From its humble origins in 1990 at City Hall with just 149 exhibitors and 200,000 visitors, the HONG KONG BOOK FAIR has grown into one of Asia’s most anticipated cultural events. Now held annually at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the fair has become a dynamic convergence of literature, technology, and global storytelling—drawing over a million visitors at its peak and expanding to include thematic zones, art installations, and offsite cultural programs. Its growth mirrors Hong Kong’s rising stature as a hub for cross-border creativity and publishing.
This year, the 35th HONG KONG BOOK FAIR 2025, held from July 16 to 22, welcomed over 770 exhibitors from more than 30 countries and regions. With the theme:
“Reading the World – Food Culture • Future Living”
The fair explored how food, memory, and cultural identity shape the stories we tell and the lives we live. Among the 620+ events held throughout the week, the exhibition “Book a Table: Food for Thought” captured global attention through its interactive installations and consular collaborations.
Kravitz & Sons participated not only to display titles but to engage in this vibrant conversation. One of the standout contributions was The Youth of My Years by Alice Tipton—a heartfelt memoir capturing the grit, grace, and laughter of growing up in rural Michigan during simpler but not easier times.
The author, Alice Tipton, penned The Youth of My Years as a tribute to her late father and to preserve her childhood memories for her two daughters. She lives in Arizona with her husband and runs her own business. A lover of the outdoors, she enjoys reading, hunting, and fishing, and remains actively involved in her church and local Chamber of Commerce.
The Youth of My Years is a rich memoir chronicling Alice Tipton’s upbringing in the rugged Upper Peninsula of Michigan during the 1940s and 1950s. Raised on a dairy farm with no electricity or indoor plumbing, Tipton paints vivid portraits of the demanding, often backbreaking daily routines required to maintain the family’s livelihood. Despite the harshness of farm life, her storytelling is laced with warmth, humor, and gratitude—offering readers both laughter and reflection.
Through a blend of personal recollection and cultural observation, Tipton introduces readers to a close-knit family bound together by love, hard work, and unwavering faith. Anecdotes such as creatively (but disastrously) weeding the family garden with a horse and cultivator, riding bareback workhorses through fields, and accidentally setting off electric fences add levity to a story rooted in resilience. These moments show a mischievous but earnest young girl learning the consequences of curiosity and independence—lessons that many readers will find both relatable and timeless.
What makes The Youth of My Years particularly deserving of its place in the HONG KONG BOOK FAIR is its honest portrayal of the universal themes of perseverance, familial love, and community. In an era where convenience and digital immersion often separate us from our roots, Tipton’s memoir reminds readers of the value found in simplicity, sacrifice, and connection to the land. Her reflections on grief, especially the loss of her mother at a young age, and the strength shown by her father, further elevate the narrative beyond mere nostalgia—it becomes a testimony of survival and spiritual legacy.
In the context of this year’s fair theme—“Food Culture • Future Living”—the book resonates deeply. From descriptions of home-cooked meals prepared without electricity to the seasonal rhythm of farm labor, Tipton’s story is a vivid reminder of how deeply food, family, and faith intertwine in shaping identity and future outlooks.
To take home a piece of living history and heartfelt storytelling, head to our website to pick up a copy of The Youth of My Years.
It was a book that spoke across generations and cultures, reminding us of the enduring power of memory.
The Youth of My Years
Alice Tipton