Ying Chang Compestine
Compestine in 2014
Born	張瀛 (1963-03-08) March 8, 1963 (age 63) Wuhan, Hubei, China
Occupation	Author
Language	English
Alma mater	Central China Normal University University of Colorado Boulder
Genre	Fiction, children's books, cookbooks, historical fiction, cultural studies
Notable works	Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party (2007)
Spouse	Greg M. Compestine
Children	1
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	張瀛
Simplified Chinese	张瀛
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhāng Yíng Wade–Giles Chang1 Ying2
Website
www.yingc.com

Ying Chang Compestine (born March 8, 1963^[1]) is a Chinese American author, speaker, television host and chef. She has written over 27 books, including the novel Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party based on her life growing up during the Chinese Cultural Revolution,^[2] and a middle grade novel, Morning Sun in Wuhan,^[3] set in Wuhan, China.

Ying Chang Compestine was born and raised in Wuhan, China, during the Chinese Cultural Revolution.^[1] Her family was considered "bourgeois," so the Red Guard took her family's belongings and her father was put in jail twice.^[4] Because of the family's difficulties, Compestine was sent to live with her grandparents.^[4]

Compestine earned a degree in English and American literature and taught English in China.^[1] She also worked as an interpreter for China's Bureau of Seismology.^[1]

Compestine graduated with a master's degree in sociology from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1990.^[5][6] She met her husband just before she finished graduate school.^[7] Before becoming an award-winning author, she taught sociology at various universities and colleges in the U.S. and China until 1998.

After immigrating to the United States, Compestine taught sociology and writing at universities in both the U.S. and China.^[8][1] Compestine has received various education awards including the Master Teacher Award from both Front Range Community College (1991–1992) and the International School of Beijing (2000).^[1]

Compestine has hosted several cooking shows on Chinese Language News Broadcaster for Phoenix North America Chinese Channel, as well as appearing as a guest on the Food Network, Discovery Channel,^[9] and HGTV.^[1] She also worked a food editor for Martha Stewart's Body + Soul magazine^[7] and is a contributor for Cooking Light, EatingWell, Self, and Men's Health.^[10][11][12] Compestine is also a spokesperson for Nestle and Celestial Seasonings.^[13]

Compestine’s writing often combines Chinese food, folklore, history, family stories, and cultural memory. Across cookbooks, picture books, young adult novels, memoir, and graphic works, her books frequently explore identity, resilience, intergenerational relationships, and the meeting of Eastern and Western perspectives. ^[14]

Compestine began writing after the birth of her son. Her first book was the cookbook Secrets of Fat-Free Chinese Cooking, published in 1997.^[15] She later began writing books for children, drawing on her memories of China, her family, and Chinese culture.^[16] Her work spans cookbooks, picture books, young adult fiction, memoir, and graphic works, and frequently incorporates Chinese food, folklore, history, festivals, and family traditions.

Her young adult novel Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party (2007) draws on her childhood experiences during the Cultural Revolution.^[17] The book was included in the 2008 American Library Association’s Best Books for Young Adults list and Publishers Weekly’s Best Children’s Books of 2007.^[18]

In 2014, Compestine co-authored Secrets of the Terra-Cotta Soldier with her son Vinson.^[19][20]

Her middle-grade novel Morning Sun in Wuhan, set during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, was published in 2022.

Her picture book memoir Growing Up Under a Red Flag (2024), illustrated by Xinmei Liu, recounts her childhood during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. The book received starred reviews from School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist, and was selected as a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.^{[21] [22][23][24]}

Other recent picture books include Ra Pu Zel and the Stinky Tofu (2024), illustrated by Crystal Kung, and The Chinese New Year Helper (2025), illustrated by Ginnie Hsu.

Compestine’s young adult novel A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts has been developed as an animated adaptation by Robot Playground Media. Public descriptions of the project describe it as an animated horror anthology based on the book, blending Chinese customs, culture, cuisine, and ghost stories.^[25]

Her graphic novel cookbook Buddha Jumps over the Wall, and Other Curiously Named Classic Chinese Dishes: A Graphic Cookbook—26 Recipes & Stories was published by Chronicle Books in March 2025. The book combines recipes with the folkloric stories behind classic Chinese dishes. In 2025, Google Play named it its “Favorite Graphic Novel” in its Best of 2025 books list.^[26]

Compestine has presented as a speaker, author, and guest chef on cruise ships, at resorts, schools, conferences, and other venues, including The World Residences at Sea,^[27] Silversea, Crystal, Canyon Ranch^[28], and TCS World Travel.

Her speaking topics include her childhood in China during the Cultural Revolution, resilience and storytelling, Asian culture and cuisine, healthy living and cooking, and the writing and publishing process. She also presents programs that combine memoir, food, culture, and wellness. Canyon Ranch lists Compestine as a guest expert and describes her as a nationally recognized authority on culture and cuisine, an award-winning author, and a former food editor for Martha Stewart’s Whole Living magazine. The profile also notes that she speaks for cruise ships, private jet journeys, resorts, and organizations worldwide, and that her programs address her writing journey, her life in Wuhan, China, and healthy eating and living.

Recent program topics have included healthspan and lifespan, the healing power of personal storytelling, Asian food and wellness traditions, Asian folklore and hungry ghost traditions, and concise writing inspired by principles of simplicity and clarity.^[29]

Common speaking themes include inspirational speaking, healthy eating and cooking, cultural storytelling, and writing programs. Her educational offerings include author visits and writer-in-residence programs, where she works with students and teachers to encourage reading, writing, creativity, and cross-cultural understanding.^[30]

• Buddha Jumps Over a Wall and Other Curiously Named Chinese Dishes. Chronicle Books. Release date: March 2025.
• The Chinese New Year Helper. Rocky Pond Books. 2024. ISBN 9780593534014
• Growing Up Under a Red Flag. Rocky Pond Books. 2024. ISBN 978-0593533987.
• Ra Pu Zel and the Stinky Tofu. Rocky Pond Books. 2024. ISBN 978-0593533055.
• Dragon Noodle Party. Holiday House. 2022. ISBN 978-0823449507.
• Morning Sun in Wuhan. Clarion Books. 2022. ISBN 978-0358572053.
• Little Red Riding Hood and the Dragon. Abrams Books for Young Readers. 2022 ISBN 978-1419737282.
• D is for Dragon Dance (Chinese/English bilingual edition). Holiday House. 2018.
• Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party (German translation). Verlagshaus Jacoby & Stuart. 2018.
• The Chinese Emperor's New Clothes. Abrams Books For Young Readers. 2018. ISBN 978-1419725425.
• The Chinese Emperor's New Clothes (Audiobook Sample). Abrams Books For Young Readers. 2018.
• A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts: A collection of Deliciously Frightening Tales. Tumbling Dumpling Media. 2016. ISBN 978-0997218701.
• The Story of Chopsticks. Immedium. 2016. ISBN 9781597021203.
• The Story of Kites. Immedium. 2016. ISBN 978-1597021319.
• The Story of Paper. Immedium. 2016. ISBN 978-1597021234.
• Boy Dumplings: A Tasty Chinese Tale. Immedium. 2016. ISBN 978-1597021197.
• Secrets of The Terra Cotta Soldier. with Vinson Compestine. Abrams Books. 2014. ISBN 978-1419705403.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
• Cooking with an Asian Accent. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 2014. ISBN 978-1118130759.
• Ying's Best One-Dish Meals: Quick & Healthy Recipes for the Entire Family. Sellers Publishing, Inc. 2011. ISBN 978-1416206439.
• The Runaway Wok. Dutton Books for Young Readers. 2011. ISBN 978-0525420682.
• Crouching Tiger. Candlewick. 2011. ISBN 978-0763646424.
• Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party. Henry Holt & Co. 2007. ISBN 978-0997218701.
• The Real Story of Stone Soup. Dutton Books for Young Readers. 2007. ISBN 978-0525474937.
• D is For Dragon Dance. Holiday House Inc. 2007. ISBN 9780823420582.
• The Story of Noodles. Holiday House. 2002. ISBN 0823416003.
• Secrets From a Healthy Asian Kitchen. Avery. 2002. ISBN 9781583331279.
• The Runaway Rice Cake. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. 2001. ISBN 0689829728.
• Cooking With Green Tea. Avery. 2000. ISBN 9781583330654.
• Secrets of Fat-free Chinese Cooking. Avery. 1997. ISBN 0895297353.

• Ying Chang Compestine Archived 2017-05-13 at the Wayback Machine