Overview
A mesmerizing true story of a young Hmong girl in Minnesota that celebrates the immigrant experience.
At fourteen years old, Kalia feels like two different girls. At home, she is the reliable daughter who makes dinner and takes care of her younger siblings, while her older sister is in class and her parents work long hours. But at school, she is silent, shy—waiting for the day her life will really begin.
Kalia and her family are Hmong refugees who have immigrated to St. Paul, Minnesota, into a tiny, dilapidated house. The Waiting Years takes us through Kalia’s high school years, as she struggles to find her voice in a place she feels she doesn’t belong. She records it all in her journals—her crushes on boys and attempts to pass the driver’s test, as well as her insecurities and struggle with lupus, a debilitating auto-immune disease.
The Waiting Years is a moving memoir of a storyteller’s formative years, honoring her past and forging her future, that celebrates an immigrant community in Minnesota, from award-winning author of The Latehomecomer, Kao Kalia Yang.
At fourteen years old, Kalia feels like two different girls. At home, she is the reliable daughter who makes dinner and takes care of her younger siblings, while her older sister is in class and her parents work long hours. But at school, she is silent, shy—waiting for the day her life will really begin.
Kalia and her family are Hmong refugees who have immigrated to St. Paul, Minnesota, into a tiny, dilapidated house. The Waiting Years takes us through Kalia’s high school years, as she struggles to find her voice in a place she feels she doesn’t belong. She records it all in her journals—her crushes on boys and attempts to pass the driver’s test, as well as her insecurities and struggle with lupus, a debilitating auto-immune disease.
The Waiting Years is a moving memoir of a storyteller’s formative years, honoring her past and forging her future, that celebrates an immigrant community in Minnesota, from award-winning author of The Latehomecomer, Kao Kalia Yang.
While major retailers like Amazon may carry The Waiting Years, we specialize in bulk book sales and offer personalized service from our friendly, book-smart team based in Portland, Oregon. We’re proud to offer a Price Match Guarantee and a streamlined ordering experience from people who truly care.
We’re trusted by over 75,000 customers, many of whom return time and again. Want proof? Just check out our 25,000+ customer reviews—real feedback from people who love how we do business.
Prefer to talk to a real person? Our Book Specialists are here Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST and ready to help with your bulk order of The Waiting Years.