YELL-Oh Girls! Emerging Voices Explore Culture, Identity, and Growing Up Asian American (Paperback)

by Vickie Nam (Author) "The day after my high school graduation, I boarded a plane..." (more)
Key Phrases: kim chee, burnt rice, flower car, United States, South Asian, New Jersey (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Coming of age as an Asian-American girl in the largely white reaches of upstate New York, editor Nam writes that she began to "make sense of the contradictions of being Asian, American, and a girl" through writing, as did many of the young women whose stories, essays, poems and letters she's compiled in this vibrant, much-needed anthology. Though Nam received hundreds of contributions, the collection includes only 80 brief selections (most are under three pages) by budding writers between 15 and 22 years of age, from all over the country. Nam presents the pieces according to theme with helpful background information and analyses of the works, and ends each section with a "Mentor Piece" by an established Asian-American writer on her own coming-of-age (these include essays by Lois-Ann Yamanaka and Helen Zia). The real stars in this collection, however, are girls like high school senior Rona Luo, who waxes lyrical about the "last time I saw my father chow" (cook with a wok). Other essays discuss body image, interracial friendship and dating, adoption, "model minority" stereotypes, Asian-American feminist activism, sexuality, language and white boys' "Asian fetish." Nam regrets that her youth was filled with silence on the subject of being young and Asian-American. Thanks to this fine collection of writings, future generations of Asian-American girls need not feel so isolated. (Aug.)Forecast: Though the book will appeal to young Asian-American women, the writers' focus on the tough work of establishing identity will make it relevant to young women of all ethnic backgrounds. Essential for high school libraries.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Gr 8 Up-Asian-American young women speak out in this anthology of stories and poetry about what it is like growing up in two cultures. The brief contributions are from high school and college students from all over the United States and Canada. They speak passionately of the lack of Asians and women in the history textbooks; of feeling foreign in America and in the country of their ancestors; of being laughed at and ridiculed simply for not looking "American"; of interracial dating; and of finding their own niche. Arranged by topics such as "Finding the Way Home," "Dolly Rage," and "Family Ties," each entry begins with some background about the writer and the work. The selections are interspersed with pieces by notable Asian-American women such as congresswoman Patsy Mink and writer Lois-Ann Yamanaka. The overall strength of the writing, and the need for this topic, makes this a worthy addition to YA collections.

DeAnn Tabuchi, San Anselmo Public Library, CA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (July 31, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060959444
• ISBN-13: 978-0060959449
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #290,331 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yell-oh Girls Speak Out!, August 3, 2001

By	Lydia Kim (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

I ordered this book online a few weeks before it came out in bookstores on August 1. For the first few moments after I got it in the mail, I just held it. This is a book I would appreciate now as a 21-year-old college graduate, but one that would have been my companion as a miserable high schooler.

I don't know what the editor Vickie Nam went through exactly when she grew up in a white town, since I grew up outside of LA for most of my life where there were always tons of APA kids. But I related to so many of the stories because I remember how it felt being an Asian American girl who knew I didn't fit into "American" society because the majority saw me as different-an alien, kind of. Every kid can probably think of a time when he or she was called a 'chink' (a penetrating story in "Dolly Rage"), or when she tried to live up to her parents dreams (several stories in "Family Ties").

I loved reading this book because it's a first real resource for kids who are trying to understand their cultural identity. It's something I can share with my baby cousin when she reaches middle school, so she's not just stuck with the stuff that portrays white girls and mainstream society. This book-- well-written and totally relevant in today's world-- is definitely going to make girls look at themselves in new ways. Thanks to the courage of a whole army of Yell-oh girls!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wish this book was around when I was a teenager, August 20, 2001

By A Customer

I agree with the reader below, this is a sweet collection of stories. I enjoyed and appreciated that the stories don't go into too much depth. For an anthology written by young girls, I think the reader below is expecting too much. I'm glad that the stories are true to their experiences, and that they do not try too hard to "explain" at the expense of being didactic.

I would buy this for every young asian american girl I know.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Yell-Oh Girls!, August 20, 2001

By	"sunnyjade" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

I was incredibly excited to read "Yell-oh Girls" after I had heard about it in several magazines. I felt that a collection of essays, stories, letters and poems by adolescent Asian Americans like myself was overdue. As a Korean-American adoptee, I had hoped that this book would help me feel connected to a culture which I am not actively involved in. As I began to leaf through the pages of "Yell-Oh Girls" however, I saw only one story by an adoptee, and many which were overly critical of whites and society in general. Although I enjoyed and sympathized with many of the girl's stories about body image, and dealing with racism from their peers, I don't feel that harboring animosity towards any group of people (in this case, the white majority) will ever end discrimination, or help everyone to "belong." In short, I am glad I purchased, "Yell-Oh Girls" for the perspectives that it offered, but I do not agree that the opinions and experiences expressed are those of all Asian Americans. Although many stories are poignant and memorable, some unfortunately demonstrate the immaturity and prejudice which minorities seek to destory every day.