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Kao Kalia Yang

カオ・カリア・ヤン

Kao Kalia Yang

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
null （Ban Vinai Refugee Camp, Pak Chom district, Loei Province, Thailand）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English, Hmong
Residence History
St. Paul, Minnesota (resides)

Career

Occupations
Author, Writer, Educator, Professor
Active Years
2009-
Affiliations
University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire (English department, visiting), Carleton College (Benedict Distinguished Visiting Faculty), North Hennepin Community College (visiting faculty), St. Catherine University (composition instructor), Concordia University (writing instructor)
Influenced By
Family oral tradition (especially her mother and uncle), Her older sister, Dawb, 9th grade English teacher, Mrs. Gallatin, Hmong cultural and song traditions
Influenced
Contemporary Hmong American writers and activists, Young immigrant and refugee writers
Nominations
PEN USA (Nonfiction) — finalist, National Book Critics Circle Award — finalist, Chautauqua Prize — finalist, Dayton Literary Peace Prize — finalist, Asian American Literary Award — finalist

Education

Carleton College
American Studies / Women's and Gender Studies / Cross-cultural Studies
Degree: BA
Year of Graduation: 2003
Country: United States
Columbia University (School of the Arts)
Creative Nonfiction Writing (MFA)
Degree: MFA
Country: United States
Graduate studies supported in part by the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship

Awards

Lantern Books essay contest (first place)
2005
Work: To the Men In My Family Who Love Chickens
Organization: Lantern Books
Result: 受賞
Minnesota Book Awards (Memoir/Creative Nonfiction)
2009
Work: The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir
Category: 回想録／クリエイティブノンフィクション
Organization: Minnesota Book Awards
Result: 受賞
Minnesota Book Awards (Creative Nonfiction/Memoir)
2017
Work: The Song Poet
Category: クリエイティブノンフィクション／回想録
Organization: Minnesota Book Awards
Result: 受賞
Charlotte Zolotow Award (Honor)
2020
Work: A Map into the World
Category: ピクチャーブック（文章）
Organization: Charlotte Zolotow Award / CCBC
Result: オナ―
Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature (Picture Book)
2023
Work: From the Tops of the Trees
Category: ピクチャーブック
Organization: Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature
Result: 受賞
Picture Book Honor Title
2025
Work: The Rock In My Throat
Category: ピクチャーブック
Organization: Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature (related)
Result: オナ―
Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans
2003
Organization: Paul & Daisy Soros Foundation
Result: 受給
McKnight Arts Fellowship
Organization: McKnight Foundation
Result: 受給
Spirit of Carleton College Award
2008
Organization: Carleton College
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir

2008 Memoir / Nonfiction

A family memoir tracing the author's Hmong family's refugee journey, memories, and identity across generations.

migrationfamilymemorycultural heritage

The Song Poet

2017 Nonfiction / Family history

Through the life and song traditions of the author's father, the book explores memory, language, and intergenerational storytelling.

songfather and familymemory

Somewhere in the Unknown World

2020 Essay / Nonfiction

An essay collection reflecting on refugee and immigrant experiences, loss, hope, and community.

refugee experiencecommunityresilience

Where Rivers Part

2024 Memoir / Nonfiction

A family history centered on the author's mother, recounting her early life and migration journey.

mother's storymigrationintergenerational narrative

A Map into the World

2019 Picture book

A picture book introducing young readers to the world, encouraging exploration and self-expression.

explorationidentityadventure

From the Tops of the Trees

2021 Picture book

A picture book exploring love and perspective through nature, created with cultural sensitivity.

natureobservationlove

Bibliography

  • The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir
  • The Song Poet
  • What God Is Honored Here? (editor, with Shannon Gibney)
  • Somewhere in the Unknown World
  • Where Rivers Part
  • A Map into the World
  • The Most Beautiful Thing
  • The Shared Room
  • Yang Warriors
  • From the Tops of the Trees
  • The Rock in My Throat
  • Caged
  • The Diamond Explorer

Adaptations

  • The Place Where We Were Born (lyric documentary)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
lyrical nonfictionoral-tradition-infused narrationmemory-based memoir style
Recurring Motifs
familysong and poetrymigration/refugee experiencememory and storytelling

Legacy

Kao Kalia Yang is a leading figure in Hmong American literature, amplifying community voices through family history and migration narratives. Her memoirs and children's books have promoted cross-generational and cross-cultural understanding.

Academic Societies

  • Hmong Studies Association

Quotes

  • "Everything was a Chinese movie in her head. So she would read Jack and the Beanstalk... and it became a Chinese drama."
    Source: Interview / The Latehomecomer (author's recollection)

Trivia

  • She taught English as a second language to adult refugees beginning at age 12.
  • Won first place in Lantern Books' 2005 essay contest.
  • The Latehomecomer won both a Minnesota Book Award and the Reader's Choice Award in the same year—the first book to do so for that program.
  • The Latehomecomer was selected as an NEA Big Read book.