The Boy from Clearwater（來自清水的孩子）, the compelling graphic novel series from Taiwan, depicts the true story of Mr. Tsai Kun-lin (1930-2023), who endured a decade of imprisonment during Taiwan’s tumultuous authoritarian era, known as the White Terror.
Following the highly anticipated release of the English version in the U.S. by Levine Querido last November, the author Yu Pei-Yun (游珮芸), illustrator Zhou Jian-Xin (周見信), and translator Lin King (金翎) are embarking on a tour across New York, New Jersey and Texas from April 24 to May 4, where they will present The Boy from Clearwater.
With support from the Taipei Cultural Center in New York and the Taiwan Academy in Houston, the Taiwanese speakers will give insightful book talks at Princeton University, Columbia University, New York Public Library, Austin Public Library, and the BIPOC Book Fest in Houston.
The Boy from Clearwater was first released in 2020 by independent publishing house Slowork Publishing (慢工出版). The four-book graphic novel integrates Mandarin, Hoklo Taiwanese, and Japanese within its narrative, reflecting the languages spoken by the protagonist, Tsai, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 92.
Since its publication, The Boy from Clearwater has been translated into seven languages, including English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Arabic. The series has won literary awards worldwide, such as the Freeman Book Awards, the Émile Guimet Prize for Asian Literature, and the White Ravens Award.
The biographical novel explores Tsai’s life and Taiwan’s modern history, spanning Japanese rule (1895-1945), the withdrawal from the United Nations in 1971, and the lifting of martial law in 1987 and the ensuing transition into a multi-party democracy, illustrating a microcosm of Taiwan’s modern history.
During the engaging book talks, Yu Pei-Yun, Zhou Jian-Xin, and Lin King will discuss the moving narratives, stunning artwork, and the meticulous English translation process behind The Boy from Clearwater.
East Asian Studies Program, Princeton University
Date and Time: Wednesday, April 24, 6:00-7:30 PM
Venue: 302 Frist (Frist Campus Center, Frist Ln, Princeton, NJ 08544)
The Boy from Clearwater: Book 1 | East Asian Studies Program (princeton.edu)
Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University【In-Person + Online】
Date and Time: Thursday, April 25, 12:00-1:30 PM
Venue: International Affairs Building (IAB), 9th floor, room 918 (420 West 118th Street, New York, NY 10027)
https://weai.columbia.edu/events/lifetime-transitions-tsai-kun-lin-and-taiwanese-political-identity-wwii-present
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library, NYPL【In-Person + Online】
Date and Time: Friday, April 26, 6:00-7:00 PM
Venue: 7th Floor (455 5th Ave, New York, NY 10016)
來自清水的孩子 | The Boy From Clearwater with Yu Pei Yun, Zhou Jian Xin, and Lin King | The New York Public Library (nypl.org)
Book Launch Seminar for "The Boy From Clearwater" with Houston FASCA
Date and Time: Sunday, April 28th , 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Venue: TECO Culture Center, Room 203 (10303 Westoffice Dr., Houston, TX 77042 )
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedJDCytgWFTNycv995jqKiJAIh7kINTnEjNgwOf4Gx7IkdsA/viewform?pli=1
Central Library Author Talk, Austin Public Library
Date and Time: Wednesday, May 1, 6:00-7:30 PM
Venue: Demonstration Area, 1st floor (710 W. César Chávez St. Austin, TX 78701)
https://library.austintexas.gov/event/meet-author/author-talk-boy-clearwater-7746227
Educator Workshop with the Authors, Asia Society Texas
Date and Time: Thursday, May 2, 6:30 –8 :00 PM
Venue: 1370 Southmore Blvd, Houston, TX 77004
https://asiasociety.org/texas/events/educator-workshop-teach-taiwan-boy-clearwater
BIPOC Book Fest 2024 Author Talk
Date and Time: Saturday, May 4, 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Venue: 1370 Southmore Blvd, Houston, TX 77004
https://asiasociety.org/texas/events/bipoc-book-fest-2024