Beautiful Country By Qian Julie Wang

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

How An Undcocumented Childhood Begins

20211122

20211123 (R4)

Qian Julie Wang's powerful and moving memoir is about leaving China for Brooklyn aged seven, and growing up as an illegal immigrant. In today's episode, it's 1994 and Qian Julie's family make a new start in America, the Beautiful Country, but the promise of a better future proves elusive.

Beautiful Country is Qian Julie Wang's powerful and moving debut. Here she tells of her childhood growing up as an undocumented illegal immigrant with her parents, who had both been professors back home in China. Here they labour at menial, degrading jobs, and Qian Julie vividly describes the sweatshops and sushi factories where she and her mother undertake gruelling work, for little pay. Fear of the immigration authorities, poverty and hunger are the family's constant companions. In school, Qian Julie is quickly marked out as an outsider, and loneliness compounds her impoverished life. When illness strikes, the family is terrified as they are compelled to emerge from the shadows. Qian Julie's past has left an indelible mark, but as she looks back on her childhood what emerges is a portrait of grit and determination to overcome hardship.

Qian Julie Wang is a graduate of Yale Law School, and is a managing partner of a law firm advocating for education, disability and civil rights. She lives in Brooklyn. This is her first book.

Katie Leung first came to public attention for playing Cho Chang in the Harry Potter franchise. Recent television roles include Chimerica, Roadkill, and The Nest.

Abridged by Sarah Shaffi

In Qian Julie Wang's memoir it's 1994 and her new and uncertain life in America begins.

A powerful and moving memoir about growing up as an illegal immigrant in America.

School And Work

20211123

20211124 (R4)

Qian Julie Wang's powerful and moving memoir is about leaving China for Brooklyn aged seven, and growing up as an illegal immigrant. In today's episode, a new arrival without immigration papers, Qian Julie's mother takes what work she can.

Qian Julie Wang is a graduate of Yale Law School, and is a managing partner of a law firm advocating for education, disability and civil rights. She lives in Brooklyn. This is her first book.

Katie Leung first came to public attention for playing Cho Chang in the Harry Potter franchise. Recent television roles include Chimerica, Roadkill, and The Nest.

Abridged by Sarah Shaffi

As a newly arrived illegal immigrant Qian Julie's mother takes what work she can.

A powerful and moving memoir about growing up as an illegal immigrant in America.

Sushi And Shopping Day

20211124

20211125 (R4)

In Qian Julie Wang's moving memoir about growing up an illegal immigrant in America, her mother gets another new job, and the struggle to make ends meet continues. Katie Leung reads.

Qian Julie Wang is a graduate of Yale Law School, and is a managing partner of a law firm advocating for education, disability and civil rights. She lives in Brooklyn. This is her first book.

Katie Leung first came to public attention for playing Cho Chang in the Harry Potter franchise. Recent television roles include Chimerica, Roadkill, and The Nest.

Abridged by Sarah Shaffi

In her memoir Qian Julie's mother has a new job and the struggle to make ends meet goes on

A powerful and moving memoir about growing up as an illegal immigrant in America.

Turning Points

20211125

20211126 (R4)

In Qian Julie Wang's powerful account of growing up as an illegal immigrant in America, family life in America is upended, and she takes a bold step. Katie Leung reads.

Qian Julie Wang is a graduate of Yale Law School, and is a managing partner of a law firm advocating for education, disability and civil rights. She lives in Brooklyn. This is her first book.

Katie Leung first came to public attention for playing Cho Chang in the Harry Potter franchise. Recent television roles include Chimerica, Roadkill, and The Nest.

Abridged by Sarah Shaffi

In her memoir, Qian Julie's life in America is upended, and she takes a bold step.

A powerful and moving memoir about growing up as an illegal immigrant in America.

A Journey

20211126

20211127 (R4)

In Qian Julie Wang's powerful memoir about growing up as an illegal immigrant in America, she and her mother make a life-changing journey, and the past catches up. Katie Leung reads.

Qian Julie Wang is a graduate of Yale Law School, and is a managing partner of a law firm advocating for education, disability and civil rights. She lives in Brooklyn. This is her first book.

Katie Leung first came to public attention for playing Cho Chang in the Harry Potter franchise. Recent television roles include Chimerica, Roadkill, and The Nest.

Abridged by Sarah Shaffi

In her memoir, Qian Julie is taken on a life-changing journey.

A powerful and moving memoir about growing up as an illegal immigrant in America.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	How An Undcocumented Childhood Begins	20211122	20211123 (R4)	Qian Julie Wang's powerful and moving memoir is about leaving China for Brooklyn aged seven, and growing up as an illegal immigrant. In today's episode, it's 1994 and Qian Julie's family make a new start in America, the Beautiful Country, but the promise of a better future proves elusive. Beautiful Country is Qian Julie Wang's powerful and moving debut. Here she tells of her childhood growing up as an undocumented illegal immigrant with her parents, who had both been professors back home in China. Here they labour at menial, degrading jobs, and Qian Julie vividly describes the sweatshops and sushi factories where she and her mother undertake gruelling work, for little pay. Fear of the immigration authorities, poverty and hunger are the family's constant companions. In school, Qian Julie is quickly marked out as an outsider, and loneliness compounds her impoverished life. When illness strikes, the family is terrified as they are compelled to emerge from the shadows. Qian Julie's past has left an indelible mark, but as she looks back on her childhood what emerges is a portrait of grit and determination to overcome hardship. Qian Julie Wang is a graduate of Yale Law School, and is a managing partner of a law firm advocating for education, disability and civil rights. She lives in Brooklyn. This is her first book. Katie Leung first came to public attention for playing Cho Chang in the Harry Potter franchise. Recent television roles include Chimerica, Roadkill, and The Nest. Abridged by Sarah Shaffi In Qian Julie Wang's memoir it's 1994 and her new and uncertain life in America begins. A powerful and moving memoir about growing up as an illegal immigrant in America.
02	School And Work	20211123	20211124 (R4)	Qian Julie Wang's powerful and moving memoir is about leaving China for Brooklyn aged seven, and growing up as an illegal immigrant. In today's episode, a new arrival without immigration papers, Qian Julie's mother takes what work she can. Beautiful Country is Qian Julie Wang's powerful and moving debut. Here she tells of her childhood growing up as an undocumented illegal immigrant with her parents, who had both been professors back home in China. Here they labour at menial, degrading jobs, and Qian Julie vividly describes the sweatshops and sushi factories where she and her mother undertake gruelling work, for little pay. Fear of the immigration authorities, poverty and hunger are the family's constant companions. In school, Qian Julie is quickly marked out as an outsider, and loneliness compounds her impoverished life. When illness strikes, the family is terrified as they are compelled to emerge from the shadows. Qian Julie's past has left an indelible mark, but as she looks back on her childhood what emerges is a portrait of grit and determination to overcome hardship. Qian Julie Wang is a graduate of Yale Law School, and is a managing partner of a law firm advocating for education, disability and civil rights. She lives in Brooklyn. This is her first book. Katie Leung first came to public attention for playing Cho Chang in the Harry Potter franchise. Recent television roles include Chimerica, Roadkill, and The Nest. Abridged by Sarah Shaffi As a newly arrived illegal immigrant Qian Julie's mother takes what work she can. A powerful and moving memoir about growing up as an illegal immigrant in America.
03	Sushi And Shopping Day	20211124	20211125 (R4)	In Qian Julie Wang's moving memoir about growing up an illegal immigrant in America, her mother gets another new job, and the struggle to make ends meet continues. Katie Leung reads. Beautiful Country is Qian Julie Wang's powerful and moving debut. Here she tells of her childhood growing up as an undocumented illegal immigrant with her parents, who had both been professors back home in China. Here they labour at menial, degrading jobs, and Qian Julie vividly describes the sweatshops and sushi factories where she and her mother undertake gruelling work, for little pay. Fear of the immigration authorities, poverty and hunger are the family's constant companions. In school, Qian Julie is quickly marked out as an outsider, and loneliness compounds her impoverished life. When illness strikes, the family is terrified as they are compelled to emerge from the shadows. Qian Julie's past has left an indelible mark, but as she looks back on her childhood what emerges is a portrait of grit and determination to overcome hardship. Qian Julie Wang is a graduate of Yale Law School, and is a managing partner of a law firm advocating for education, disability and civil rights. She lives in Brooklyn. This is her first book. Katie Leung first came to public attention for playing Cho Chang in the Harry Potter franchise. Recent television roles include Chimerica, Roadkill, and The Nest. Abridged by Sarah Shaffi In her memoir Qian Julie's mother has a new job and the struggle to make ends meet goes on A powerful and moving memoir about growing up as an illegal immigrant in America.
04	Turning Points	20211125	20211126 (R4)	In Qian Julie Wang's powerful account of growing up as an illegal immigrant in America, family life in America is upended, and she takes a bold step. Katie Leung reads. Beautiful Country is Qian Julie Wang's powerful and moving debut. Here she tells of her childhood growing up as an undocumented illegal immigrant with her parents, who had both been professors back home in China. Here they labour at menial, degrading jobs, and Qian Julie vividly describes the sweatshops and sushi factories where she and her mother undertake gruelling work, for little pay. Fear of the immigration authorities, poverty and hunger are the family's constant companions. In school, Qian Julie is quickly marked out as an outsider, and loneliness compounds her impoverished life. When illness strikes, the family is terrified as they are compelled to emerge from the shadows. Qian Julie's past has left an indelible mark, but as she looks back on her childhood what emerges is a portrait of grit and determination to overcome hardship. Qian Julie Wang is a graduate of Yale Law School, and is a managing partner of a law firm advocating for education, disability and civil rights. She lives in Brooklyn. This is her first book. Katie Leung first came to public attention for playing Cho Chang in the Harry Potter franchise. Recent television roles include Chimerica, Roadkill, and The Nest. Abridged by Sarah Shaffi In her memoir, Qian Julie's life in America is upended, and she takes a bold step. A powerful and moving memoir about growing up as an illegal immigrant in America.
05	A Journey	20211126	20211127 (R4)	In Qian Julie Wang's powerful memoir about growing up as an illegal immigrant in America, she and her mother make a life-changing journey, and the past catches up. Katie Leung reads. Beautiful Country is Qian Julie Wang's powerful and moving debut. Here she tells of her childhood growing up as an undocumented illegal immigrant with her parents, who had both been professors back home in China. Here they labour at menial, degrading jobs, and Qian Julie vividly describes the sweatshops and sushi factories where she and her mother undertake gruelling work, for little pay. Fear of the immigration authorities, poverty and hunger are the family's constant companions. In school, Qian Julie is quickly marked out as an outsider, and loneliness compounds her impoverished life. When illness strikes, the family is terrified as they are compelled to emerge from the shadows. Qian Julie's past has left an indelible mark, but as she looks back on her childhood what emerges is a portrait of grit and determination to overcome hardship. Qian Julie Wang is a graduate of Yale Law School, and is a managing partner of a law firm advocating for education, disability and civil rights. She lives in Brooklyn. This is her first book. Katie Leung first came to public attention for playing Cho Chang in the Harry Potter franchise. Recent television roles include Chimerica, Roadkill, and The Nest. Abridged by Sarah Shaffi In her memoir, Qian Julie is taken on a life-changing journey. A powerful and moving memoir about growing up as an illegal immigrant in America.