01 Jun / Shining Star: The Anna May Wong Story by Paula Yoo, illustrated by Lin Wang
A fabulous biography for the youngest readers about the first-ever bonafide Asian American superstar. And what a figure she was … the child of Chinese immigrant laundry workers born in Los Angeles in 1905, Wong believed she could someday become a true movie star. In spite of fighting the worst celluloid stereotypes, Wong remained committed to changing Hollywood, one role at a time.
Author Paula Yoo even manages to tackle the concept of “yellowface” (non-Asian actors made up to look like grotesque stereotypes of Hollywood’s cringe-inducing ‘Orientals’), while illustrator Wang perfectly captures the shock of Wong’s dismay watching Lon Chaney being turned into her on-film Chinese husband. Anna May Wong must be loving every page from up above!
Readers: Children
Published: 2009