The Astronaut Children of Dunbar Street: A Memoir by Ho, Wiley Wei-Chiun
The Astronaut Children of Dunbar Street: A Memoir by Ho, Wiley Wei-Chiun

The Astronaut Children of Dunbar Street: A Memoir

An intimate geopolitical memoir that gives voice to the thousands of "parachute kids" across North America--children raised...
$22.74 USD
$22.74 USD
Please hurry! Only 112 left in stock
Author: Wiley Wei-Chiun Ho
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Subtotal: $22.74
The Astronaut Children of Dunbar Street: A Memoir by Ho, Wiley Wei-Chiun

The Astronaut Children of Dunbar Street: A Memoir

$22.74
The Astronaut Children of Dunbar Street: A Memoir by Ho, Wiley Wei-Chiun

The Astronaut Children of Dunbar Street: A Memoir

$22.74
Author: Wiley Wei-Chiun Ho
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Description

An intimate geopolitical memoir that gives voice to the thousands of "parachute kids" across North America--children raised by long-distance phone calls and international wire transfers.

In 1979, following the US-Taiwan break in diplomatic relations, a family emigrates from Taiwan to North America--only to arrive in the midst of a deep recession. With few job prospects, the parents make a wrenching decision: to return to Taiwan for work, leaving their children behind in Vancouver. At just twelve years old, Wiley, the youngest child, suddenly finds herself unsupervised with only two rules to live by: study hard and stay out of trouble.

What begins as freedom soon gives way to homesickness, cultural dislocation and isolation. The siblings struggle in different ways, but once a month, during brief overseas phone calls, they gather to maintain the illusion of stability for their guilt-ridden parents. The separation grows from months to years. The family is never whole again.

The story of this fractured household parallels Taiwan's own ongoing struggle for survival, identity and recognition--much like its children, scattered across the globe. The memoir draws a powerful connection between personal and political displacement, revealing a hidden history of resilience among transnational families.

While countless "astronaut children" and "parachute kids" have grown up in Canada, the US, Australia and New Zealand, their stories remain largely absent from the literary landscape. The Astronaut Children of Dunbar Street brings their experience into urgent and unforgettable focus. Wiley Wei-Chiun Ho's debut is a searingly honest account of being left behind in the pursuit of a better life, and offers a rare, first-person look at the emotional cost of the transpacific dream.

Author: Wiley Wei-Chiun Ho
Publisher: Douglas & McIntyre
Published: 09/22/2026
Pages: 272
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.75lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.50w x 0.80d
ISBN: 9781771624794


Review Citation(s):
Foreword 08/27/2026

About the Author
Ho, Wiley Wei-Chiun: - Wiley Wei-Chiun Ho has published short stories and personal essays in PRISM international, Ricepaper Magazine, River Teeth, Room and several anthologies, and was a finalist for the 2021 Jim Wong-Chu Award for Emerging Writers (presented by the Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop). She lives in North Vancouver, BC, where she likes to grow Asian vegetables in her front yard. The Astronaut Children of Dunbar Street is her first book.
Shipping & Return

Returns Policy

You may return most new, unopened items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. We'll also pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.).

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).

If you need to return an item, simply login to your account, view the order using the "Complete Orders" link under the My Account menu and click the Return Item(s) button. We'll notify you via e-mail of your refund once we've received and processed the returned item.

Shipping

We can ship to virtually any address in the world. Note that there are restrictions on some products, and some products cannot be shipped to international destinations.

When you place an order, we will estimate shipping and delivery dates for you based on the availability of your items and the shipping options you choose. Depending on the shipping provider you choose, shipping date estimates may appear on the shipping quotes page.

Please also note that the shipping rates for many items we sell are weight-based. The weight of any such item can be found on its detail page. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, all weights will be rounded up to the next full pound.

Review