Kao Kalia Yang Debuts New Novel at Battle Creek Middle School

Prolific Hmong American author and Saint Paul Public Schools graduate Kao Kalia Yang has written a book in as little as an hour. But her latest masterpiece, a middle school novel titled “The Diamond Explorer,” was many years in the making.

The spark for the book entered her mind in 2017, when her brother Maxwell became the inspiration for the main character, Malcolm. “The Diamond Explorer” chronicles a young student’s experience, and the experience of the entire family, in predominantly white schools.

Kao Kalia spent Tuesday, the book’s official release date, at two different events at Battle Creek Middle School. The first was an assembly with the entire school community. Later that evening, Battle Creek Middle School opened its doors to the community, with remarks from Ward 7 Councilmember Cheniqua Johnson and Mary Xiong from the Office of Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan.

As a student, Kao Kalia attended Battle Creek Elementary School, Murray Middle School and Harding Senior High School. She’s written a dozen books, but “The Diamond Explorer” is her first for middle schoolers.

“When I asked middle schoolers what they wanted in a middle school book, they said ‘make it scary’,” she shared with the students in the auditorium. “And this book is scary, because it deals with the real world and with racism.”

The book begins by telling the story of Malcolm’s parents showing up for conferences, and not understanding the teacher’s way of communicating.

“We are not here to play to other people’s expectations, we are here to rise above them,” said Kao Kalia, who has three children currently attending Saint Paul Public Schools. “I’m here because my writer heart cares about your journey and your stories. The people who create history are you and me. Sometimes our voices are scared, but we speak anyway.”

“Today I am a character in the book of your life. What kind of character do I want to be?” After taking thought-provoking questions from the students, Kao Kalia finished with: “Saint Paul Public Schools, I am here because of you. It wasn’t perfect, but you gave me what I needed to stand strong and to believe that every single person has something to say in this world.”

Kao Kalia shared a story about one of her teachers at Harding, Mrs. Gallatin, who showed through her actions and her words that she believed in Kao Kalia and her potential to succeed in college. “She made possible for me the idea that a first generation Hmong girl in America could do well and could rise.”

Saint Paul Public Schools would like to thank Kao Kalia for sharing her gift, her life’s work and her stories with our students and educators.