SIXTEEN YEARS IN SIXTEEN SECONDS: The Sammy Lee Story

"[Sammy Lee's] determination helped him soar against the odds."

"In 1932, in Southern California, a sign at the public pool read “Members Only Except Wednesday,” and 12-year-old Korean-American Sammy Lee knew that meant that people of color could swim only on Wednesdays. Sammy didn’t stop watching, however, and it was diving that fascinated him. Before [Sammy] earned his gold medal at the 1948 London Olympics, he served in the Army and became a physician, and in all these pursuits, his determination helped him soar against the odds."

- CHICAGO TRIBUNE

"Handsomely written and compassionately written." "Humanizing and meaningful."

"Handsomely illustrated and compassionately written without sentimentality, this picture book biography exemplifies what this genre should be: humanizing and meaningful. In 1932, 12-year-old Sammy Lee could only swim in the public pool on Wednesdays, the only day open to people of color, and Sammy was Korean American. Torn between his dream of diving and his father’s urging him to become a doctor, Sammy managed to achieve both, despite barriers and prejudice, and was the first Asian American to win an Olympic gold medal. Scratchboard-style, sepia-toned paintings in wax-covered acrylics create a textured effect both visually and contextually. The title refers to the 16 years he trained for the 16 seconds it took to perform his winning dive. This hero’s inspirational story demonstrates determination and dedication by a man who never gave up and is still an active athlete today at the age of 84. (author’s note) (Picture book/biography. 6-9)"

- KIRKUS REVIEWS*
(starred review)

"A deep impact." "Inspiring biography."

"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 non-whites. 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 facts, particularly on the boy’s seemingly indestructable 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 impact; 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.”

- ALA BOOKLIST*
(starred review)

"Yoo smoothly incorporates historical context."

"With their textured effect, Dom Lee’s scratchboard illustrations (using beeswax, acrylic, oil paint, and colored pencil) convey immediacy – one can feel the prickliness of the sand or heat of the California sun – while the brown and gold colors and sepia tones make it clear that these are past events. An author’s notes gives additional biographical details. Yoo smoothly incorporates the historical context through Sammy’s reactions to pervasive racism. She creates a picture of a person who succeeded through determined hard work – not a larger-than-life hero, but an ordinary person of great achievement."

- THE BOOK HORN GUIDE
(Outstanding Review)

"Graceful, respectful tone." "Motivational tale." "Inspiring tribute."

"oo debuts with an inspiring tribute to the first Asian-American to win an Olympic gold medal, in 1948. The story begins when Sammy is 12 years old in 1932 California and documents his struggle to reach the top of the diving world. The son of Korean immigrants, he is not allowed to swim at the public pool except on Wednesdays, "when people of color were allowed to go inside." The straightforward, somewhat lengthy account chronicles how Sammy trains by diving into a sandpit the other days of the week—which leads to a fortuitous decision to enroll in gymnastics to help him with his sand landings—finds, a coach, and makes peace with his father, who urges Sammy to forgo his Olympic dream in favor of becoming a doctor. 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." 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. Ages 6-up. (Apr.)"

- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

"Dramatic." "Inspirational biography."

"This inspirational biography recognizes the life of 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. In college, he made an agreement with his father that he would keep good enough grades to enter medical school, but continue to enter diving competitions. Yoo brings the biography to a dramatic conclusion with the 16 seconds of a three-and-a-half somersault dive. 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."

- SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

"Well-shaped language." "Powerful."

"In her first picture book, 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 struggle with his father, and the prejudice he faced. Washed in nostalgic sepia tones, Lee’s acrylic-and-wax textured illustrations 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."

- BOOK LINKS

"Evokes human endurance, resilience and triumph."

"Paula Yoo’s Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds is a biographical story which evokes human endurance, resilience and triumph over justice. Her story recounts the amazing journey of a young Korean American boy growing up in 1930s California, which, at that time in history, enacted racist policies in reaction to immigrants from Asian countries. Sammy Lee may have done the deed in sixteen seconds that made him the first Asian American to win a gold medal in the Olympics (in fact, he won two), but his whole life has been an example to live by… Following both his father’s dream and his own dream, this extraordinary young man becomes a doctor, and, at age 28, an Olympic champion. Illustrator Dom Lee’s use of subdued, calm tones takes us back to the 1930s and parallels the serious tone of the story. Evoking our protagonist Sammy’s optimism and hope, Lee also splatters in tones of blues and reds. Sammy is not just a hero to immigrants or Asians... he is a true U.S. champion, clothed in red, white and blue, as he receives his gold medal."

- KOREAN QUARTERLY

"Formidable."

"How Sammy manages to become the first Korean-American to win an Olympic gold medal and a distinguished physician is a true story and a formidable illustration of what can happen when grit and grace combine forces to achieve a difficult goal. Children will be entranced by Lee’s illustrations, and the adults who read to them will enjoy hearing Yoo narrate Sammy’s story."

- NPR

"[Sammy Lee's] determination helped him soar against the odds."

"In 1932, in Southern California, a sign at the public pool read “Members Only Except Wednesday,” and 12-year-old Korean-American Sammy Lee knew that meant that people of color could swim only on Wednesdays. Sammy didn’t stop watching, however, and it was diving that fascinated him. Before [Sammy] earned his gold medal at the 1948 London Olympics, he served in the Army and became a physician, and in all these pursuits, his determination helped him soar against the odds."

- CHICAGO TRIBUNE