MC's Reviews > Patriot Number One: American Dreams in Chinatown

Journalist Lauren Hilgers shares the story of Zhuang Liehong, a Chinese activist who travels to the United States with his wife on a tourist visa in order to seek political asylum. Liehong chooses New York City because of it’s promise and possibilities but quickly encounters the realities of living in one of the most expensive cities in the United States. Liehong and his wife struggle to find affordable housing, learn the language and culture, and apply for permanent status in order to send for their young son still living in China with relatives – all while politically advocating for his remote, hometown village in Southern China. I was deeply invested in Liehong’s story and so desperately wanted the “American Dream” to come true for them. This book is a valuable account of the immigrant experience and what it’s truly like to flee the only country you’ve ever known to start a new life.