The Same Bright Moon

Early Praise for The Same Bright Moon

“Wendy Bashant's collaborative memoir couldn't be more timely. Her strongly voiced narrative of teaching Chinese university students in Xi'an, coupled with their own vivid accounts of struggle and aspiration, offers an indispensable and humanizing complement to the daily news. “ -- Dr. John Elder, author of Following the Brush; professor emeritus of English and Environmental Studies at Middlebury and Bread Loaf.

In 2019, Wendy Bashant, a burned-out college dean, quits her job to teach two hundred students in the ancient, walled city of Xi’an, China.

The year turns extraordinary when tensions between China and the U.S. escalate: first tit-for-tat tariffs; then a worldwide pandemic; finally lockdowns, closed consulates, and expelled journalists. All the while, accusations are lobbed back and forth like flaming arrows launched over the Pacific.

Against this background of aggression, Wendy tries to teach a class in American culture. Instead, her students describe the realities of growing up in an emerging global power. Through their experiences and compelling perspectives, the students debate various issues, such as environmentalism, gender, healthcare and political conflict.

The Same Bright Moon is a collaborative memoir highlighting the stories of these students through their assignments, discussions and poetry at the height of Covid-19. Their vibrant voices will challenge, inspire, and bring hope for the future.