Andrew Kuo

Andrew Kuo is an American author and professor at Drexel University, whose work covers topics such as race, gender, and identity. He is best known for his novel "The Red House," a New York Times Notable Book of 2015. The Red House is a semi-autobiographical story of two Asian-American brothers and their struggle to find their place in society.

Kuo was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1973. His father, an immigrant from Hong Kong, worked in construction while his mother stayed at home and raised their two sons. Kuo graduated from Princeton University in 1995 with a degree in East Asian Studies. After college, Kuo shifted his focus to writing and pursued his graduate degree in creative writing from the University of Massachusetts, where he earned his MFA in 2000.

Kuo’s work has been widely published in many literary journals. He has also been the recipient of multiple literary awards, such as the Pushcart Prize, the Great Lakes College Association New Writers Award, and the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation Fiction Prize. Additionally, he has held positions with prestigious organizations such as the National Book Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the PEN/American Center in New York City.

In addition to writing, Kuo has also become an esteemed professor at Drexel University, and currently teaches courses in creative writing, English literature, cultural studies, and Asian-American literature. His studies focus particularly on the intersection of race, gender, and identity. Additionally, Kuo has also written extensively about Asian American identity and dislocation, with his work featured in The New York Times, Kenyon Review, and The Los Angeles Times.

Kuo’s debut novel, The Red House, was released in 2015 and was met with critical acclaim. It follows the story of two half-brothers, David and Ryeo, who each discover the complicated intersections of identity, faith, and family responsibility. Through the novel, Kuo navigates layers of cultural heritage and religious conviction, as he explores the dynamic of immigrant brotherhood and racial dynamics.

Kuo’s work has been praised for its unflinching portrayal of race, identity, and faith. Critics have commented that his work is empowering and affirming in representing the Asian American experience. Kuo himself hopes his work will bridge the gap between East and West, and helps to dispel some of the stereotypical and negative elements of Asian-American identity.

In all, Andrew Kuo is a highly accomplished author who has combined his personal experiences with his interest in Asian-American culture to produce powerful literature. Kuo’s debut novel, The Red House, is a fantastic introduction to his unique style of storytelling, and can help give readers a better understanding of the complexities and beauty of Asian-American identity.