The Lost Garden serves as a window into the heart and mind of its prolific author, offering readers an intimate glimpse into his experiences as a child navigating the complexities of cultural identity. This narrative sheds light on the formative years of the author, who emerged as an imaginative and sensitive individual, grappling with the sense of belonging and the exploration of his Chinese American heritage.

Throughout his illustrious career, Yep has earned numerous accolades, including the Children’s Book Award, the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award, and the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award. A particularly noteworthy work, Dragonwings, was recognized as a Newbery Honor Book. Inspired by a newspaper article about a Chinese immigrant's successful creation of a flying machine shortly after the Wright Brothers' famed achievement, the novel delves deeply into Chinese traditions and beliefs. Another celebrated book, Child of the Owl, received a Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor Award and portrays a young girl in a contemporary Chinatown setting who uncovers her heritage through the lens of Chinese folklore and history.

Yep’s works frequently draw from his own experiences, as seen in his autobiographical novel Sea Glass, which addresses intergenerational conflict. His book Star Fisher narrates the challenges faced by a Chinese family overcoming prejudice in 1920s West Virginia. Common threads throughout Yep’s stories include themes of poverty, racial discrimination, and the quest for identity. In Dragon’s Gate, another Newbery Honor Book, a young boy flees to America in 1867 after a tragic accident in China, where he joins his father working on the transcontinental railroad in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Characters from this novel also appear in earlier works, The Serpent’s Children and Mountain Light.

Yep’s literary repertoire extends beyond historical fiction into the realms of fantasy and science fiction, often exploring the theme of alienation. Titles such as Sweetwater and Dragon of the Lost Sea highlight these elements. Additionally, he has ventured into genres like folktales, mysteries, and horror, showcasing his versatile storytelling ability.