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60 pages 2 hours read

R. F. Kuang

Yellowface

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023

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Book Club Questions

Yellowface

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

  • Betrayal and deceit are central themes in Yellowface. Are there any moments that make June’s character redeemable? Discuss any moments in which you felt compassion for June. 
  • Dark humor highlights June’s desperation in Yellowface. Does this stylistic choice make her acts of plagiarism and cultural appropriation easier to digest? How might you react if the story relayed the act of plagiarism without using dark humor? How would this alternate approach affect your views of June and the publishing industry?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection 

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences and perspectives.

  • Consider a friendship in which you felt a sense of rivalry. Were there elements of betrayal in this friendship? How does this experience inform your interpretation of June’s actions or Athena’s death?
  • Did you ever find yourself rooting for June’s plans to work? What does this tell you about the nature of embarrassment and public shaming, even if it is valid to point out unethical behavior?
  • Like June, have you ever felt that you don’t deserve to take up significant social or professional space? Conversely, when have you felt that you belonged because of your identity? Has your identity ever guaranteed your inclusion while others were left out?
  • What emotions do June’s actions initially invoke in you? Does her plagiarism of Athena’s work create anger, fear, sadness, compassion, or other emotions? How and when do these emotions change as June falls deeper into her own trap?

3. Societal and Cultural Context 

Examine the book’s relevance to broader societal issues, cultural trends, and ethical dilemmas.

  • Can this text be read as a criticism of the lack of opportunity for non-marginalized voices in the publishing world? Consider bringing news articles or studies about authors and their publishing success over the last 50 years to your discussion.
  • How does June evade the issue of accountability? In what ways is this evasion a product of her privilege or a culturally ingrained impulse?

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and use of narrative techniques.

  • June begins as a desperate author overshadowed by Athena. Trace the course of this desperation as it grows into active corruption through plagiarism: How must June lie and manipulate to sustain her stolen identity? In what ways does the maintenance of her crime pull her deeper into moral decay?
  • Read about the scandal surrounding James Frey’s A Million Little Pieces to draw parallels between this real-life scandal and June’s identity appropriation. How do they overlap and differ regarding backlash? Discuss why books that achieve success may face harsher scrutiny and less public forgiveness when exposed as fabrications.
  • How does June utilize social media to maintain her appropriated identity, and how does this same channel ultimately make her downfall worse? Could June’s action have been forgotten in an era before social media?
  • How does June’s success reflect readers’ appetites and the publishing industry’s subsequent focus on appearances of diversity rather than genuine inclusivity? Conversely, does the text suggest that non-marginalized authors might feel a lack of opportunity for publication? 

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book’s content and themes.

  • Consider what Athena might say to June if she were able to communicate with her over June’s betrayal. Write a brief statement of one paragraph from Athena’s perspective, and then respond as June. How do you find yourself apologizing, justifying, or downplaying the act of plagiarism? What emotions do you feel as first Athena and then June?
  • Consider the social media fallout following June’s exposure. If you were tasked with handling her social media presence, consider how taking full accountability would either help or hurt the situation. What action would you advise for June after taking full accountability if you wanted to help her continue writing?

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