KWEEN
PRESS
"Vichet Chum, a Cambodian American playwright, spent much of the fall promoting his debut novel for young adults, 'Kween.' That was a horizons-expanding experience for Mr. Chum, 38, who describes his plays as 'very adult.' His plays, like the book, are often centered on Khmer identity and queerness.
With the flurry of publicity for the book, released in October, mostly behind him, Mr. Chum is still exploring the challenges of being a teenager by adapting 'Kween' for the stage. He is also developing plays for Audible and for the Steppenwolf Theater Company in Chicago."
-New York Times Feature
"Chum's writing itself is mesmerizing from the jump
with its wit and flow, a stunning prelude to Soma's killer verses. Informative in its depiction of
Cambodian foods and customs (both inherited and often hilariously invented) and with smooth
dialogue, and a friendship for the ages, Chum's debut is absolutely magnetic."
-Booklist Review
"Debut author Chum offers readers an education in Cambodian history, the Khmer people, and their Lowell community throughout this heartfelt family drama. His cultural respect and humor amplify the book’s strong sense of place."
-Kirkus Review
"In this smart and edgy debut, Chum, per an author’s note, gives Soma space to be 'clumsy, complex, and, yes, contradictory at times,' channeling a protagonist whose uncertainty in the face of her future and the model minority myth feels fresh and radical. Via Soma’s sharp, first-person voice, Chum mixes humorous insights with forthright interrogations of colonialism, immigration, and racism."
-Publishers Weekly Review
"Vichet Chum, a Cambodian American playwright, spent much of the fall promoting his debut novel for young adults, 'Kween.' That was a horizons-expanding experience for Mr. Chum, 38, who describes his plays as 'very adult.' His plays, like the book, are often centered on Khmer identity and queerness.
With the flurry of publicity for the book, released in October, mostly behind him, Mr. Chum is still exploring the challenges of being a teenager by adapting 'Kween' for the stage. He is also developing plays for Audible and for the Steppenwolf Theater Company in Chicago."
-New York Times Feature
"Chum's writing itself is mesmerizing from the jump
with its wit and flow, a stunning prelude to Soma's killer verses. Informative in its depiction of
Cambodian foods and customs (both inherited and often hilariously invented) and with smooth
dialogue, and a friendship for the ages, Chum's debut is absolutely magnetic."
-Booklist Review
"Debut author Chum offers readers an education in Cambodian history, the Khmer people, and their Lowell community throughout this heartfelt family drama. His cultural respect and humor amplify the book’s strong sense of place."
-Kirkus Review
"In this smart and edgy debut, Chum, per an author’s note, gives Soma space to be 'clumsy, complex, and, yes, contradictory at times,' channeling a protagonist whose uncertainty in the face of her future and the model minority myth feels fresh and radical. Via Soma’s sharp, first-person voice, Chum mixes humorous insights with forthright interrogations of colonialism, immigration, and racism."
-Publishers Weekly Review
