Ellen Zheng is an avid lover of books that make her cry and Taylor Swift songs! As the child of immigrant parents, she wanted to
implement her experiences and culture into her writing, especially mental health. Mental health is still very much stigmatized and ignored, despite being one of the most common conditions in the
world. Through channels such as literature and entertainment, she believes we can work on destigmatizing mental health and convey that people don't have to suffer alone. She is a debut author of young adult fiction and resides in Georgia.
Isla Wu is fine.
Or, at least, that’s what she tells herself. She has friends, semi-supportive—albeit judgmental—tiger parents, and good grades, so why wouldn’t she be okay? Besides, anything other than “fine” is not suitable for an American-born Chinese girl with Ivy League dreams.
But still, the numbness claws at her.
Everything goes to crap when she spills coffee on a new guy (how meet-cute, NOT). Yet, as she starts to like him, everything she thought she once knew unravels until the numbness threatens to pull her under. Because when you’re at the top, the only way to go is down, and ignoring her problems or feelings doesn’t help anyone.
Maybe Isla Wu is not fine.
Set in the backdrop of New York City and immersed
in the academically elite high school culture,
“The Art of Overthinking” is a celebration of the ties
that bond us and a love letter to mental health.
