Picture an Asian-American storyteller who weaves grief, identity, and cultural history into a hauntingly beautiful memoir—meet Kat Chow! With her 2021 book Seeing Ghosts, Chow invites readers into her world, where personal loss meets the broader tapestry of immigrant life. Her work, infused with wit and heart, has made her a vital voice in contemporary literature.
From her roots as a journalist to her role as a founding member of NPR’s Code Switch podcast, Chow’s storytelling blends sharp cultural insight with emotional depth. Her unique perspective as a child of Chinese immigrants shapes narratives that resonate far beyond the page.
The Making of Kat Chow
Born in 1990 in the United States, Kat Chow grew up in Connecticut, navigating the complexities of her Chinese-American identity. The loss of her mother to cancer at age 13 profoundly shaped her worldview, sparking a lifelong fascination with grief and memory. Chow’s academic journey led her to the University of Washington, where she earned a B.A. in journalism with a minor in diversity studies in 2012. Her early career in radio honed her ability to craft compelling stories, setting the stage for her literary debut.
Chow’s journalistic roots took hold at NPR, where she co-founded the Code Switch podcast in 2013. Her reporting on race, identity, and culture—covering topics like gentrification in New York’s Chinatown and Native American identity—earned her accolades, including a 2015 Asian American Journalists Association award. These experiences sharpened her narrative voice, blending rigor with empathy.
Kat Chow’s Unforgettable Stories
Chow’s debut memoir, Seeing Ghosts (2021), is a lyrical exploration of grief, family, and heritage. The book traces her family’s journey from China and Hong Kong to Cuba and the U.S., framed by the loss of her mother. With a tone that’s both brooding and humorous, Chow captures her mother’s playful spirit—like her morbid joke about being taxidermied to watch over her daughter. Critics, including The New York Times, praised its graceful storytelling, calling it a “captivating” tribute.
Beyond Seeing Ghosts, Chow’s journalism shines in outlets like The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, and Radiolab. Her cultural criticism tackles racial representation in media, beauty standards, and the model minority myth, often with a personal lens. As a regular panelist on NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour and a guest host for Slate’s The Waves, she brings her incisive wit to pop culture discussions.
Chow’s style is intimate yet expansive, weaving personal anecdotes with historical and cultural context. Her memoir’s nonlinear structure, blending direct address to her mother with archival research, creates a scrapbook-like feel. This approach, lauded by TIME Magazine as a “bittersweet meditation,” makes her work both accessible and profound.
Why Kat Chow Matters
Kat Chow’s impact lies in her ability to bridge personal and collective narratives. Seeing Ghosts joins a wave of Asian-American memoirs, like Michelle Zauner’s Crying in H Mart, that redefine the genre with raw honesty. By exploring grief through an immigrant lens, Chow illuminates the universal ache of loss while honoring her family’s unique history. Her work resonates with readers seeking stories that reflect the complexities of identity and belonging.
As the 2024–2025 Jenny McKean Moore Writer-In-Washington at George Washington University, Chow continues to shape the literary landscape, teaching creative nonfiction and inspiring new voices. Her residencies at Storyknife, Millay Arts, and the Jack Jones Literary Arts Retreat underscore her growing influence.
- Born: 1990, United States
- Key Work: Seeing Ghosts: A Memoir (2021)
- Awards: 2015 Asian American Journalists Association National Journalism Award
- Notable Roles: Founding member of NPR’s Code Switch, panelist on Pop Culture Happy Hour
Ready to dive into Kat Chow’s world? Snag Seeing Ghosts and lose yourself in her poignant, playful storytelling!