The Secret Battle of Evan Pao

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussions of racism.

Wendy Wan-Long Shang is a Chinese-American middle-grade fiction author. Shang grew up in Northern Virginia, where the past and present intersect. Northern Virginia is famous not only for its “technology corridor” but also for Civil War Memorials.

Shang grew up in this area with Chinese parents who first immigrated to Taiwan before settling in the United States (White, Amy Brecount. “You Can Be American But Not Always Feel Like You’re Seen as One.” Arlington Magazine, 16 Sept. 2022). She recalls feeling a lack of Asian role models, particularly in literature, during her formative years. Despite this, Shang excelled academically, earning her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Virginia. She later worked for the American Bar Association, focusing on juvenile policy (White). Shang continues to live in Northern Virginia and is the mother of 3 children.

After her 20th high school reunion, Shang decided to pursue her long-held dream of writing (White). She fills her books with characters she longed to see as a child, reflecting her own experiences and perspective. Shang is the author of several middle-grade fiction books, including the award-winning The Great Wall of Lucy Wu and a collaboration with American Girl for the first 2 books in the Corrinne Tan series. In addition to writing, Shang works at the Pretrial Justice Institute, addressing racial inequality (White).

Shang draws heavily on her life experiences for The Secret Battle of Evan Pao. While Haddington is a fictional town, Battlefield High School is a real school located in Haymarket, Virginia. In the story, Mrs. Norwood’s admiration for the University of Virginia reflects the genuine enthusiasm of many UVA alumni, often called “Hoos.” One of the novel’s most impactful moments, when Charlie Griggs shoots out the Paos’ window, is inspired by an actual event from Shang’s life. After a neighbor lost his job to a Hispanic worker, he retaliated by shooting out the Shangs’ windows (White). The family took him to court, requesting an apology, but the neighbor refused (181). Shortly after the incident, both families moved away.

Shang’s works reflect her commitment to creating meaningful representation and exploring the intersections of identity, history, and justice. Through her storytelling, she empowers middle-grade readers to understand complex societal issues and see themselves in the pages of her books. Shang joins authors such as Grace Lin (Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and When the Sea Turned to Silver) and Jessica Kim (Stand Up, Yumi Chung) in portraying realistic Asian characters.