NPR's Book of the Day Justinian Huang’s new novel follows a Taiwanese-American family intent on a male heir
Nov 24, 2025
Justinian Huang, the author of Lucky Seed, dives into the pressure faced by a single, gay son within a Taiwanese-American family. He shares how his own family's demands for a male heir influenced the novel's creation. Huang explores the intriguing concept of 'hungry ghosts' and highlights the family dynamics that led relatives to consider a gay son as a more controllable option for lineage plans. Additionally, he reflects on how writing the book strengthened his bond with his mother and allowed him to embrace his identity while becoming a father on his own terms.
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Summoned To Produce A Heir
- Justinian Wong recounts being summoned by his great-aunt and told to have a baby boy to avoid the family becoming hungry ghosts.
- He was the only gay male in the generation, and the aunt believed they could control him to produce an heir.
Hungry Ghosts As Practical Concern
- Justinian explains the cultural idea of hungry ghosts as ancestral spirits who starve without descendants to remember them.
- He was surprised to see the belief applied pragmatically to inheritance and family drama.
Aunties' Calculated Plan
- Justinian notes his family's lack of male-line descendants and that he was the only gay male available.
- He says aunties thought a gay son would be controllable since they wouldn't have to contend with a wife.
