Yellowface by R. F. Kuang

What gives you the right to tell your ethnic story? After June witnesses her writer friend/enemy's death and "happens" upon her undiscovered manuscript, she takes it for her own. Athena's story is very personal to her Asian heritage about Chinese laborers helping the war effort in WWII Europe. After tweaking Athena's story, checking facts and making it her own, June feels like Athena gave her a shell and she created a masterpiece. She sells the manuscript, changes her name to sound Asian and uses her flimsy relationship with Athena to gain credibility and fame. As the pub date nears June begins to feel guilt and uncertainty creep in plus there is at least one person out there who has a problem with the whole scenario and upend everything. Was it June's story to tell at all? Will she be haunted by Athena's ghost forever? This story will resonate with book clubs as it addresses the question of plagiarism and creative content rights but also the right to tell ethnic heritage stories that you are not part of. There is also the interesting dive into the publishing business and social media circus. They say there is no such thing as an original story anymore but where do we draw the line?  
​ 4 1/2 stars