Episode #110: Discussing the Vincent Chin case and anti-AAPI hate with Paula Yoo
Welcome back! There is a very special guest today on Book Friends Forever. Grace and Alvina are joined with author Paula Yoo to discuss her new book From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry: The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement.
“First, how have you been?”
Paula has been hoping everyone is healthy and in good spirits. She has been on deadlines so is still basically in lockdown mode. She’s practicing social distancing but beginning to feel a little safer.
Alvina had an interesting experience with her first TikTok video going viral! She made a charming little video about Peter Brown’s book, Fred Gets Dressed. Alvina can be found on TikTok @Planetalvina.
In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Grace has been feeling a bit overwhelmed and busy while curating a virtual picture book exhibit by the Eric Carle Museum. “Asians, Everyday” exhibit shows Asians living their ordinary lives as part of the American fabric.
Welcome Paula Yoo!
Paula Yoo is a TV writer/producer, book author, and violinist. Her debut YA novel Good Enough (HarperCollins 2008) received the Asian/Pacific American Honor Award for Literature (APAAL). She has also written several award-winning IRA Notable children's non-fiction picture books and early readers. Her latest books include a YA narrative non-fiction book about Vincent Chin, From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry: The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial That Galvanized the Asian American Movement and an upcoming chapter book series for Lee & Low Books (2020). An active freelance musician, Paula has played with many orchestras such as the Southeast Symphony and has performed/toured/recorded with such bands as No Doubt, Fun, Arthur Lee of Love, Spiritualized, Il Divo and many more. For more information, please visit her website: https://paulayoo.com.
The Book Friends ask Paula several questions about how she came to write From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry: The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial That Galvanized the Asian American Movement. The book is about the killing of Vincent Chin, the verdicts that took the Asian American community to the streets in protest, and the groundbreaking civil rights trial that followed. Paula talks about the in-person interviews she did, the raw emotion people had when reliving the trauma of this experience, and how she incorporated Jarod Lew, the son of Vickie Wong, Chin’s fiancée into the story. They discuss the court trials, toxic masculinity, racism, and all of the injustice that ensued.
Fortune Cookie Segment: Book Recommendations
In honor of AAPI heritage month, the book friends and Paula recommend one or two children or YA books by Asian American Pacific Islander authors.
Paula recommends: Seeing Emily by Joyce Lee Wong and Girls For Breakfast by David Yoo (her brother!)
In honor of it also being Mental Health Awareness Month, Alvina recommends: This is My Brain in Love by I.W. Gregorio and Jenny Mei is Sad by Tracy Subisak.
Grace Recommends: Laxmi’s Mooch by Shelly Anand, illustrated by Nabi H. Ali and Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines by Jeanne Walker Harvey, illustrated by Dow Phumiruk
Gratefuls:
Paula is grateful for her three cars, Oreo, Beethoven, and Charlotte, Grace is grateful that she got her second shot, and Alvina is grateful for the #kidlti community and the fundraiser “Books For Hope” that donated to the Covid crisis in India.
Thank you!
Thank you for tuning in! Thank you to Hachette Audio, Little Brown Books for Young Readers, and Alex at Pacyworks Studio. Be sure to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and tell a friend about us. (Use the hashtag #bookfriendsforever.)
You can find Alvina @Planetalvina on Twitter and TikTok and @Alvinaling on Instagram
You can find Grace @Pacylin on Facebook and Instagram
You can find Paula Yoo on Youtube: Paulayoo, twitter: @paulayoo, IG: @paulayoo cat oreo: @oreothecatyoo on twitter.
*If you’re a patron, don’t forget to check out this week’s Random Questions feed! Grace Lin with Ellen Oh answer, “What’s a holiday that doesn’t exist that you’d like to create?” Click here to listen! If you’re not a patron already, join today!
