XiXi Tian is a Chinese-American author known for exploring themes of identity, family dynamics, and the Asian-American experience in her contemporary young adult novels. Born in China, she immigrated to the United States as a toddler and grew up in central Illinois. Her debut novel, "This Place Is Still Beautiful", follows two Chinese-American sisters grappling with their differing responses to a racist attack on their family home. Her forthcoming second novel, "All the Way Around the Sun" (2025), centers on a college road trip with a childhood rival amid family tragedy.
Tian holds degrees in history from the University of Illinois and law from Harvard, balancing her writing career with her work as a tech attorney. Her stories frequently examine heartbreak, cultural identity, and complex interpersonal relationships through the lens of Chinese-American protagonists. Though now based on Long Island, she maintains strong Midwestern roots that often influence her writing perspective.