Biography

Andrea Wang is an acclaimed author of picture books and middle grade novels. Her picture book Watercress was awarded the Caldecott Medal, a Newbery Honor, the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, a New England Book Award, and a Boston Globe—Horn Book Honor, among others. She is also the author of Luli and the Language of Tea, The Many Meanings of Meilan, Magic Ramen: The Story of Momofuku Ando, and The Nian Monster. These books have each received starred reviews, awards, and honors, as well as appearing on multiple state library book lists.

Andrea was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and grew up in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and Newton, Massachusetts. She attended Wellesley College, graduating with dual degrees in biology and Chinese studies. She went on to receive a Master of Science degree in environmental studies from Indiana University – Bloomington. As an environmental consultant, she conducted risk assessments in a quest to clean up hazardous waste sites. Subsequently, Andrea earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing for Young People from Lesley University and returned to her childhood dream of becoming an author. She is thrilled to be able to utilize all her degrees to create fiction and nonfiction books for young people, mostly centered on themes of culture, identity, and connection.

After many years in the Boston area, Andrea now lives in the Denver, Colorado suburbs where she writes full time from a salmon-pink office stocked with chocolate and tea. Her love of food and nature is reflected in her former and current dogs’ names: Mochi and Tupelo.