We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story - Paperback

by Simu Liu (Author)

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

The star of Marvel's first Asian superhero film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, tells his own origin story of being a Chinese immigrant in a candid celebrity memoir about his battles with cultural stereotypes, his own identity, becoming a TV star, and landing the role of a lifetime.

In this honest, inspiring and relatable immigrant story, newly-minted superhero Simu Liu chronicles his family's journey from China to the bright lights of Hollywood with razor-sharp wit and humor.

Simu's parents left him in the care of his grandparents, then brought him to Canada when he was four. Life as a Canuck, however, is not all that it was cracked up to be; Simu's new guardians lack the gentle touch of his grandparents, resulting in harsh words and hurt feelings. His parents, on the other hand, find their new son emotionally distant and difficult to relate to - although they are related by blood, they are separated by culture, language, and values.

As Simu grows up, he plays the part of the pious child flawlessly in a classic tale of the model minority myth - he gets straight A's, crushes national math competitions and makes his parents proud. But as time passes, he grows increasingly disillusioned with the path that has been laid out for him. Less than a year out of college, at the tender age of 22, his life hits rock bottom when he is laid off from his first job as an accountant. Left to his own devices, and with nothing left to lose, Simu embarks on a journey that will take him far outside of his comfort zone into the world of show business.

Through a swath of rejection and comical mishaps, Simu's determination to carve out a path for himself leads him to not only succeed as an actor, but also to open the door to reconciling with his parents.

We Were Dreamers is more than a celebrity memoir - it's a powerful coming-of-age story about growing up between cultures, navigating family conflict, and becoming the master of your own extraordinary circumstance.

But what happens when the path your parents lay out for you leads to a dead end?

• Asian Representation: Go behind the scenes of Marvel's first Asian superhero movie and discover the importance of seeing yourself on the big screen.
• Immigrant Parents: A deeply personal look at the culture clash between a young man and his parents, and the long, difficult road to understanding and reconciliation.
• Career Change: From a soul-crushing accounting job to the unpredictable world of Hollywood, this is an inspiring story about betting on yourself when you have nothing left to lose.
• AAPI Experience: An honest and humorous exploration of growing up Asian in North America, battling stereotypes, and forging your own identity.
• Celebrity Origin Story: Follow Simu Liu's journey from a childhood in Harbin, China, to starring in Kim's Convenience and ultimately landing the role of a lifetime in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.