We’re only 25 years into the 21st century and I’m honored that KIRKUS REVIEWS chose FROM A WHISPER TO A RALLYING CRY: THE KILLING OF VINCENT CHIN AND THE TRIAL THAT GALVANIZED THE ASIAN AMERICAN MOVEMENT (Norton Young Readers 2021) as one of the “Best Books of the Century.”
According to Kirkus Reviews Editor-in-Chief Tom Beer: “The staff of the magazine has been hard at work on the issue for months now, revisiting old favorites, unearthing neglected gems, and arguing the merits of this or that title. We’ve chosen 100 books in each category, all published in the U.S. between 2000 and 2024; also scattered throughout these pages are spotlight features with details about the creation, reception, and long-term impact of select titles. What a pleasure to reflect on a quarter-century of great reads! (And what agony to whittle the list down to 500.)”
For the full article, go to this link: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/best-books-of-the-century-introducing-the-list/
Yoo are honored to be chosen as one of the “Best Books of the 21st Century (So Far)” by Kirkus Reviews. Grateful for everyone who opened their hearts to me when I interviewed them for this YA narrative nonfiction book, including Vincent Chin’s family and friends, the Ebens, the attorneys, police officers, journalists, witnesses, activists, community leaders, and everyone involved in the case, along with award-winning photographer Jarod Lew whose mother was Vikki Wong, Vincent’s bride-to-be. For more info on my journey with Jarod Lew, check out my Medium essay here: https://stopasianhate.medium.com/grieving-vincent-chin-39-years-later-f6d139d6eeec
KIRKUS REVIEWS praised FROM A WHISPER TO A RALLYING CRY as “… an accessible and compelling account of a tragedy that resonates through the decades. This clear and lucid account, based on in-depth research, superlatively conveys the context and significance of the events. The conflicting accounts and explanations are presented evenhandedly, offering readers the opportunity to weigh the evidence and draw their own conclusions. A timely afterword discusses anti-Asian racist rhetoric and violence during the Covid-19 pandemic.”
For the full text of the starred KIRKUS review, go here: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/paula-yoo/from-a-whisper-to-a-rallying-cry/
For the complete list of books chosen by Kirkus Reviews for the “Best of the Century,” go here: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/fiction/best-century-so-far/books/
To download a copy of the FROM A WHISPER TO A RALLYING CRY publicity praise sheet with a complete list of its five starred reviews and awards (including the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award and the National Book Award Longlist), go HERE.
In the meantime, I’m currently in Illinois on a school visit. More on that soon! #YooAreOnTheRoad
Until my next blog, remember… WRITE LIKE YOU MEAN IT! #WriteLikeYooMeanIt