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Angela Chen's Book "After School 課後" Out Now

January 12, 2026

Stamps Assistant Professor Angela Chen’s recently-released book After School 課後 brings together autobiography, photographs, collage, and archival documents to unpack the culture of buxiban (after school tutoring centers) in predominantly East Asian communities in the San Gabriel Valley, CA. 

A spiral-bound book cover with the title "After School 課後" and author name "Angela Chen" printed in black text and various graphic elements on a pale yellow background.

After School 課後 tells the story of her family’s struggle to run Futurelink, a buxiban business, against the historical backdrop of anti-Asian violence, and considers the after school as a paradoxical space of discipline and care, assimilation and cultural preservation, competition and community.

This image is an open spiral-bound booklet with a yellow left page and a white right page. The yellow page is densely covered with a directory listing various schools and educational centers, including contact information and some Chinese text. The right page is mostly blank, with the words "After School" and its Chinese translation "課後" centered on the page.
This image is a black and white photograph in an open, spiral-bound booklet showing the exterior of the Academicise learning center. The building has a prominent arched facade with text identifying it as an "AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM" with the phone number (626) 575-8003 visible on the window. There is also a large street number "10301" displayed on the left side of the building.
This image is an open spiral-bound notebook. The left page features a black and white photograph of an A-frame building with power lines and an empty parking lot in the foreground. The right page has a yellow sticky note with a handwritten list titled "Elements of a Story", detailing aspects like characters, setting, and plot points.
The left page features a black and white photograph of a building entrance with the word "FUTURELINK" and Chinese characters above it. Below the photo is descriptive text in both English and Chinese. The right page has a yellow insert with graphics and the Chinese question "從電腦文盲到辦公室自動化專家?這不是夢!" ("From computer illiterate to office automation expert? This is not a dream!"). This insert partially covers a background black and white photograph of a strip mall sign that reads "CATHAY PLAZA" and "JPE Insurance" with Chinese characters.

Co-published by np: and Counterpath, the book can be purchased in NYC at Printed Matter and at Bungee Space; in LA at North Loop West; or online from Asterism Books.

It will be on view at North Loop West (508 Chung King Road, Los Angeles, CA, 90012) as part of Triangle Projects Presents! from January 9 to February 7.

After School 課後 was made possible with the support of the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) and the Stamps School of Art & Design at the University of Michigan.