Shining Star: The Anna May Wong Story - Softcover

Paula Yoo

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1620142570 ISBN 13: 9781620142578

Publisher: Lee & Low Books, 2009

Synopsis

Born in 1905, Anna May Wong spent her childhood working in her family's laundry in Los Angeles s Chinatown. Whenever she could afford it, Anna May slipped off to the movies, escaping to a world of adventure, glamour, and excitement. After seeing a movie being filmed in her neighborhood, young Anna May was hooked. She decided she would become a movie star!

Anna May struggled to pursue an acting career in Hollywood in the 1930s. There were very few roles for Asian Americans, and many were demeaning and stereotypical. Anna May made the most of each limited part. She worked hard and always gave her best performance. Finally, after years of unfulfilling roles, Anna May began crusading for more meaningful roles for herself and other Asian American actors.

Anna May Wong the first Chinese American movie star was a pioneer of the cinema. Her spirited determination in the face of discrimination is an inspiration to all who must overcome obstacles so that their dreams may come true."

About this title

About the Author

From Paula Yoo:

Okay, I admit it. Like Patti Yoon, I play the violin. Yes, I was concertmaster of my Connecticut All-State High School Orchestra. And I snuck out occasionally to see a couple of cool bands (sorry, Mom & Dad). But this novel is a work of fiction. Although I too was forced to undergo a really bad home perm, it burned my left ear, not my right. And there was a cute guy in my homeroom who played rock guitar and asked me to work on a few songs with him, but his name was not Ben Wheeler.

When I'm not writing novels that allegedly have nothing to do with my personal life, I also write TV scripts. I was born in Virginia and grew up in Connecticut. I've also lived in Seoul, South Korea; New York; Seattle; and Detroit. I now live in Los Angeles with my husband, who plays guitar and yes, we jam occasionally, just like Patti and Ben.

Lin Wang graduated from the prestigious Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts in China. Once a portrait painter, Lin now enjoys dedicating herself to children's book illustration. Several of her books have been published in many different countries and languages. Lin lives in California with her husband and children.

Lin Wang graduated from the prestigious Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts in China. Once a portrait painter, Lin now enjoys dedicating herself to children's book illustration. Several of her books have been published in many different countries and languages. Lin lives in California with her husband and children.

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5-Although Wong's days were filled with backbreaking work as she helped in her family's San Francisco Chinese laundry, her daydreams were replete with visions of life as a film star. Anna saw every movie she could, and eventually, despite her parents' opposition, she became a movie extra. As a young woman in the 1920s, beautiful and unusually tall, she was given supporting roles, but, distressed by the stereotypical characters Chinese actors were forced to portray, she decided to pursue her career in Europe. When she returned to Hollywood in 1935, she discovered that nothing had changed. After a visit to China, Wong returned to the U.S. with a renewed determination to eliminate the old Asian stereotypes that had become film standards. Her efforts yielded her some wonderful roles and helped open doors for other Asian-American actors. This is an excellent introduction to a one-time celeb little known to today's children. Yoo explains Wong's circumstances with clarity and portrays her hardships and triumphs in concise, easy-to-follow prose. Lin Wang's acrylic and watercolor illustrations are the perfect complement to the well-written text, precise in their realistic detail and particularly adept in their portrayal of both facial expressions and textures. They provide a vivid portrait of Wong's changing lifestyles, from that of her impoverished childhood surroundings to the elegant luxuries that her fame made possible. Readers will be entranced by the actress's rags-to-riches story, and her efforts at confronting racial discrimination will resonate with all ethnic minorities. An author's note fleshes out the biography, making this a fine choice for both school and public libraries.–Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, formerly at LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI
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About this edition

• Publisher: Lee & Low Books
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 1620142570
• ISBN 13: 9781620142578
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Lin Wang