After attending Marquette University from 1966 to 1968, he received his B.A. degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz, in 1970. In 1975, Yep received his Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He currently lives in Sunnyvale, California.
Having been associated with both black and Chinese-American life-styles as a child, and having encountered white society first during high school, Yep feels that his roots lie entangled in several cultures. He says, "In a sense I have no one culture to call my own since I exist peripherally in several," and goes on to say, "However, in my writing I can create my own."
Many of Yep's leading characters must also deal with a complicated heritage. These individuals are typically twelve or thirteen years old, usually facing an identity crisis, and sometimes in need of establishing family relationships. His plots challenge those young people to dare to be themselves. During the course of a story, they mature gradually and naturally, displaying tolerance, strength, and understanding.
Yep's stories evolve smoothly from the interaction of his characters. In reference to style critics note that Yep's frequent use of first-person, toughkid narration sometimes makes his dialogue appear forced.
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