A Gripping Coming-of-Age Novel of Ambition, Identity, and Secrets.

China, 2010. For students like Mark (Cheng) Ma, the Gaokao—China’s grueling national exam—is the only ticket to a better future. But when his high school offers him a fully funded spot in its elite international education program, Mark is thrust into a world he never imagined.

Studying abroad was never part of his plan. Lacking the resources, confidence, and even the English skills to navigate this new reality, Mark finds himself isolated by language barriers and economic disparities. Even small things—like the boys’ bathroom stalls with no doors—become unbearable reminders of his discomfort. But when he uncovers a dark secret about his English teacher, Vivian, his struggles take on a far more sinister weight.

As he wrestles with this knowledge, Mark finds an unlikely ally in Howard, a charismatic classmate who introduces him to Western films, fashion, and a new way of seeing the world. Their friendship gives Mark the courage to question everything: Why did the school choose students like him for this program? What unseen forces are shaping his future? And does he dare expose the truth about Vivian?

Blending suspense, cultural exploration, and the raw vulnerability of self-discovery, Between Two Names is a powerful coming-of-age novel that explores privilege, ambition, and the invisible lines that divide—and connect—us.