Skip to main content

Patriot Number One: A Chinese Rebel Comes to America

Review

Patriot Number One: A Chinese Rebel Comes to America

PATRIOT NUMBER ONE is about a Chinese family that, through various means, seeks asylum in the United States and the daunting struggle it takes to attain the American Dream they so desperately want. As one who has not been through this personally, unsurprisingly I found the details of how they managed to transition a group --- each under different, complex and unofficial circumstances --- difficult to follow. To me, it seems they pulled off the impossible, and I am impressed by the relentless willpower of Zhuang, Little Yan, Tang Yuanjun and others like Karen to become Americans, not to mention their endeavor to Americanize.

Nothing for the Chinese expatriates came easy, and they had to do more work than the average American to find basic acceptance, or to be considered on an equal level that never fully materialized. In China, Zhuang was an advocate for democracy. His village, Wukan, garnered international attention for a rebellion against state officials, which he organized to recruit other democratic supporters. Zhuang did it all while operating under the online alias “Patriot Number One.” Before reaching the United States, he had been arrested, interrogated and had friends kidnapped. One died in police custody. For Zhuang, leaving China was less of a choice than an escape.

"Author Lauren Hilgers reports on Chinese-American culture and family life in a respectable and uplifting way. Through the struggles and sometimes troubles, I really appreciate how she covers New York City and its people."

Most public commentary in America these days involves immigration from Mexico. But with an even higher number of Chinese immigrants received over the last several years, this book is remarkably relevant and a scarcer discourse than it ought to be. I found the characters engaging and strong. There is usually a focus on Chinese immigrant stories involving professional qualifications, which are then used as an example of producing model minorities for the general public. However, this story has a cast of working-class characters that navigate strenuous situations --- always with serious fortitude, skill and hard work.

PATRIOT NUMBER ONE adds a twist to a typical narrative of Chinese immigration as presented to the average American --- one that involves fighting for freedom, labor and perseverance, and overcoming oppression. In America they had to find housing, avoid scams, and move through language schools and employment agencies, spending their whole lives working toward a dream they knew might never be realized in their lifetimes.

Author Lauren Hilgers reports on Chinese-American culture and family life in a respectable and uplifting way. Through the struggles and sometimes troubles, I really appreciate how she covers New York City and its people. She keeps it real, even as she describes the often-degrading atmosphere Zhuang and Little Yan faced living in Flushing. The entire story started when Zhuang decided to fight for democracy in a small Chinese village, and now he is in the United States.

PATRIOT NUMBER ONE shows how some of the most patriotic heroes are unsung, ordinary Americans with powerful immigrant stories we all can share. If you read the book, you will realize how unlikely this whole story is, and how amazing it is that it all began with a single man who sought to be free.

Reviewed by John Bentlyewski on March 30, 2018

Patriot Number One: A Chinese Rebel Comes to America
by Lauren Hilgers

  • Publication Date: April 9, 2019
  • Genres: Biography, Nonfiction
  • Paperback: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Broadway Books
  • ISBN-10: 0451496140
  • ISBN-13: 9780451496140