Gene Luen Yang

Gene Luen Yang (Chinese Traditional: 楊謹倫, Simplified: 杨谨伦, Pinyin: Yáng Jǐnlún; born August 9, 1973) is an American writer of graphic novels and comics. Until recently, he was the Director of Information Services and taught computer science at Bishop O' Dowd High School in Oakland, California and travels all over the world, speaking about graphic novels and comics at comic book conventions and universities, schools, and libraries. In 2012, Yang joined the faculty at Hamline University, as a part of the Low-Residency Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults (MFAC) program.

Early life

Yang is the son of Chinese immigrants and believes he was born in either Alameda, California or Fremont, California. His father emigrated from Taiwan and his mother from Hong Kong. They met at the San Jose State University Library during graduate school and both spent a great deal of time instilling in him a strong work ethic and reinforcing their Asian culture. In a speech at Penn State, where he spoke as a part of a Graphic Novel Speaker Series, Yang recalled that both of his parents always told him stories during his childhood. This set the foundation for Yang's career in comics.