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erine's review
5.0
A concise look at actress Anna May Wong’s life in the first half of the 20th century. Her struggles with stereotypical casting and discrimination are described simply and directly, and are nicely tied to the continued whitewashing of characters today.
A sweet and simple, yet informative, look at an unknown (to me, at least) person.
A sweet and simple, yet informative, look at an unknown (to me, at least) person.
mimela78's review
challenging
funny
informative
inspiring
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
How many Chinese or Chinese-American actress can you think of? I could think of 1 or 2 from recent movies but none from the Golden Age of Hollywood. This made me wonder did they just not hire Asian actress back then. Then I discovered the story of Anna May Wong. She got her first starting role in a Bits of Life in 1921. Yet I had never heard of her. This book tells of her childhood spent working in her dad's laundry while dreaming of being a Hollywood starlet. She face many struggles from stereotypes, to studio's racist policy, to her own family's view of her chosen profession. She navigated all these challenges and took a stand for what she thought was important in a time when immigration from China was illegal. A fasicinating story about an actress who deserves her time in the spotlight. There are illustrations and historical insights sprinkled throughout the book to help bring the story alive for younger readers. A time line, glossary, and recommend further readings/watchings are a great resource for anyone who's curiosity is sparked after this brief peek into Anna May Wong's life.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Racial slurs
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