Edwin Zheng, a senior at PA, published his first novel titled evan., a 341-page work of fiction, earlier this year in April. The coming-of-age tale is available for purchase on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and it can be checked out at the Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library. The novel reached #41 in the Teen and Young Adult Literary Fiction category on Amazon’s selling platform, ranking just behind literary works such as The Great Gatsby and Isabel Allende’s Memories of the Eagle and the Jaguar.
The novel follows Evan, a high school senior, and his journey figuring out if he belongs with the high-achieving, ambitious people around him. Struggling with finding his identity amid familial and social expectations, Evan lashes out at some of the people closest to him. Feeling lost without any signs of what to do next, Evan learns what it means to grow up and be proud of himself. The novel dives into Evan’s journey through extensive internal dialogue, backed by Zheng’s research on neurotransmitters, hormones, and his own emotions in similar situations to create realistic situations. As the novel progresses, Evan has to rely on himself for explanations of his self-doubt and toxic mental patterns, learning to find his own definition of success.
Writing has been a longtime passion for Zheng. He shares, “Writing was a place to wind down and dive deeper into my mind.” For this novel, Zheng’s inspiration came from his own experiences adjusting to the competitive academic environment at PA. Although a large section of the novel’s events is fictional, Zheng admits that the internal dialogue of the novel’s protagonist has been thoughts he had experienced before. “When I first came to PA, I felt like I did not fit in,” he shared. These uncomfortable feelings pushed him to explore themes of authenticity and self-worth in his novel.
The writing process began in April 2024, when Zheng was 16, spanning around 18 months. He worked throughout that summer, winter break, and sometimes during the school year. Around mid-January of 2025, he finished the manuscript and proceeded to work on editing, cover design, and publishing. His journey was not always easy, however, as Zheng shares, “One of the hardest parts of doing something is starting, but continuing is a lot harder.” Zheng completed four revisions on his novel before beginning the publishing process: first for grammar and spelling, second to ensure the plot flowed well, third reading aloud to catch remaining errors, and a final time for personal approval. He also designed 10-15 different book cover ideas before settling on the current design, which features a green silhouette against a beige background.
Zheng’s entire project was kept a secret until the book’s publication. “I wanted it to be a surprise to people around me,” he explained. “I knew that if I shared the novel concept, a part of me wouldn’t be working on it for myself. ” The secrecy helped maintain the realness of his writing, allowing him to write with the mindset that he would be the only reader, which he believes helped him make the novel more personal and genuine.
After sharing his book with others, Zheng says that the amount of support he received from his peers and teachers was shocking and more than he anticipated. “I did not expect the amount of love. I am very thankful I have great people in my life that want to see me succeed.”
While Zheng is considering a future in healthcare, he hopes writing will stay a lifelong passion. “Writing is a passion that I want to see through till the end.” Through “evan.”, Zheng hopes readers will learn to feel more proud of themselves and understand that their struggles are valid and normal. He advises, “It is okay to take time for yourself, pause, sit with thoughts. It doesn’t have to be one foot in front of the other; it is okay to fall and think and then get back up.” For any aspiring writers, Zheng offers words of encouragement: “You have a story—moments, things that happen to you. Go all in on the idea. You have a story that people can grow from and relate to.”
