Stay True
Emotional
Profound
Candid

Stay True A Memoir

Hua Hsu2022
From the New Yorker staff writer Hua Hsu, a gripping memoir on friendship, grief, the search for self, and the solace that can be found through art. In the eyes of 18-year-old Hua Hsu, the problem with Ken--with his passion for Dave Matthews, Abercrombie & Fitch, and his fraternity--is that he is exactly like everyone else. Ken, whose Japanese American family has been in the United States for generations, is mainstream; for Hua, a first-generation Taiwanese American who has a 'zine and haunts Bay Area record shops, Ken represents all that he defines himself in opposition to. The only thing Hua and Ken have in common is that, however they engage with it, American culture doesn't seem to have a place for either of them. But despite his first impressions, Hua and Ken become best friends, a friendship built of late-night conversations over cigarettes, long drives along the California coast, and the textbook successes and humiliations of everyday college life. And then violently, senselessly, Ken is gone, killed in a carjacking, not even three years after the day they first meet. Determined to hold on to all that was left of his best friend--his memories--Hua turned to writing. Stay True is the book he's been working on ever since. A coming-of-age story that details both the ordinary and extraordinary, Stay True is a bracing memoir about growing up, and about moving through the world in search of meaning and belonging.
Sign up to use

Reviews

Photo of frances
frances@tanghalian
Photo of Nina
Nina@ninbean
5 stars
Sep 1, 2024
Pure
Unique
Profound
Photo of Emma Shamburg
Emma Shamburg@venusinfers
4 stars
Aug 14, 2024
Photo of Nat Estrada
Nat Estrada@natnest
5 stars
Jul 10, 2024
Photo of Gelaine Trinidad
Gelaine Trinidad@gelaine
5 stars
Jul 5, 2024
Photo of Katelyn Caillouet
Katelyn Caillouet@hellokatelyn
4 stars
Apr 4, 2024
Candid
Beautiful
Emotional
Educational
Photo of JoAnna
JoAnna@lilipuddingdog
5 stars
Feb 21, 2024
Photo of Ama Aljuffry
Ama Aljuffry@amaaljuffry
4 stars
Jan 26, 2024
Photo of kamille
kamille@starlostme
4 stars
Jan 12, 2024
Touching
Meaningful
Photo of charisa
charisa@charisa
5 stars
May 15, 2023
Photo of Jessica Harn
Jessica Harn@jesscollinsharn
5 stars
Feb 23, 2023
Photo of Becca M
Becca M@becworm
4.5 stars
Nov 30, 2022
Photo of ryan page
ryan page@ryanpages
3 stars
Nov 1, 2022
Photo of Robin
Robin@iamrobin
3.5 stars
Oct 20, 2024
Photo of aemouh
aemouh@aemouh
5 stars
Sep 27, 2024
Pure
Sweet
Unique
Surreal
Vibrant
Eloquent
Artistic
Touching
Profound
Addictive
Beautiful
Visionary
Depressing
Inspirational
Unforgettable
Thought provoking
Photo of Sarah Erle
Sarah Erle@serle
4 stars
Aug 6, 2024
Photo of Armi
Armi@heyarmi
4 stars
May 31, 2024
Photo of Kevin Juneos Mei Le
Kevin Juneos Mei Le@kvnjmle
4.5 stars
Apr 6, 2024
Sweet
Candid
Photo of Frank Huang
Frank Huang@frankhme
4.5 stars
Apr 4, 2024
Photo of kay
kay@lilavocado
4 stars
Feb 27, 2024
Witty
Clever
Magnetic
Heartbreaking
Photo of jw
jw@jwlo
3.5 stars
Feb 14, 2024
Photo of Anna Steadham
Anna Steadham@annasteadham
5 stars
Jan 22, 2024
Photo of Miguel
Miguel@augustimely
4 stars
Jan 7, 2024
Photo of Kat Albanese
Kat Albanese@coachkitty
5 stars
Jan 4, 2024

Highlights

Photo of jw
jw@jwlo
This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of jw
jw@jwlo
Photo of jw
jw@jwlo
Photo of kamille
kamille@starlostme
Page 164
Photo of kay
kay@lilavocado
Photo of kay
kay@lilavocado
Photo of kay
kay@lilavocado