Shining a Light

Starred review from May 15, 2023
Bybee shares captivating stories about the achievements of 40 influential AAPI individuals, from celebrities such as Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi to less well-known individuals including businessman Look Tin Eli. Accompanied by extra-ordinary portraiture from Ngai, which strikingly situates the figures amid imagistic details, each one-page biographical entry is packed with personal tidbits that reveal the figures’ motivating forces. Arranged in chronological order, the entries begin with education reformer Yung Wing and end with Olympian Sunisa “Suni” Lee. Words and illustrations movingly dovetail in this essential compendium that aims, per an introduction, to show young readers “that they too can stand up and shape the world around them.” Ages 8–12.

Starred review from March 1, 2023
An anthology of Asian American and Pacific Islander trailblazers. Stunning portraits introduce the succinct one-page biographies of the 40 individuals covered here, each boldly facing readers and surrounded by brightly hued landscapes and images symbolic of their accomplishments. Varying by era, profession, and country of origin, the subjects include education reformer Yung Wing, an immigrant who, upon receiving his degree from Yale in 1854, became the first Chinese student to graduate from an American university; Hawaiian swimmer Duke Kahanamoku, a five-time Olympic medalist who also popularized surfing; and Indian American writer Bhagat Singh Thind, who, despite serving in World War I (he was "the first soldier to wear a turban in the US Army"), had to fight to become a citizen. Bybee profiles both figures who may be more well known to readers, such as Vice President Kamala Harris and actor Anna May Wong, and more undeservedly overlooked names including Haing Ngor, a Cambodian surgeon who was the first Asian American to win an Oscar for best supporting actor. The writing is solid and informative, and the collection is especially balanced and inclusive when it comes to representing the diversity of the Asian American and Pacific Islander experience, showing how they have long been integral to the building and progression of both America and the world. Bold, striking, and compelling. (historical glossary, bibliography) (Nonfiction. 9-14)

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Starred review from September 8, 2023

Gr 4-7-Readers should not be fooled by the familiar faces dotting the cover of this biography collection; the bulk of these entries cover not-often-taught Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who made history, such as activist Channapha Khamvongsa and Yahoo! cofounder Jerry Yang. Written in chronological order from oldest to youngest subject, each entry (accompanied by a full-page portrait) features one person of AAPI descent and their contributions to the world. A common theme throughout each figure's story is that each of them overcame struggles, be it racism, classism, sexism, or more. Of important note is that all biographies end with the accolades and recognitions each person received, either while alive or posthumously. Ngai's vibrant illustrations open each profile and are truly a work of art. They are imbued with meaning and symbolism, rounding this out into a visually stunning book. Back matter includes a Historical Glossary of significant political and cultural events, and a bibliography. VERDICT A must-have nonfiction title for upper elementary and middle school libraries.-Carol Youssif

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