SHINING STAR: The Anna May Wong Story
By Paula Yoo
Illustrated by Lin Wang
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.
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- Hardcover publication date: May 2005
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- Paperback publication date: April 30, 2010
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- Trade ISBN: 978-1-58430-247-6
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- Reading level: Ages 6-9 (children's non-fiction picture book biography)
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- Publisher: Lee & Low Books
"Stunning illustrations." "Doesn't shy away... from talking about the issues of racism."
"With stunning illustrations by Lin Wang, [Shining Star] tells the story of Anna May Wong’s amazing life, from her humble beginnings working in her family’s laundry in Los Angeles’ Chinatown, to her determination to make it as a Hollywood actress in the face of struggles and discrimination. What’s great about this book is that though it’s aimed at elementary school-level readers, it doesn’t shy away at all from talking about the issues of racism, stereotypes and “yellowface” that Anna May Wong struggled with in 1930s Hollywood. Very cool to see this in a book for young readers."
- ANGRY ASIAN MAN
"A fascinating account."
"Lin Wang’s (A Single Red Thread) elegant paintings in muted hues capture the actress’s emotions in her expressive eyes framed by dark bangs. Full-page spreads showcase her stylish garb—snazzy flapper attire or traditional Chinese dress—and her early-20th-century surroundings. The conversational narrative uses many descriptive vignettes from her life (e.g., a girlhood visit to the movie theater, a trip to China) to briskly move the story from her youth to her early movie career. Peppered throughout are examples of the racism she experienced (“Movie studios forbade actors and actresses of color to kiss their white costars”). Always countering these are Anna May’s responses, at first her strong feelings and, later, her decision to only portray roles that didn’t denigrate Chinese-Americans. A fascinating account of the life of a determined actress."
- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"Excellent." "Concise, easy-to-follow prose." "A fine choice for schools and libraries."
"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."
- SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
"Well paced." "Full of fascinating detail."
"The name Anna May Wong won’t mean much, even to young film buffs. However, Wong’s story—her aspirations, disappointments, and the need to make peace with who she was—will resonate. Born in 1905 in Los Angeles’ Chinatown, Anna worked at her parents’ laundry. While her hands were in soapy water, her head was filled with stars—movie stars. Against her father’s wishes, she tried acting and eventually got a few leading roles, but prejudice against Asians (and the rule of no on-screen interracial romance) limited her career. For a long time she was forced to play either the “China doll” or the “dragon lady,” but after Wong both asserted herself and learned about her heritage, she pushed beyond stereotypes. Well paced and full of interesting detail, this picture book for older readers is a fascinating snapshot of what life was like for actresses of color. . . . The cover is enchanting and many interior pictures will intrigue."
- ALA BOOKLIST
"Well-paced picture book biography." "Sure to incite discussion."
"This well-paced picture book allows the reader to put Wong's choices into the context of her time, and attractive, realistic paintings underscore scenes from Wong's journey of discovery of her own identity as a Chinese-American. Besides being a very thoughtful introduction to a unique figure from Hollywood heritage, like any solid picture book biography, it can be used across grade levels, and is sure to incite discussion."
- PLANET ESME
"Fascinating, inspiring, thoroughly engaging."
"Paula Yoo has written a fascinating, inspiring, thoroughly engaging account of Anna’s life. . . . Yoo’s well paced, seamless narrative informs with just the right amount of interesting detail and pathos. While examining the notion of ‘cultural stereotype,’ which hinges on fear, suspicion, ignorance, and misconception, Yoo also emphasizes how Wong struggled on many fronts — pursuing her career despite parental objection, accepting demeaning roles in order to make a living, and coming to terms with her own identity. . . . Lin Wang, a classically trained portrait artist, has brought this compelling narrative to life with luminous, ravishing watercolor and acrylic illustrations. The spreads are lush and rich, echoing the grandeur of movie sets. The likeness to the real Anna May is startling and mesmerizing; she is often clad in intensely emotional tones of deep red, plum, orchid, or pumpkin, and the last spread of her sitting at a table with her striped jacket and floral hat is simply gorgeous. . . . Like Paula Yoo’s excellent PB biography of Sammy Lee, Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds, this one is a must-have for home and library collections."
- JAMES RATTIGAN'S ALPHABET SOUP
"Shining Star may be a children's book, but it doesn't hide the truth about the times."
"Shining Star tells the story of how Wong went from a 9-year-old girl daydreaming about being the damsel in distress in an exciting movie to one of the most well-known Asian American actresses in history. "Shining Star" may be a children’s book, but it doesn’t hide the truth about the times. The author trusts that her young readers will be able to handle and understand these complex issues. Readers learn about Wong’s struggles between her love for acting and her pride in her heritage, and how she finds a way to work without having to compromise on either aspects. "Shining Star" is the story of perseverance, integrity, and following one’s dreams despite the obstacles one might face."
- NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
"Yoo's earnest text illuminates the actress's life and times."
"The first Chinese-American movie star grew up in Los Angeles’s Chinatown, working in her family’s laundry, going to the movies every chance she got and even skipping school to watch the action on a local movie set. She went from an extra to a star, even though the roles she was given were often stereotypical, from “china doll” to “dragon lady.” When she visited China for the first time, after her parents had retired there, she vowed to fight the stereotypes. Wang’s watercolor-and-acrylic pictures are sometimes quite lovely set pieces, like a graceful adult Anna May with floral hat and tea cup, but are too often static tableaux in which the figures seem unrelated to one another and to the space they occupy. Yoo’s earnest text illuminates the actress’s life and times (she made more than 50 films before her death in 1961), but without much energy or engagement. The author’s note does not clarify whether the quoted dialogue is invented or actual. (sources) (Picture book/biography. 7-12)"
- KIRKUS REVIEWS
"A fabulous biography."
"A fabulous biography for the youngest readers about the first-ever bonafide Asian American superstar. . . . 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!"
-- FULL BOOKDRAGON, SMITHSONIAN ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN PROGRAM
"A story for all ages."
"Children who dream of an acting career will be drawn to the life story of Anna May Wong. . . . The themes of hard work, determination, and pride in one’s ancestry are thoughtfully presented in this biography. The picture book format should not lead readers to believe this is a book limited to young children. It is a story for all ages."
- MULTICULTURAL REVIEW
"Stunning illustrations." "Doesn't shy away... from talking about the issues of racism."
"With stunning illustrations by Lin Wang, [Shining Star] tells the story of Anna May Wong’s amazing life, from her humble beginnings working in her family’s laundry in Los Angeles’ Chinatown, to her determination to make it as a Hollywood actress in the face of struggles and discrimination. What’s great about this book is that though it’s aimed at elementary school-level readers, it doesn’t shy away at all from talking about the issues of racism, stereotypes and “yellowface” that Anna May Wong struggled with in 1930s Hollywood. Very cool to see this in a book for young readers."
- ANGRY ASIAN MAN
"A fascinating account."
"Lin Wang’s (A Single Red Thread) elegant paintings in muted hues capture the actress’s emotions in her expressive eyes framed by dark bangs. Full-page spreads showcase her stylish garb—snazzy flapper attire or traditional Chinese dress—and her early-20th-century surroundings. The conversational narrative uses many descriptive vignettes from her life (e.g., a girlhood visit to the movie theater, a trip to China) to briskly move the story from her youth to her early movie career. Peppered throughout are examples of the racism she experienced (“Movie studios forbade actors and actresses of color to kiss their white costars”). Always countering these are Anna May’s responses, at first her strong feelings and, later, her decision to only portray roles that didn’t denigrate Chinese-Americans. A fascinating account of the life of a determined actress."
- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"Excellent." "Concise, easy-to-follow prose." "A fine choice for schools and libraries."
"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."
- SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
"Well paced." "Full of fascinating detail."
"The name Anna May Wong won’t mean much, even to young film buffs. However, Wong’s story—her aspirations, disappointments, and the need to make peace with who she was—will resonate. Born in 1905 in Los Angeles’ Chinatown, Anna worked at her parents’ laundry. While her hands were in soapy water, her head was filled with stars—movie stars. Against her father’s wishes, she tried acting and eventually got a few leading roles, but prejudice against Asians (and the rule of no on-screen interracial romance) limited her career. For a long time she was forced to play either the “China doll” or the “dragon lady,” but after Wong both asserted herself and learned about her heritage, she pushed beyond stereotypes. Well paced and full of interesting detail, this picture book for older readers is a fascinating snapshot of what life was like for actresses of color. . . . The cover is enchanting and many interior pictures will intrigue."
- ALA BOOKLIST
"Well-paced picture book biography. "Sure to incite discussion."
"This well-paced picture book allows the reader to put Wong's choices into the context of her time, and attractive, realistic paintings underscore scenes from Wong's journey of discovery of her own identity as a Chinese-American. Besides being a very thoughtful introduction to a unique figure from Hollywood heritage, like any solid picture book biography, it can be used across grade levels, and is sure to incite discussion."
- PLANET ESME
"Fascinating, inspiring, thoroughly engaging."
"Paula Yoo has written a fascinating, inspiring, thoroughly engaging account of Anna’s life. . . . Yoo’s well paced, seamless narrative informs with just the right amount of interesting detail and pathos. While examining the notion of ‘cultural stereotype,’ which hinges on fear, suspicion, ignorance, and misconception, Yoo also emphasizes how Wong struggled on many fronts — pursuing her career despite parental objection, accepting demeaning roles in order to make a living, and coming to terms with her own identity. . . . Lin Wang, a classically trained portrait artist, has brought this compelling narrative to life with luminous, ravishing watercolor and acrylic illustrations. The spreads are lush and rich, echoing the grandeur of movie sets. The likeness to the real Anna May is startling and mesmerizing; she is often clad in intensely emotional tones of deep red, plum, orchid, or pumpkin, and the last spread of her sitting at a table with her striped jacket and floral hat is simply gorgeous. . . . Like Paula Yoo’s excellent PB biography of Sammy Lee, Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds, this one is a must-have for home and library collections."
- JAMES RATTIGAN'S ALPHABET SOUP
"Shining star may be a children's book, but it doesn't hide the truth about the times."
"Shining Star tells the story of how Wong went from a 9-year-old girl daydreaming about being the damsel in distress in an exciting movie to one of the most well-known Asian American actresses in history. "Shining Star" may be a children’s book, but it doesn’t hide the truth about the times. The author trusts that her young readers will be able to handle and understand these complex issues. Readers learn about Wong’s struggles between her love for acting and her pride in her heritage, and how she finds a way to work without having to compromise on either aspects. "Shining Star" is the story of perseverance, integrity, and following one’s dreams despite the obstacles one might face."
- NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
"Yoo's earnest text illuminate's the actress's life and times."
"The first Chinese-American movie star grew up in Los Angeles’s Chinatown, working in her family’s laundry, going to the movies every chance she got and even skipping school to watch the action on a local movie set. She went from an extra to a star, even though the roles she was given were often stereotypical, from “china doll” to “dragon lady.” When she visited China for the first time, after her parents had retired there, she vowed to fight the stereotypes. Wang’s watercolor-and-acrylic pictures are sometimes quite lovely set pieces, like a graceful adult Anna May with floral hat and tea cup, but are too often static tableaux in which the figures seem unrelated to one another and to the space they occupy. Yoo’s earnest text illuminates the actress’s life and times (she made more than 50 films before her death in 1961), but without much energy or engagement. The author’s note does not clarify whether the quoted dialogue is invented or actual. (sources) (Picture book/biography. 7-12)"
- KIRKUS REVIEWS
"A fabulous biography."
"A fabulous biography for the youngest readers about the first-ever bonafide Asian American superstar. . . . 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!"
-- FULL BOOKDRAGON, SMITHSONIAN ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN PROGRAM
"A story for all ages."
"Children who dream of an acting career will be drawn to the life story of Anna May Wong. . . . The themes of hard work, determination, and pride in one’s ancestry are thoughtfully presented in this biography. The picture book format should not lead readers to believe this is a book limited to young children. It is a story for all ages."
- MULTICULTURAL REVIEW
"Stunning illustrations." "Doesn't shy away... from talking about the issues of racism."
"With stunning illustrations by Lin Wang, [Shining Star] tells the story of Anna May Wong’s amazing life, from her humble beginnings working in her family’s laundry in Los Angeles’ Chinatown, to her determination to make it as a Hollywood actress in the face of struggles and discrimination. What’s great about this book is that though it’s aimed at elementary school-level readers, it doesn’t shy away at all from talking about the issues of racism, stereotypes and “yellowface” that Anna May Wong struggled with in 1930s Hollywood. Very cool to see this in a book for young readers."
- ANGRY ASIAN MAN
AWARDS
2010 Carter G. Woodson Award from the National Council for the Social Studies (Elementary Book Award)
Best Children’s Books of the Year by the Bank Street College of Education
“Choices” – Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC)