In this astonishing story, Kim Liao skillfully unravels a family mystery through a blend of meticulous historical inquiry and vividly imagined reconstructions of the past. This work is not just an important contribution to Taiwanese history, but also a profound account of the wide-reaching personal sacrifices that resistance against authoritarianism entails.

Shawna Yang Ryan, author of Green Island

From its astonishing opening lines, Where Every Ghost Has a Name grabbed me by the collar and never let me go. Both a poignant memoir and a riveting mystery, this is a deeply moving, meticulously researched debut

Kirstin Chen, New York Times bestselling author of Counterfeit

In Where Every Ghost Has a Name: A Memoir of Taiwanese Independence, author Kim Liao takes us on her journey across the Pacific Ocean, from Long Island to Taiwan, in search of her exiled grandfather’s past. It recounts that history is never simple. Political dissidents are not the only ones caught up in turbulent times, but also the men, women, and children around them forced to be left behind. And silence is often the loudest voice that tells family stories. It narrates hardship and sacrifice but also the triumphs and strength of human agency to maintain a sense of purpose and identity even in the most impossible situation.

Anru Lee, John Jay College, CUNY