Sixteen Years In Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story

Sixteen Years In Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story
by Paula Yoo

Sixteen Years In Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story
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Book Summary Information

Author: Paula Yoo
Illustrator: Dom Lee
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-04-01
ISBN: 158430247X
Number of pages: 32
Publisher: Lee & Low Books

Book Reviews of Sixteen Years In Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story

Book Review: Suitable for adults and children
Summary: 5 Stars

When my husband first picked this up, he was surprised to discover that Korean-Americans- in California- were subject to the same Jim Crow laws that African-Americans were in other parts of the country. Unfortunately, many people forget that although Asian-Americans have been a substantial presence on the West Coast for over a century, it has only been in the last few decades that we- as well as African-Americans and other ethnic minorities- have (mostly) attained equality.

As a Korean-American on the East Coast, I was moved by the story of Sammy Lee as he struggled with both his personal ambitions in a racist country and his father's desires to secure his future. Although the Korean-American father-son relationship is fraught with tension (at least in popular American literature), this story resolves it nicely, as Sam understands that his father does not endure insults and racism because he is weak and unable to change things, but because he is trying to face an unfair world with honor and dignity. This was the most important lesson of the book, I thought, and it enabled Sam to bridge both his father's desires for his future and his own desires.

The story of Sam's relationship with his coach moved me as well. While, at first glance, we can't guarantee that we will meet the mentor of our dreams, this part of the story does jibe with the saying that "luck is when opportunity meets readiness." Maybe we won't all find what we need when we want it, but we can be responsive to what we need when it arrives.

This is a short book with nostalgic illustrations that will be a pleasure for anyone ages 8 and up to read.

Summary of Sixteen Years In Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story

The inspirational true story of Sammy Lee, a Korean American who overcame discrimination to realize both his father's desire that he become a doctor and his own dream of becoming an Olympic champion diver.

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