Paula Yoo, illustrated by Lin Wang,
Shining Star: The Anna May Wong Story
Lee & Low Books, 2009.

Ages 7-10

With Shining Star: The Anna May Wong Story, Paula Yoo focuses (as she did in her first picture book, Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story) on an Asian American pioneer who confronts overt racism, as well as professional and cultural obstacles, on the path to celebrity stardom.  Born in LA’s Chinatown in 1905, Anna May Wong was the second of seven children, all of whom worked alongside their parents in the family laundry business.  Before she was out of her teens, she had become the first Chinese American movie star.

Always fascinated by films and the film industry, Anna May snuck away at every opportunity to go to matinées or observe film shoots.  She practised performing before her mirror in the evenings and, despite her father’s disapproval, made every effort to make contacts in the movies.  Her persistence paid off when she was cast as an extra in the film The Red Lantern, and so began her journey to stardom.

Anna May eventually worked her way into more important roles, despite the fact that white actors in offensive “yellowface” makeup were usually chosen to play Asian roles.  When Anna May was cast opposite a white male lead, anti-miscegenation laws forbade the couple from sharing a screen kiss, limiting the roles for which Anna May could even be considered.  In fact, despite talent and good reviews, Anna May was most often cast in stereotypical “China Doll” or “Dragon Lady” roles, which she detested openly yet agreed to play, out of her commitment to acting.

Discouraged, Anna May eventually left for Europe, where she attained international stardom, although she remained a controversial figure in China, where some people loved her and others felt she disgraced China with every performance.  When Anna May returned to Hollywood, she made up her mind to refuse any roles that showed Chinese characters in a stereotypically unsympathetic light and kept that promise until her untimely death at age 56.

This lovely picture book biography, enriches the history of Chinese Americans by bringing Anna May Wong to life for a new generation. It also fills in some detail about an ugly chapter in the history of the American film industry that needs to be remembered.  Yoo’s sensitive and concise writing coupled with Wang’s vibrant and expressive illustrations gives Anna May Wong a new opportunity for respect and admiration.

Abigail Sawyer
August 2009