A Classroom-Tested Nonfiction Book!

It explores labor, migration, and resilience through lived experience.
Available now in print and ebook.

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A Fight for a Cup of Chai

A Journey Through Labor, Loss, and Hope

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A nonfiction book about labor, loss, and resilience

Set in 1990s Kathmandu, this book tells the true story of a young factory worker navigating poverty, labor, and identity—and...

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Sanman Thapa | Author | Counselor | Storyteller

Sanman Thapa | Author | Counselor | Storyteller

Sanman Thapa | Author | Counselor | Storyteller

Sanman Thapa is an author, educator, and National Certified School Counselor who writes about resilience, migration, and hope. His debut nonfiction book, A Fight for a Cup of Chai, is a story born from child labor, loss, and hardship—yet carried by the fight for dignity, the strength of the human spirit, and the promise of hope. From Nepal’s garment factories to building a new life in America, he offers a powerful portrait of perseverance and justice. 

When he isn’t counseling students in New York, Sanman shares reflections on identity, parenting, and cultural belonging at www.sanmanthapa.com. He is currently working on his second memoir, From Rice Paddies to Highrises, which continues his exploration of resilience, family, and the immigrant experience.

Praise

"A beautifully crafted memoir that should be taught as part of any high school and college history curriculum, as well as anyone interested in learning about the formation of unions and the sacrifices individuals make to help others who come after them."

– Falicia Eddy

"The account of labor disputes in A Fight for a Cup of Chai will immediately remind you of Upton Sinclair. As a teacher of history, this book resonated so well with the plight that so many humans endure daily all over the world-... that with tragedy comes strength- with advocacy comes hope- and with resilience comes success. It is a book I will be sharing with my students for years to come. Wonderfully done."

– Amazon Customer-History Teacher

"This book is a touching memoir...The author tells a deeply human story of struggle, solidarity, and perseverance. His storytelling ability captures the harsh realities of factory life in that place and time. He experienced long hours and low wages, which fed his desire for dignity and justice.
I highly recommend this book if you are looking to understand the relationship of history and resilience in the universal fight for human rights."

– Donna R