What does success look like when the odds are stacked against you?

In this compelling and deeply human book, Dr. Liu takes readers beyond the “model minority” myth to reveal the lives of undocumented and mixed-status Chinese immigrant families living in the shadows of that narrative. Moving between New York City and Fuzhou, China, she tells the stories of those who leave home not simply to get ahead, but to support their families and reclaim a sense of dignity.

At the center of these journeys is “face”—the powerful pull to bring honor to one’s family, even when it requires sacrifice, separation, and years of uncertainty. In the United States, these immigrants confront legal precarity, economic hardship, and social exclusion. Yet they continue to push forward, redefining success through hard work, care for loved ones, and the hope of a better future for the next generation.

By illuminating these rarely heard experiences, Dr. Liu challenges us to rethink what we think we know about Chinese immigration, inequality, and mobility. This is a story of resilience and sacrifice—but also of the quiet, everyday ways people create meaning, dignity, and possibility against all odds.