chnag Compestine intertwines spooky stories and the Chinese legend of ghosts who haunt if they died hungry. With each tale assuming the name of a Chinese dish and the story titles smoothly progressing through a three-course meal, the setup of A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts will entice even the most reluctant reader to its savory stories. Readers will indeed be hooked at first bite. At the conclusion of each chapter, two unique endnotes finish off the story to ensure a sweet taste is left lingering in the mind and mouth: an short informative passage about Chinese legend or history grounds the fictional tale in authentic Chinese culture, and a recipe of the tale’s title dish. Both witty and chilling, Compestine provides an unparalleled text in A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts. Chapter book (Ages 12+). |
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Book Reviews
Cookbooks
Cooking with Green Tea
Author: Compestine, Ying Chang
Title: Cooking with Green Tea ISBN: 1-58333-065-8 Place of Publication: New York Publisher: Avery Date of Publication: 2000 Number of Pages: 194 pages Recommended / Listed Price: $18.00 Review: Including information on the benefits and superiority of green tea over other teas as an informal rationale for her first cookbook, Ying Chang Compestine’s Cooking with Green Tea harnesses the Asian belief of green tea’s healing abilities. All the recipes included are short, and therefore, not visually intimidating – an essential stylistic choice. The cookbook’s layout does not dissuade prospective chefs at first glance. With a dictionary of cooking jargon provided in the beginning of the text, Compestine scaffolds readers into her original recipes. Additionally, with intriguing recipes – like “Stuffed Cucumbers with Spicy Lemon-Basil Sauce” and “Meatballs in Spicy Coconut Sauce” – that draw readers in, the cookbooks provides Asian flair without an overwhelming, off-putting inclusion of pricey Asian products that readers wouldn’t have in their cupboards already. Rice, salmon, red bell peppers, and tofu are accessible staples in her recipes, so Compestine offers affordable, curiosity-sparking, and healthy Chinese recipes that are worth a try to spice up a family dinner. Cooking book. |
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