Quote by Jenny Zhang: “I carry a knife and sometimes it’s myself.”

This metaphor powerfully describes how one can be both the protector and the source of self-harm. It speaks to the internal battles and self-destructive tendencies people face, where their own mind or actions become a danger to themselves.

The late 2010s saw a rise in mental health awareness and candid discussions, especially among younger generations, about anxiety, depression, and self-harm. Poetry and confessional writing served as crucial outlets for exploring these complex internal landscapes.

Chinese-American poet and fiction writer whose debut story collection Sour Heart won the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction in 2018. Her work explores the immigrant experience, childhood, and the complexity of family across class and culture.