Margaret Cho (Asian Americans of Achievement) (Library Binding)

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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Cho, who was described by theWashington Post as "the Patron Saint of anyone who has ever felt like an outsider," attracts a large teen following. This entry in the Asian Americans of Achievement series fills the gap with a lively introduction to the comedian, from her rebellious childhood and teen years to her current successes. Incorporating many quotes from Cho's shows, books, and blog entries, Tiger draws connections between Cho's early experiences and later themes in her work, including her longtime support for gay rights and her struggles with racial prejudice, her immigrant parents' views, and her body image--natural topics of interest to many teens. The frequent quotes from Cho's funny, insightful material will guide many readers to seek out her performances, listed in an appended filmography. A chronology, glossary, and bibliography conclude. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Description

From her first moment onstage as a teenager with her high school improv group, Margaret Cho knew that performing was her destiny. It didn't matter if she became rich or famous - she knew that being onstage and making people laugh would make her happy. At age 16, she began doing standup at the comedy club above her parents' bookstore in San Francisco. In 1994, Cho landed a sitcom, "All-American Girl", about a rebellious daughter in a conservative Korean-American household. Though it made television history as the first sitcom to feature a mostly Asian cast, the show was short-lived, and its failure hit Cho hard. In her early twenties, she struggled with body-image issues, low self-esteem, and drug and alcohol addiction. Ultimately Cho rebuilt her confidence and decided to use her comedy as a cathartic vehicle to help others. Since then, she has launched several wildly popular comedy tours, written a few books, and built a huge fanbase. Read about how this brash, trail-blazing talent became, in the words of the Washington Post, "the patron saint of anyone who has ever felt like an outsider."

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Library Binding: 128 pages
• Publisher: Chelsea House Publications (February 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0791092755
• ISBN-13: 978-0791092750
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,387,932 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Cho as a Classroom-Friendly Subject!!!, June 24, 2009

By	Jeffery Mingo (Homewood, IL USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Unlike many biographies, this book does not start with its subject's birth. It starts by describing how Cho got expelled from high school. From the jump, a controversy like this breaks the stereotype that all Asian Americans are studious. It challenges "model minority" myths. I think readers who don't fit the norm of their identity groups will find comfort in learning about Cho.
Unlike most books for young readers, this has few photos. It is text-based, rather than visual. This may be a clue that the book is intended for high school readers or late junior high ones. Then again, topics are presented that some adults may feel are too heavy for especially young readers.
I think this book may be especially appreciated by Asian-American readers who are coming to terms with their group status. The work mentions how a program placed a flag of Korea behind Cho even though she is an American citizen. Many Asian Americans have complained of society's tendency to dismiss them as "perpetual foreigners." Cho recalls how a person once said to her, "If there are few Asian Americans in entertainment, then maybe because they choose not to be there." This strategy is called "blaming the victim." It can be used by the majority to refuse to think of structural oppression in their society; instead the fault is placed upon the marginalized group. Still, in her autobiography, Cho takes many Korean Americans to task for harming her. This book ignores that intra-ethnic tension.
Many works on famous people who are known or suspected to be of the rainbow flag community refuse to speak on the subject's sexual orientation. This book makes two quick references to Cho's bisexuality. The brief mention makes sense in light of Cho's failure to go into detail about it in her own autobiography. The work admits that Cho is married to a man, but never shows a photo of the couple. This book is one installment in a series called "Asian Americans of Achievement." The series covers men and women. I think it may have wanted to include Cho due to her sexual diversity, not despite of it. (I still question why the series has no installments on South Asian Americans, however.)
The work speaks about Cho's struggles with weight and bad health. It speaks about how she and her fan try to challenge the beauty myth in our society. I love that about this artist. Still, the chald does have a big, old head! I can innocently walk past photographs of her and think, "Why is her face twice as big as the other people in the photo!?" Jay Leno deals with his chin. Bob Hope admitted that he was called "Ski Slope Nose." These men are not from oppressed groups. I do wonder if Cho must accept that physically, she is simply conspicuous.
This work lists Cho's website and quotes her blog. This makes this biography very 21st century. No one can read about George Washington and then read his blog. The same applies to Eleanor Roosevelt and others. There is a way in which this book is interactive and I think this will add to resources that students can use if they choose Cho and this book for a class presentation.
It is never stated that her name was mentioned twice on "The Simpsons" series.