Stay True

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PULITZER PRIZE WINNER • NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A gripping memoir on friendship, grief, self-discovery, and the solace found in art, by New Yorker staff writer Hua Hsu. “This book is exquisite and excruciating and I will be thinking about it for years and years to come.” — Rachel Kushner, bestselling author. At eighteen, Hua Hsu views Ken, with his love for Dave Matthews and fraternity life, as emblematic of mainstream culture, which contrasts sharply with Hua's identity as the son of Taiwanese immigrants who creates ’zines and frequents Bay Area record shops. Initially, Ken represents everything Hua opposes, yet they forge a friendship through late-night talks, coastal drives, and the ups and downs of college life. Tragically, Ken is killed in a carjacking just three years after they meet. In the wake of this loss, Hua seeks to preserve Ken's memory through writing. The result is a coming-of-age narrative that captures both the mundane and the profound, exploring the complexities of growing up and the quest for meaning and belonging. Stay True is a poignant reflection on friendship and the enduring impact of loss.