Firecrackers: The Exploits of an Expat in China

by Anna Keibler

Anna was nineteen years old when she moved from rural Indiana to China as a foreign exchange student. What was intended to be a five-month stay turned into a five-year adventure as Anna integrated herself into the culture of Jinan, Shandong. Firecrackers contains thirteen true and truly wild tales about life as an expat in the city, focusing on the manufactured expat culture.

You won't find stories of enlightenment in these pages, nor does anyone climb the Great Wall. Instead, Anna reveals the underbelly of all Jinan had to offer its foreign residents, with no shortage of partying, police encounters, and nearly-missed disasters.

From navigating the local hospital system to long-distance online dating, from kitchen fires to escaping an attempted kidnapping, Firecrackers showcases stories of everyday humor and debauchery present in the lives of the 2010's foreigners.

222 pages, Paperback

Expected publication May 1, 2026

About the author

Anna Keibler is a disabled, neurodivergent, LGBTQ+ professional technical writer, youth worker, and traveler with a fervent passion for languages, art, and wildlife. As a nature lover with a master's in natural resources, she has a passion for the ecological conservation of both the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and the Hoosier National Forest.
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Originally hailing from rural Indiana, Anna learned Mandarin while living and working in China for more than five years. With more than a decade of experience in teaching English, essay writing, and research strategies, she has built a strong foundation of creative writing experience in nonfiction and fiction spaces alike.

In her spare time, Anna can often be found crafting, adventuring, enjoying Chinese folk music, and scouring either the night sky for unusual astral phenomena or her backyard for natural herbal remedies.

Reviews

[Tiger Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recieved ARC from author

This book is significantly more playful than her first outing. The author is still honest almost to a fault, but this memoir style collection of short stories focuses on fun and outlandish happenings. Anyone who was ever young and stupid will find something very relatable inside, though she herself never comes off that way. it feels almost like a expat version of Lemon Snickets.

The format does lead to some repetition of phrasing and themes though, thus the subtraction of a star.

But, if youre looking for a quick and adventurous read, this one will certainly do the trick.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received the ARC copy of Firecrackers by Anna Keibler. It was so beautifully written and deeply engaging memoir that I truly couldn’t put down. From the very first pages, I was drawn into her personal journey visiting China, and I felt like I was right there experiencing it alongside her.

It was so honest and heartfelt the way she tells her story. Her reflections about culture, faith, growth, and the unexpected moments that shaped her time in China felt genuine and moving. I especially loved how she described the contrasts she experienced — the beauty, the challenges, the surprises — all woven together with vulnerability and insight.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not sure if I want A: to make this required reading for anyone about to take a gap year or B: hide this book from anyone about to take a gap year

Anna’s short stories in this collection made me laugh out loud at least once per story. I highly recommend for the armchair traveler, anyone curious about living in Jinan/China or anyone who just wants a good laugh at someone else’s cultural and social blunders.

These stories are sooo relatable to anyone who has ever immigrated or been a temporary expat.

Sometimes while reading this, I just wanted to hold young Anna by the shoulders and say “this is a bad decision!” But then there would be no story… and honestly, I was 19 once too.

[Michelle Chitwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author. Anna’s honest tales of her life and time in China are refreshing and entertaining. This book has a good variety of stories and I found myself invested in learning how each escapade would turn out. I don’t read many books that are broken up into non-congruent sequence, so I found myself wondering when each story was taking place in relation to the last, but would usually figure it out by the end of the tale. That does not take away from the stories themselves. This book felt like an adventure from start to finish!

[Star Napoleon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received an ARC copy from the Author
I enjoyed reading about her adventures in China and her cultural experiences.
I think I'll have to look for her first book so I can read that one also.
Immersive retelling, she had me both worried for her well being and cheering for her positive outcomes as well as wanting to see some of these places myself as well as stay away.
I did have to remind myself that it was a book of memoirs/short stories when the last story left me feeling like it ended abruptly.

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I generously received this book as an ARC by the author. I could not put it down and read it in 3 days! (And I have a toddler!) This collection of short stories of Anna’s adventures in China makes you feel you are part of the adventure yourself. The way she weaves the stories to include so much detail about the culture itself is a gift. I thoroughly enjoyed this read! The ending was a bit abrupt, but frankly I may feel that way because I did not it to end. Highly recommend!

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was happy to receive an advanced copy of this interesting and entertaining book. It's a perfect read for relaxing for those who love learning about what life is really like in other cultures, like me. Engaging and interesting throughout so far! First-hand experiences are always fascinating to me. I definitely recommend it.

[Bobbi Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found that I couldn’t put this book down after getting an ARC. As an expat in China for 11 years now, I connected with a lot of the authors experiences and feelings. Although the ending feels wrapped up a little too quickly, every minute was engrossing.

[jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy from the author. This was a great book, a really fun read! I devoured it in one sitting! I loved reading about the culture of China and how an American experienced living there. My only wish is that it was longer and went into more details!

[Shawna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy. I really like the stories. I wish they were all together as a book and I could have read a second book. Very interesting and insightful. I just wanted more.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is equally eye-opening and relatable for any expat who has lived in China. A great read which draws you in!

[Michelle Pizarro · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a unique story. The stories were honest, had humor and were relatable. Highly recommend!