I am a biracial Japanese American writer and a coordinator for a Hawai‘i-based mental health advocacy organization. In my multicultural household, mental illness was considered taboo, and outward expressions of emotion were rarely encouraged. When I began struggling with my own mental health as a child, I found it difficult to articulate what I was going through. Reading and writing became my lifeline—my way of breaking the silence. Yet I rarely saw myself reflected in the books I read. Stories about biracial Asian American girls, especially those grappling with mental health, were nearly nonexistent.

Through my debut young adult novel, I aim to bring forward an underrepresented voice by centering a biracial, neurodivergent protagonist in a narrative that treats her struggles with nuance, compassion, and hope. I believe that culturally grounded, emotionally resonant stories about mental health are still far too rare and hope my work can help others to feel less alone.