SIXTEEN YEARS IN SIXTEEN SECONDS: THE SAMMY LEE STORY is the inspirational true story of Sammy Lee, a Korean American who overcame discrimination to realize both his father’s desire that he become a doctor and his own dream of becoming an Olympic champion diver.
On a summer day in 1932, twelve-year-old Sammy Lee watched enviously as divers catapulted into the public swimming pool. Sammy desperately wanted to try diving himself, but the Korean American boy-like any person of color-was only allowed to use the pool one day a week. This discrimination did not weaken Sammy’s newfound passion for diving, and soon he began a struggle between his dream of becoming an Olympic champion and his father’s wish for him to become a doctor. Over sixteen years Sammy faced numerous challenges, but he overcame them all and fulfilled both his dream and his father’s. In 1948 Dr. Sammy Lee dove into Olympic history. A matter of seconds after his final platform dive, the scores appeared and Sammy Lee became the first Asian American to win an Olympic gold medal.
Sammy Lee’s story of determination and triumph sets an extraordinary example for anyone striving to fulfill a dream. Winner of Lee & Low’s New Voices Award, Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds will inspire all who read it.
This book is also available in chapter book form as part of Lee & Low Books’ new series, “THE STORY OF…” You can order it here: https://www.leeandlow.com/books/the-story-of-olympic-diver-sammy-lee
AWARDS
2003 “New Voices” Lee & Low Award winner
“Starred Review” from KIRKUS REVIEWS and BOOKLIST
“Outstanding” review from HORN BOOK GUIDE
IRA Notable Books for a Global Society by the International Reading Association (IRA)
Children’s Book Award Notable by the International Reading Association (IRA)
CCBC Choices 2006 by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC)
2006 Children’s Books of the Year (“Books Reflecting Diversity: A Look Into a Wider World”) by the Bank Street College Children’s Book Committee
2006 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, NCSS/CBC
2006-2007 Texas Bluebonnet Award, Masterlist
2006 IRA Children’s Book Award Notable, International Reading Association (IRA)
2006 Comstock Book Award Honor, Minnesota State University Moorhead
2006 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature: Honor Book in the Children’s Picture Book category
2007 Finalist for the North Dakota Library Association’s Flicker Tale Children’s Book Award in the Upper Grade Non-Fiction Level category
California Collections selection by the California Readers Organization
William Allen White Masterlist, Emporia State University, Kansas
2021 Booklist Best Children’s Books of the Year (for THE STORY OF OLYMPIC DIVER SAMMY LEE chapter book version)
BOOKLIST STARRED REVIEW –
In her first picture book, winner of the publisher’s New Voices Award, Yoo introduces Sammy Lee, the son of Korean immigrants who overcame formidable odds to become an Olympic diving champion as well as a doctor. In 1932, at the age of 12, Sammy fell in love with diving, but his local pool was open only once a week to nonwhites. He faced opposition at home, too; his father wanted him to focus on a “respectful” profession–medicine. Yoo describes how Sammy found a coach, maintained a grueling balance between academics and training, and finally earned both a medical degree and an Olympic gold medal. The minimal, well-shaped language focuses on powerful scenes that demonstrate Sammy’s indestructible determination, his struggles with his father, and the prejudice he faced. Washed in nostalgic sepia tones, Dom Lee’s acrylic-and-wax textured illustrations are reminiscent of his fine work in Ken Mochizuki’s watershed Baseball Saved Us (1993), and like Yoo’s understated words, the uncluttered images leave a deep impression; an aerial view of Sammy facing the blue expanse of the Olympic pool is particularly affecting. A page of facts closes this handsome, inspiring biography, which will make both an excellent read-aloud for younger children or a read-alone for confident older ones.
KIRKUS REVIEWS STARRED REVIEW –
Handsomely illustrated and compassionately written without sentimentality, this picture book biography exemplifies what this genre should be: humanizing and meaningful.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY –
Yoo debuts with an inspiring tribute to Dr. Sammy Lee, the first Asian-American to win an Olympic gold medal, in 1948. Third-person omniscient narration grants readers access to Sammy’s thoughts and feelings. As he prepares for his gold-medal dive, “He heard the sound of water lapping against the sides of the pool, the murmuring of the people, the beating of his heart.” Dom Lee’s (Baseball Saved Us) sepia-tinged textured illustrations, made by scratching images out of wax melted over acrylic paints, lend a graceful, respectful tone to the story. Especially noteworthy are three vertical panels depicting his winning dive (an echo of an early three-panel spread that shows one of Sammy’s awkward first diving attempts). Touching on themes of discrimination and determination, this motivational tale concludes with an author’s note that provides details about Sammy’s post-Olympic life.
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL –
This inspirational biography recognizes the life of Dr. Sammy Lee, the first Asian American to win an Olympic gold medal, at the 1948 Games in London. Even though he grew up in California when people of color were only allowed to use the public swimming pools one day a week, Lee was never discouraged from his dream. Yoo brings the biography to a dramatic conclusion with the 16 seconds of a three-and-a-half somersault dive. Dom Lee’s painterly illustrations give texture and depth to the full-page spreads. More than a story about discrimination and unfair treatment, this story shows one young man’s determination and resolve toward accomplishing a goal in life.
BOOKLIST REVIEW OF “THE STORY OF OLYMPIC DIVER SAMMY LEE” –
The Story of … series takes the narrative text from each author’s well-regarded picture book on the biography, incorporates facts previously appended, and inserts five multi-page presentations on related topics, effectively refashioning the original biographies for an older audience. These sections offer well-organized information as well as insights into the social and political challenges faced by the person profiled. Olympic Diver Sammy Lee (based on Yoo’s Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds, 2005) includes additional sections on Korean immigration to the U.S., Asians in California, and Olympic diving. These well-crafted, insightful biographies provide a useful historical context for each person’s story. (Selected as one of Booklist’s Best Children’s Books of the Year 2021)