Patriot Number One: American Dreams in Chinatown

by Lauren Hilgers

A deeply reported look at the Chinese immigrant community in the United States, casting a new light on what it means to seek the American dream

Nearly three years ago, journalist Lauren Hilgers received an unexpected call. Hello, Lauren! a man shouted in halting Mandarin. We might be seeing you in New York again soon! The voice belonged to Zhuang Liehong, a Chinese man who had been arrested in his home country for leading a string of protests, and whom Hilgers had met the previous year while reporting a story. Despite zero contacts and a shaky grasp of English, Zhuang explained that he and his wife, Little Yan, had a plan to escape from their American tour group and move to Flushing, Queens, to escape persecution back home. A few weeks later, they arrived on Hilgers's doorstep.
With a novelistic eye for character and detail, Hilgers weaves their story with a larger investigation of the Chinese community in Flushing, one of the fastest-growing immigrant enclaves in the US. There's Tang Yuanjun, a former Tiananmen Square leader who has come to terms with living a shadow life in America as his friends and family continue their own in China. And Karen, one of Little Yan's friends from night school, who was kidnapped by her relatives yet remains hopeful, working part-time in a nail salon as she attends vocational school for hotel work.

Patriot Number One is Hilgers's nuanced, through-the-looking-glass story of the twenty-first-century American dream. Zhuang and Little Yan's challenges reveal a world hidden in plain sight: the byzantine network of employment agencies and language schools, of underground banks and illegal dormitories that allow immigrants to survive. Amid a raging immigration debate on the national stage, Hilgers's deeply reported and beautifully wrought account paints a revealing portrait of just what it takes to survive.

Genres: Nonfiction, China, History, Biography, Politics, Asia, Asian Literature

325 pages, Hardcover

First published March 20, 2018

About the author

Lauren Hilgers lived in Shanghai, China for six years, writing about topics ranging from tomb raiders in rural Henan Province to political scandals in Beijing. Her articles have appeared in Harper's, Wired, Businessweek, The New Yorker, and The New York Times Magazine. She lives in New York with her husband and their daughter.

Reviews

[Elyse Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update from this morning:


There is nothing boring about Lauren Hilger’s writing - It’s raw- personal - and page turning eye-opening. I’m walking away with a better understanding - of ‘why’ citizens of China who do not speak a word of English - don’t have any family support in the United States waiting them - have little education under their belt - limited skills -still might do anything to escape- fight for Asylum in a complete foreign country where the struggles are mountains bigger than anticipated. Yet, living in the United States is preferred.

At the beginning of this story — EVERYTHING seemed SO HARD.... I honestly didn’t understand why Zhuang Liehong and his wife Little Yan thought their life would be better in the United States. I thought they were crazy for leaving their 1 year old son with the grandparents in China ( with intention to bring him later). I felt Zhuang was going to lie if needed to get in this country at any costs —-I had a hard time not judging this couple for leaving their baby behind.
I kept reading ..... my understanding grew.....

Before I even got to the middle of this story - EVERYTHING CONTINUED TO GET HARDER IN AMERICA for Zhuang and Little Yan— ( you’d think I’d be even more judgmental then: go home - be with your child - stop protesting your government- carve out a corner of your village for your family and create peace within your own home).... BUT.....it became CLEAR TO ME OF WHY THIS COUPLE COULD NOT LIVE IN PEACE BACK HOME.....
It became CLEAR TO ME ....that even if we have many undocumented immigrants in our country.... we must keep our doors open!!!

Author Lauren Hilger’s did an excellent job giving us the story between ‘both’ countries - China and America- politically and personal. My understanding of China’s democracy expanded — and just how complex the issues of immigration ‘really are’—
Lauren included stories of several characters each in different situations and different ages. Lauren covered many tidbits of true unseen facts about the struggles in ‘both’ countries -
Even —- down to the most gritty Itsy-bitsy details of things I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT. Who knew immigrants might be in competition with each other- envious and jealous? One of the younger characters is name Karen. When she was offered a job as a maid for $18 an hour— A salary she was ecstatic about in 2017 - in New York - she lied to her roommate, saying she was only getting $14 an hour - afraid to have her feel bad. And when she got her green card, she had to contain her excitement.
Karen was happy to feel secure— but she certainly couldn’t celebrate with other immigrants who did not have their green card. And for the 2nd time reading about ‘nail salons’ in connection with immigrants in America...( having learn a few facts before this book).... I learned a new one again: it seems in order to get a job....the immigrants have to pay the owner to begin ( to watch and learn). Usually they had to pay $50, sometimes it was $100.

There was another supporting character, Tang Yuanjun- and that’s what he did: ‘support’. He was the guy who helped immigrants with their protests in America. It’s tricky for an immigrant to be effective protesters in the United States. I couldn’t believe how much Tang was in demand. He couldn’t help everyone - but I felt his passion ‘wanting’ to help his ‘brothers & sisters’. This man spent time in prison in his own country for protesting. He knew a few things.

The two most stand out characters we follow are Zhuang and Little Yan.
From the start of their journey...Zhuang’s ‘three’ plans to get from his village in China to New York:
.....get to the American embassy, ( he felt they would be sympathetic to her situation),
....flee by sea
.....obtain to tourist visas for he and Little Yan.....
To the history of How Zhuang and Little Yan each grew up in China, history about their family members, their distinct personalities, Zhuang’s beliefs - and how Zhuang became “Patriot Number One”, political leadership as an activist in his village Wukan, his relationship with father, ( a fisherman), the decision to leave their son behind with the grandparents, getting cell phones, dealing with transportation, housing, food, the language, people, Jobs, job training, schoool👻finances, sending money back home to China, laundry, their marriage, ( the changes & struggles), their ongoing challenges and obstacles .... to get work permits, their fight for asylum, SO MUCH MORE INFORMATION WORTH READING .......I haven’t even skimmed the surface—
Throughout the story we will be dying to know about a little child name *Kaizhi*.

Highly recommend!!!



This morning.....before the above review:
Wow!!! I’m blown away!!! Drained ... unbelievable story!!!! I had NO IDEA ABOUT THIS BOOK. I missed seeing it - hearing about it - knew ‘nothin’!
This immigration story makes most others I’ve read look like child’s play ..
This one ...is NO JOKING MATTER!!!
It’s a VERY HARD KNOCK LIFE FOR AN IMMIGRANT!!!!
Most immigrants usually have a dominant story: the one they tell most often: either the story from where they came from—
Or....
the story of adjusting to life in the United States...
A few immigrants EQUALLY have TWO dominating stories to tell — that’s in THIS TRUE STORY!!!

I honestly could never do this book justice....
A PERFECT BOOK CLUB PICK
DISCUSSIONS would not slow down!!!

I’ll add a few more tidbits of a review later - but most of us would benefit reading this page turning highly engaging true story.

Back to sleep.

[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 bold stars to Patriot Number One, a nonfiction masterpiece! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

Lauren Hilgers is an American journalist who met a man named Zhuang while reporting on site in his village in China. Zhuang, a free-thinker, had been arrested for staging protests and was labeled a dissident. He called Lauren one day to say he would be traveling to America and had plans to abandon his tour group, along with his wife, and live in Chinatown in Flushing, New York.

I found the build-up of what would happen with Zhuang and Little Yan in America completely enthralling, centered around the underground, secret world of immigrants, both documented and undocumented, including language schools, dormitories, off-the-record banks, and employment agencies, all put in place for mere survival of people trying their best to live the American Dream.

Even with the ingenuity of these supports, it continues to be a challenge to survive for Zhuang and his family. The jobs are few and far between, and what is available is low paying. The housing is abysmal and unsafe. After their arduous work to get to the United States, will they achieve their dreams? Will Zhuang and Little Yan qualify for political asylum, allowing them access to better jobs and an improved way of life?

Hilgers presents this nonfiction story in a way as compelling as any fictional character study. Zhuang and his wife, Little Yan, are endearing, engaging people, and Hilgers’ writing is silky smooth.

I never tire of books on the immigrant experience. It’s an often heated debate in this country, and stories such as Patriot Number One offer opportunities for discussion and understanding at a deeper level.

Patriot Number One came highly recommended by my Goodreads friend, Fran. Thanks, Fran, for an unforgettable read!

Thank you to Lauren Hilgers, Crown Publishing, and Netgalley for the copy to read and review. Patriot Number One releases on March 20, 2018.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chinatown, in Flushing, Queens, has one of the largest Chinese populations outside Asia. Having lived in Flushing in the 1980's, I traveled on the #7 subway line and shopped on Main Street. Ethnically, the population was mostly of European descent. I was curious about the restructuring and changing ethnicity of my old haunts. "Patriot Number One" is a dual story, a story of a Chinese immigrant family and a recounting of the dwindling size of Wukan Village, Lufeng local government, in Guangdong Province.

In 2012, Zhuang Liehong opened a tea shop in Wukan Village. Zhuang possessed a clear sense of right and wrong. This instinct made him a village leader, one who inspired others to action when, without village approval, local officials requisitioned collective land to be sold to developers. This requisition caused Wukan to disappear in size as the city of Lufeng continued to expand. Zhuang and fellow villagers decided to petition the government, drafting a letter of complaint. In 2014, journalist Lauren Hilgers, visited Wukan Village to do research for a magazine article about the Wukan Village Protests. She happened upon Zhuang's tea shop.

Author Hilgers documents the journey of Zhuang and wife Little Yan in their attempt to escape to the United States and file for political asylum. Zhuang envisions a welcoming reception. Instead, the plight of undocumented immigrants is replete with menial, low paying jobs and inadequate housing. First things first, Zhuang and Little Yan must apply for asylum. Little Yan secures a grueling job at a nail salon while Zhuang stays tethered to his friends and connections in Wukan. The bottom line, everyone has to eat bitter. (suck it up)

Lauren Hilgers follows Zhuang, Little Yan and others in Flushing and Wukan Village over the course of over three years documenting an immigrant experience as well as the Wukan villagers attempts to reclaim over 10,000 mu or approximately 1,650 acres of collective land, especially land used for farming. "Patriot Number One: American Dreams in Chinatown" by Lauren Hilgers is definitely an eye-opening must read.

Thank you Crown Publishing and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "Patriot Number One".

[Bkwmlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

**UPDATE: After some thought, I decided to up the rating to 5 stars instead of 4.5, as this book had such a profound impact on me, I'm still thinking about it even now. Also added to favorites folder**

With the ongoing immigration debate in the U.S. as of late, this book that takes a deep dive into the Chinese immigrant community through the stories of several immigrants pursuing their version of the American dream is a timely one that I feel everyone should read. Written by American journalist Lauren Hilgers, this a real-life, first-hand account of the Chinese immigrant experience through the story of Zhuang Liehong, a young man from the village of Wukan in China who finds himself seeking asylum in the United States in order to escape political persecution back home. Using the pseudonym “patriot number one,” Zhuang had organized protests and wrote letters exposing the corruption of local government officials who had requisitioned land belonging to the village and sold it to developers for profit, all without approval or consent of those who owned and/or lived on the land (a “practice” that still goes on quite frequently in China and Hong Kong currently). Despite his boundless enthusiasm and love for his village, the place where he grew up and where he hoped to raise his son, Zhuang came to understand that he was fighting an uphill battle and in 2014, he and his wife Little Yan decided to leave China for New York, eventually settling in Flushing, amongst a larger community of Chinese immigrants. From there, we follow Zhuang and Little Yan on their journey as they attempt to carve out a new life for themselves in a country where they not only didn’t know the language, they also had little in the way of friends and/or acquaintances to guide them (the author Hilgers was the only “friend” they knew in the U.S.). The challenge to survive was an everyday reality for this couple, as they fought to get their asylum case approved so that they could reunite with their infant son, whom they were forced to leave behind in China. In addition to Zhuang and Little Yan’s story, Hilgers also paralleled the stories of a few other Chinese immigrants – Karen, a young woman Little Yan meets at night school who is trying to build a new life for herself after being sent to study in the U.S., and Tang Yuanjun, a former leader of the Tiananmen Square protests who survived his fair share of imprisonment and abuse in China and upon settling in the U.S., decides to devote his life to helping fellow immigrants who, like Zhuang, continue to fight for justice and change in their home towns.

I first read about this book in Book Page and was immediately drawn to it because of my own background as a Chinese immigrant. Of course, having immigrated to the U.S. as a small child, my experiences were very different from Zhuang and Little Yan’s, but being so connected to the Chinese community (both locally as well as back in the place of my birth – Hong Kong) most of my life, there were many elements of their story (as well as the stories of Karen, Tang Yuanjun, and others described in the book) that I knew I would be familiar with and be able to relate to. The other reason I was drawn to this book was because of my own family dynamics – my brother’s wife is from China, also from a village in the more rural areas, and even though it has been 10 years since she immigrated here and since then, she has overcome many of the struggles she herself had faced, balancing life as an immigrant continues to be a challenge due to the extended family she has both here as well as back in China. Though the circumstances of my family members’ stories were vastly different than those described in the book (for example – my family immigrated here the traditional way due to wanting a better life for themselves and future generations rather than needing to escape political persecution), many of the experiences once here were similar.

The struggles of working class immigrants are very real and while I don’t fault those who paint all immigrants with a broad brush or who dismiss immigrants’ struggles as less important and somehow “legitimate” because they are viewed as “imposing” themselves on another country, it is hard for me to share these same sentiments knowing as deeply as I do the “price” behind those struggles. I understand what it means to leave behind family – parents, siblings, in the case of Zhuang and Little Yan, their infant son – and travel to a place that is completely foreign to you, a place that you’ve only read or heard grand stories about, a place where you don’t know the language and barely know anyone and where the question of survival is constantly on your mind. Having to work through bureaucratic red tape in efforts to do things “the right way” while figuring out a means to survive financially without becoming a burden to others, not knowing how long the “wait” will be yet wanting to be useful and contributing to society, learning English and going beyond that to gain new skills and knowledge in the hopes of bettering one’s position in the future, the constant worrying that perhaps all this hard work is in vain and the toll it takes physically / mentally / emotionally, having to deal with racism and discrimination in all its different forms while trying to understand why one’s facial features or the color of one’s skin should matter so much – these are but just a few of the struggles, all experienced at one point or another by the real people described in this book, struggles that many of my family members are also all too familiar with. The struggles, the hardships, the stress of trying to survive, sometimes it is hard not to become disillusioned and disheartened, yet many are willing to endure because compared to what they face in their home countries, this is but a small price to pay in exchange for the freedom that so many of us take for granted. Some of the situations described in the book may seem unfathomable to some people, maybe even “far-fetched” and “unbelievable” that things like that could happen, especially in this day and age, but yet so much of what occurred was indeed authentically recounted -- this I’m sure because I also follow what goes on in those parts of Asia (China and Hong Kong especially) and so I was already familiar with much of the narrative’s backstory. In fact, I was actually surprised (in a good way) to see some of the real-life news stories from that part of the world (such as the 2015 Hong Kong bookseller disappearances for example) mentioned in this book -- this was something I wasn’t expecting but am very appreciative of because of the awareness that it brings, which hopefully leads to much needed understanding on a deeper level…a necessity given the current world we live in.

I have so many thoughts about this book and to be honest, for this review, I didn’t even include half of the notes I had written down. To me, this is a book that is hard to do justice with a review because there is just too much worthy of discussion in here. The author Lauren Hilgers is obviously a talented writer and also a compelling storyteller -- there were a few times throughout the book where I actually had to remind myself that I was reading a work of nonfiction rather than a fiction novel and that everyone mentioned in the book – Zhuang, Little Yan, Karen, Tang Yuanjun, etc. – are all real people. As mentioned earlier, this is a story that I absolutely felt a personal connection to and in fact would have liked to see an update of sorts in the author’s note on how each person is doing currently, since a year has passed since the last occurrences described in the book. Also, since Zhuang’s story was about his escape from political persecution in his home country and his efforts to rebuild his life as an asylee in the U.S., it was inevitable that there would be some parts of the narrative related to politics in the book, which is something I tend to stay away from if I can help it. Luckily, Hilgers dealt with the politics piece in a way that wasn’t heavy-handed – in fact, it was more a “side story” in the book, incorporated primarily as background to understanding Zhuang’s story, which I definitely appreciated.

With all this said, I feel that this review merely skims the surface and really doesn’t justify how important and necessary a book like this is, especially right now, in our current situation. This is a timely read and one that I absolutely recommend for its honest, authentic portrayal of the Chinese immigrant experience.

Received ARC from Crown Publishing via Penguin First-to-Read program.

[Cheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

“And I've been searching for something
Taken out of my soul
Something I would never lose
Something somebody stole

“I don't know why I go walking at night
But now I'm tired and I don't want to walk anymore
I hope it doesn't take the rest of my life
Until I find what it is that I've been looking for”
--River of Dreams - Billy Joel, Songwriters, Billy Joel

”And during the Wukan protests in 2011, according to an interview with the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, Zhuang had learned an important lesson, he told the reporter: ‘The biggest fortune in life is not health but freedom.’”

Much of this is centered in Flushing, New York, but there is enough context of life in China to get a fairly thorough understanding of why this family, along with others, left another country for the American Dream. A picture of their life before, and a picture of their life after, and not only how different the lifestyles were from Wukan to Flushing, but most likely how far from reality their dream of life in America was – and yet, how grateful for the freedom.

I wanted to read this as, fairly recently, my brother married a woman (whom I adore) who had emigrated to America from China around the same time as this couple. She lived in Flushing with her then husband and their young daughter. I know how hard it was for her to leave family behind, and start a new life in America, and then again, alone with her children, to start again in a new place as a single mother.

For me, while their stories are very different, there is an element there that made this feel so honestly portrayed, and I loved that. Their frustrations, their day-in-day-out living as new immigrants, and their experiences getting documented, finding work, trying to work their way up an American ladder of dreams which were very slow to be fulfilled. And always parting with money that is so very difficult to come by, and so easily gone. Trying to learn American ways, the English language, a new neighborhood, and then another new neighborhood, followed by yet another.

Lauren Hilgers began writing this non-fiction account in 2012, thinking of it as a magazine story about Wukan Village in the time following the protests, but as life changed, so did this story. Beginning in China and ending up in New York City, while this is the story of two immigrants, it is also the story of the people of Wukan Village, some of those in person, and some obtained through the internet, as well as Zhuang’s collection of documentation.

This is truly an amazing glimpse of a life so different from one most of us have lived, the determination and drive to achieve a better life, and the heartbreaks they endure in search of this life, a life with freedom. This is nothing short of inspirational.

Thanks to my goodreads friends Jennifer and Fran for getting my attention for this one with their stellar reviews:

Fran’s review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Jennifer’s review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


Published: 20 MAR 2018


Many thanks for the ARC provided by Crown Publishing

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so sorry this will be my last Blogging for Books choice as they are discontinuing. I have loved getting print books, which are so much easier on my eyes. I thank them for the 27 books I reviewed over these last years.

Journalist Lauren Hilgers was covering a story of Chinese villagers protesting the land-grab by local authorities and demanding democratic rights when she met Zhuang Lienog, son of a fisherman and tea shop owner. When the corrupt local government decided to crack down on protestors, Zhuang and his wife managed to leave China for Flushing, NY to join a community of Chinese immigrants.

Zhuang's story as the activist Patriot Number One and his continuing activist work in America reveals a great deal about the situation in China. At the same time, readers learn about the challenges of immigrant life, finding work and adapting to a new world. Readers get to know Zhuang and his wife Little Yan, their friends and neighbors.

As Zhuang continues his protests in America, his Chinese family is targeted as a way of silencing him. Zhuang's commitment to his home village and for democracy truly makes him Patriot Number One.

I enjoyed the insight into modern China and the plight of immigrants. The author keeps a journalist's objectivity. This is not a fault, but the story may feel flat to readers used to more emotional bias.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging read following the story of a Chinese dissident (Zhuang Liehong) and his wife (Little Yan) as they immigrate to America. Hilgers charts every step of their journey, from planning their escape from political oppression in Zhuang's hometown of Wukan to their eventual gaining of green cards and asylum in Flushing, NY.

I enjoyed - if that's the right word - reading Zhuang and Little Yan's story of the travails of modern immigration and finding their place within a new country and culture. Hilgers was clearly a not insignificant part of their story but she doesn't insert herself into their narrative unnecessarily and instead compassionately shows the practical day to day struggles of a couple who (at least one of whom) refuse to sacrifice their own political ideals in pursuit of the best life they can achieve for their young family. The stories of a few other immigrants they meet along the way are peppered into the story which added additional depth and perspectives -- I particularly liked the sections following Karen, a young woman who works to overcome a difficult situation involving personal debt and learning a new language to make new life for herself. It was interesting also to learn about Flushing, a place I knew next to nothing about but is home to one of the largest Chinese populations in the US.

Highly recommended. Similar reads: Call Me American: A Memoir.

[Jill Dobbe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author spends time in China and while there, befriends a man, Zhuang, who is involved in the politics of Wukan, his hometown, and is labeled as a dissident. He is jailed and once released, finds his way to the U.S. where he hopes to be successful. The account of his life, and that of his wife's, take place in Wukan, China, Flushing, NY, and NYC, as they both take on endless jobs and move to countless apartments, in order to make a good life for their son and themselves.

There is a lot going on in this book. The author follows the political career of Zhuang as he meets up with other Chinese dissidents and continues to protest against Chinese officials. The author writes about the lives of Chinese immigrants and the difficulties they have in getting visas, green cards, finding meaningful work, and learning English. Lastly, Hilgers gives us an account of Zhuang's wife, Little Yan, and how she acclimates to the American lifestyle and pursues various employment, while getting a business degree that she hopes will someday get her a nice desk job.

Hilgers' writing has an easy flow that made me feel as though she was sitting across from me telling me the story of Zhuang and Little Yan's life. Her knowledge of the Chinese people, the food, language, and history of China showed itself throughout the book giving me a sense of her loyalty, compassion, and expertise regarding China.

I highly recommend this book and thank Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review it.

[SibylM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via their First To Read program, and an honest review was requested. "Patriot Number One" tells the story of Chinese democracy and anti-corruption activist Zhuang Liehong and his wife, Little Yan. For most of the book, the setting switches back and forth between Zhuang's life and activism in China and his emigration to Flushing, Queens and his struggle for legal status and to adapt and thrive in the United States. It is a fascinating story, though at times frustrating, just like the lead character. At times he makes decisions that seem nonsensical, and his stubbornness and inability to change often place huge burdens on his wife and family.
In fact, I found the most interesting people were Little Yan and her friend, Karen. Their issues and dreams for themselves and their families were more gripping than Zhuang's anti-corruption activism in China, at least to me. Overall, this was a beautifully-written and compelling story, and I think it will appeal to many different kinds of readers.

[Kasa Cotugno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this reads novelistically, it is the true account of a young family from China who manage to forge a new life chasing the elusive American dream. Timely and relevant, it tells how Zhuang feels he must relocate after his experiences as a dissident, and courageously moves with his wife, Little Yen, without much money, a working ability in English, a support system, or even a realistic knowledge of how life would play out in Queens where he has his heart set on thriving. Chapters are clearly labeled as to time and location, and it is remarkable how quickly things progressed from when the decision was made. Hilgers knows these people and treats them with respect and care. Underlying the momentum, I felt her admiration especially for Little Yen who kept the family afloat by pursuing low level jobs such as working in nail salons, and continues to be the bedrock of the family while at the same time supporting her husband's ideals. Their first 18 months were difficult, having had to leave their infant son with relatives, and the means of having him join them at last was revelatory. Other people make appearances, but this couple best represents the determination and grit necessary to attain their goals.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this in a first reads giveaway
This is a fantastic illustration of the modern immigrant experience. The author does a wonderful job of character development and showing how hard it is to start over in a new country where you don't know anyone and have to adjust to a whole new set of customs and social mores.

[Jerrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This non-fiction book follows a Chinese dissent as he seeks asylum in the US for himself and his family. It highlights the struggles and disillusionment and also exposes a system of bureaucratic mazes and delays and how this community has learned to game the system. The subject of this book is not a major player in resistance in China, yet the government continues to pursue his friends and family and fellow villagers in his absence.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t usually read non fiction, but after hearing the author speak at a book event, I was intrigued. This story of Chinese immigrants coming to Flushing, fleeing political persecution on China, is relevant to today’s immigration debate. It was an interesting read, very detailed, but illuminating as to what challenges are presented when trying to understand how to make it in this country.

[Lynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting account of trying to fight for your beliefs both in China and in the U.S.. Struggles of Chinese immigrants are also described. The content is interesting but I didn't get a sense of feeling about the characters (subjects?) of this story.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patriot Number One opens it's readers to the world of Flushings and the people living in its neighborhood who go unnoticed in our society trying to live out the American Dream or more so their version of the American Dream. The American Dream often times is elusive and the stories shared throughout the book seems unattainable and out of reach. With hard work, perseverance, strong will and determination the men and women make of their American Dream by working long hours in jobs they don't necessarily want, waiting for their green cards, granted asylum etc. all without trying to fall into the entrapment of exploitation that so many immigrants trying to make their way of it fall into. There are current events that many of us do not know about because all of it has been drowned out by other world events that appear in the book. Thanks to Ms. Hilgers she has brought out the injustices to the front so that now we are all aware of what's going on in the world around us even right here in the United States.

Patriot Number One instantly draws you in and is a page turner where readers will hold on to every word that is left on the page. This book is of nonfiction, and even though the men and women seem far away through Ms. Hilgers eyes you are able to build a relationship with the character and by the end of the book, you really do know the people Ms. Hilgers is writing about.
She has brought to light what so many of us do not hear about on the people in our communities and their struggles and their successes. This book will not let you down but will make you well informed.

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an enlightening look at the ordeal of immigrants in the United States, especially those from China. The focus is primarily on Zhuang and his wife, Little Han, and their sometimes rocky road to find a place for themselves while still trying to stay in touch with the protest movement that led them to flee their home. Hilgers also sheds an important light on the oppressive regime and lack of real freedom for the people of China, particularly those from the more rural areas of the country. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to better understand the struggle of both the immigrant population of the U.S. and the situation in China, which seems to be growing in power and influence. I received an advanced copy of this book from Penguin’s First to Read program in exchange for an honest review.

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilgers tells the true story of a Chinese man, Zhuang Liehong, who escapes to NYC after he helps lead the people of his village, Wukan, in revolt of the government. Leihong and his wife, Little Yan, discover how difficult it is to make it as undocumented, working class immigrants in America. Hilgers follows their daily lives including applying for asylum, and also tells their backstories and the story of Wukan. Powerful, timely and highly readable.

[Meag McHugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the topic of Patriot Number One to be interesting, since I knew very little about political unrest in China or the struggles of Chinese immigrants in America. Through the story of Zhuang and Little Yan, along with some of their friends and acquaintances in America, readers get a taste of the harsh realities of immigrants struggling to become legal US residents, find work and affordable housing, and learn English. Hilgers does a good job of showing just how different and at times jarring the American way of life is for foreigners and how many immigrants are faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles to achieve success. The pain of being so far away from family and friends that are still in the midst of political turmoil back in China was also displayed, particularly through Zhuang, a devoted activist who organizes protests and spreads the word about the unrest in his hometown of Wukan while he is in America. Overall, the book did drag a little bit once it hit the halfway point, but it's definitely worth checking out if you want to learn more about the Chinese immigrant experience in the US.

**This is a review of the ARC I received through Goodreads Giveaways.

[L.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 2011, journalist Lauren Hilgers reported from a small village located on the southern coast of China. There, villagers had revolted against corrupt local government when it was discovered their farmland was being sold out from under them to real estate developers. The unlikely leader of the rebellion was a fisherman's son named Zhuang Liehong whose activism soon drew the ire of police and government officials. Zhuang knew he needed to escape while he could, before his passport was blacklisted. Together, he and his long-suffering wife, Little Yan traveled to America on a tourist visa. They left their infant son with Little Yan's parents with the intent of sending for them once they were settled in America. Once the pair had defected from the tour, they headed to New York City where Zhuang had researched (via the internet) that Flushing in Queens was the best place for democratically minded Chinese immigrants like him.
From there, Hilgers weaves an empathetic, often humorous narrative of life as a modern day immigrant - the struggle to survive, assimilate and find affordable housing and jobs - the reconciliation of dreams and visions to the actuality of a cynical, unwelcoming society. The sensible Little Yan quickly finds mundane jobs for herself and encourages her husband to do the same hoping to establish financial security. Zhuang believes a renowned activist like himself, will receive offers to join the other dissidents living in the community and multiple job opportunities will magically surface. He does indeed befriend Tang Yuanjun, a Tiananmen Square protest leader, and the two are part of a protest at Trump Tower where they experience blowback from Trump supporters asking - why should America care about their problems?
All in all it's a marvelous look at today's immigrant dilemma and an argument FOR rather than against, making sure America remains a sanctum for dreamers everywhere.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know about you, but I don't think that I could master reading Chinese characters or even do a credible communication in even one of the many dialects. The reverse of this is true for each of the many Chinese immigrants in New York and elsewhere in the English speaking world.
This book gives the rest of us a view into Wukan village life and indignities, the government reaction to low level rebellion, the need and process of political asylum seeking, the incredible monetary and emotional costs, and the harsh realities for one courageous man and his wife, their families, friends and neighbors in the years from 2012 to 2017. It is written by an English speaking magazine reporter fluent in Chinese and able to transliterate names, and this chronicling is also documented and footnoted.
Follow along with the poorlt educated young man who became Patriot Number One in an effort to dissolve corruption in local and provincial government and work for social justice. He married an educated but introverted young woman, spent time in jail, had a son, and became too problematic for the government. Then began the process of leaving the small son with the grandparents, consolidating his funds, borrowing money from family and friends, planning and executing the move from China (without alerting the government), and then coming as just another immigrant to the Chinese community in Flushing, Queens, New York.
Follow along with the tribulations of their living in one small room (which cost as much as a one room apartment in the Midwest), finding trustworthy contacts among the countless strangers, finding employment when unable to understand the language, obtaining political asylum status, working 60 to 70 hours per week, paying taxes and Social Security, and still sending money back to both her parents and his. There are good people and good luck in their lives as well, making this a fascinating but exhausting reading experience. It's also a good insight and reminder to those of us who have parents and grandparents who had similar experiences and also overcame it all.
I requested and received a prepublication copy from Net Galley.
Don't miss this gem.
12/05/2018 Just bought the audio, Angela Lin is remarkable! It is obvious that English is not her second language, but the sound of the Chinese names and phrases seems so unstudied that I wonder if IT is her second.

[Dong Han · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite non-fiction reads. This story of a Chinese family who seeks asylum in the United States, while highly personalized and deeply characterized, touches on universal themes of freedom, the meaning of family, immigrant striving, and the American dream. Reading this book humanized the bits and pieces you or I would read in the news about Chinese politics and shines a light on the story of Wukan village which deserves its proper telling in history. Highly highly recommend!

[Rhonda Lomazow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lauren Hilgers has written a fascinating engrossing look at immigrants the desire for the American experience family traditions .Drew me in from the first pages reads like a novel very timely book for today’s political climate.Highly recommend.Thanks @crownpublishing@netgalley for advanced readers copy.

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patriot Number One: American Dreams in Chinatown is the true story of Zhuang Liehong, a Chinese immigrant, and activist. The story begins in Wukan, a small fishing village in Guangdong Province in China. Zhuang, incensed by the corruption in his town, spearheads a movement that he hopes will bring change. Instead, it becomes obvious that he is a marked man. He defects to the United States along with his wife, Little Yan, leaving their infant son with relatives.

The saga winds through the frustrating and often confusing bureaucracy of the asylum process and centers on the Chinese-American community in Flushing, NY. Patriot Number One highlights the immense challenges that immigrants face when they come to the United States, along with the sacrifices, suffering, and tenacity that are necessary parts of the process. 

Patriot Number One really reminded me how blessed I am to live in a free country. In China, social media accounts are tracked and censored. Zhuang's father was imprisoned on trumped up charges and his mother and disabled older brother were regularly visited by security forces. People who escape China to Thailand worry that the local police will send them back to China. China's human rights violations are widely known, but I still appreciate the reminder this book gave me. 

I found the book hard to follow, however. The big picture was clear, but I often got lost in seemingly disjointed details. I admit I'm a detail-oriented person and I might pay more attention to small details that might not be important to the story, but there were numerous instances where I just went "what?" One such instance is where Zhuang tells Tang (another activist) that he "...had so many Facebook followers....but my Facebook account has been closed down." The very next page it says "...more than two thousand people were following Xhuang on Facebook. People were supporting him in the comments, clicking "like" and leaving behind emojis of crying faces." 

I also wish that the book had pictures in it of the people that are in it. I'm a visual person and it really helps to see a face to go with a name. I finally went online and found some articles and that helped me envision who the author was talking about for at least Zhuang and Little Yan.

Patriot Number One was a disappointment for me, but it is still a valid picture of Chinese immigrants and the issues they face both in China and in the US.

*I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written with a lot of attention to detail and obvious care for the subjects, in some ways reminding me of certain Dave Eggers books, say Zeitoun.
This is simply the story of a man, a common man in China, who got fed up at one point with what he saw as unfair corrupt government officials in his small village. He protests, and what could have been one single hot-headed protest becomes his life’s work.
He flees, ends up a refugee in New York, but never moves on or stops caring about home.
This could be a simple noble portrait, but it is not. We see his stubbornness, we see his isolation in his new home, we see his wife’s frustration. We also hear her story as well of the story of some people whose lives intersect the life of this couple in Fleming where they settle. And the story keeps us updated on the village back in China, where Zhuang’s action ignited something. Against the mighty powerful communist officials can their small stand matter? It feels good that their struggle is amplified and recognized, even though it is but a small one against a big power.
Along the way through the specific individual portraits you learn a lot about Chinese immigrants to the US, in particular those that don’t seem to assimilate, that stay in Chinese communities and speak Chinese. By letting us in, Lauren Hilgers opens our eyes to their perspective.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Patriot Number One Lauren Hilgers has created a warts and all story of Zhuang, a semi-literate Chinese dissident, who, with his pretty young wife Little Yan, fights all odds to make a life for his family in the USA. To her credit, Hilgers, who met Zhuang when she spent six years in Shanghai as a journalist and afterwards supported him in the United States, has told Zhuang's story of dogged determination without sentimentality but with enough details to elicit sympathy.

I was sad to leave the two worlds of this fearless immigrant couple who left behind their infant son to make a clever escape from Wukan where Zhuang had organized the tiny fishing city to protest against land grabs by corrupt officials. The situation in Wukan continues to get worse, with raids and beatings, and in a misbegotten attempt to scare his son into silence, Zhuang's father ends up with a three-year jail sentence.

In her "nonfiction novel" Hilgers paints a broad and detailed canvass as she memorializes among others, Little Yan's friend Karen whom she meets at night school and Tang Yuanjun, the chairman for Flushing’s Chinese Democracy Parties which organizes weekly protests not only in New York but as far away as Palm Beach. Even with a university degree, Karen survives by cleaning hotel rooms, and Tang, although he finds a loving new wife, mourns for his life in China.

This is a side of China, and of the immigrant community in Flushing, Queens, that receives scant media coverage, blitzed away by Trump's schizoid outbursts against and for China. Hilgers outlines the visa and green card processes, many changes of apartments, backbreaking jobs, and the costly process of bringing Zhuang's and Little Yan's son to live with them in Flushing. I am in awe of the achievements of Zhuang and Little Yan and of Hilgers' steady and clear documentation.

[Nada · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patriot Number One is Zhuang Liehong, a Chinese activist who has sought asylum and made the United States his home. Any immigrant story has two parts - the life they create in their adopted home and the life they leave behind. Going back and forth in time and place, the book by Lauren Hilgers captures both. On both sides of the story, the book depicts a struggle. One is the activism and fight against corruption. The other is the attempt to navigate the US immigration and justice system in a legal application for asylum.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2018...

Reviewed for Penguin First to Read program.

[Mac Daly · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the village of Wukan, China, Zhuang Liehong leads a protest against the seizing of land by the government and is known as Patriot Number One. Fearing retribution, he and his wife, Little Yan flee to New York and seek asylum. While in New York, Zhuang grapples with the intricacies of getting his green card, finding work, bringing his son to NY and continuing his support of Wukan. Nobody makes it easy for him and Little Yan. It's a fascinating and often frustrating story. It's sometimes hard to keep track of the many players since so many of the names are similar.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for my adult lit class. It was interesting to hear about several Chinese immigrants-why they left China, how they felt being here in America and some of the struggles to make it in an unfamiliar place where the common tongue is not yours.

[Ingrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zhuang’s experiences make me rethink my advocacy (or lack there of) choices but maybe it’s okay if I am a Little Yan. Their experiences humble my own, and makes me think about how much more challenging immigration issues are right now in NYC and the United States given the current administration. Sometimes falls into the teleological trap of retelling “China”.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author spent six years in China, and had been back in America two years when a contact from her expatriate time phoned her suddenly, saying he would see her soon in New York. This was totally unexpected, although she knew that Zhuang Liehong and his wife, Little Yan, were hoping to escape from China and seek political asylum in the United States. Zhuang was a political activist, seeking to reform the local system in Wukan, the village where he lived. Corruption was rife, and he wanted justice for his fellow villagers.

Escape was amazingly easy- they managed to get visas to take a tour of some US cities, under the auspices of a tour guide. The hang up was that they had to leave their infant son behind, to make it look like they were coming back. But they hoped to get asylum right away and be able to send for him. They left him with family.

New life in the US was not so easy, though. Zhuang did not speak any English, and what English Little Yan knew was rusty. Hilgers went to where she had her laundry done; the woman there gave her some contacts and hints. Soon enough, the couple found that being granted asylum was neither easy nor fast. Without asylum and green cards, they cannot get above-board jobs, so making a living is difficult. Plus, at first Zhuang insists that Little Yan must work at the same place he does, so he can keep an eye on her. And when he gets over that, he goes back to political activism, which eats up a lot of his time. This story alternates with backstory, telling us how and why Zhuang became a man the government of China wanted to keep an eye on.

There are some many people that Zhuang and Little Yan interacted with that you practically need a cast of characters. The story can be confusing at times; non-fiction is rarely as smooth and even as novels are. I found the story fascinating; those of us born in the US can barely grasp what difficulties immigrants face when they come here, particularly ones seeking political asylum. Zhuang and Little Yan were lucky because they knew someone in New York, an American who could speak their language, who was willing to devote time to helping them. I recommend this book a lot; it’s highly illuminating of problems both here and in China. Four and a half stars.