Title: Sixteen Years in
Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story
Author:
Paula Yoo
Illustrator:
Dom Lee
Publisher: Lee and Low
Books Inc.
Publication
Date: 2005
Genre/Format: Picture Book
Classification: Nonfiction/Biography
Summary:
Sammy Lee fell in love with diving and dreamed of
diving in the Olympics. As a Korean-American, and a person of color, he was
only allowed to use the pool one day a week. His father wanted Sammy to be a
doctor and only agree to let Sammy dive if his grades were good enough to get
him in medical school. In 1940 and 1944, the Olympics were cancelled due to World War II and in 1943 Sammy’s
father died. Sammy decided to honor his father’s dream for him and in 1946 he
worked hard and became a doctor. Even though Sammy became a doctor he never
gave up his dream of diving in the Olympics.
In 1948, in London, he finally got his chance and became the first
Asian-American to win a gold medal.
Personal thoughts:
I read this book several years ago and fell in love with the story. A dream that came to fruition at age 28, after becoming a doctor and honoring his father’s dream, a story of perseverance and following one’s dream. I became curious about Dr. Sammy Lee and found out he was still living. Fast forward to the summer of 2012 and, as an avid Olympic watcher, I heard on television Dr. Sammy Lee was going to be honored at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Sixty-four years after he won a gold and bronze medal, both he and Mrs. Lee were honored guests of the United States Diving Team. What an inspiration!
Read
Together: grades K-4
Read without help: grades 4-12
Read With: Duke's Olympic Feet, by Ellie Crow, G is for Gold Medal: An Olympics
Alphabet by Brad Herzog
Other notes of interest: The author has included an Author’s Note page telling other facts about Dr. Sammy Lee. Connect to her website www.paulayoo.com.
Snippet of Text:
“The sign on
the swimming pool read: MEMBERS ONLY. Twelve- year- old Sammy Lee knew exactly what
the sign meant—only whites were permitted to enter even though it was a public
pool. This was the practice in 1932. Sammy would have to wait until Wednesday
when people of color were allowed to go inside.” (Unnumbered page)
“For the
final dive in the 10-meter platform event, Sammy decided to perform the forward
three-and-a half somersault. This was a very dangerous move. The slightest
miscalculation in timing could lead to a serious, even fatal, injury. Never
before had Sammy felt such intense pressure. He had trained for sixteen years
for this—a moment that would last barely sixteen second from the time he dived
to when the scores would be revealed.” (Unnumbered page)
Connections to Writing: Expository—
(1)Each year millions
of people visit California. Before you write, think about California and the
many places people like to visit on vacation. Now write to explain why California
is such a popular place for families to go on vacation. (2) Sammy Lee was born
in Fresno, California but he was raised, along his older sisters, in Highland
Park, California. Create a brochure for a travel company listing things to do
and see in both communities.
Connections to Writing: Narrative—(1) Write
a journal entry, from the point of view of Sammy Lee, how it felt to be
excluded from the public swimming pool.( 2) Create an alphabet book about the
life of Dr. Sammy Lee, doctor and Olympic gold medal diver.
Connections
to Social Studies: Racism in California in the 1930’s, Migrant farm
workers in 1930’s, Dust Bowl of 1930’s
Topics Covered:
Translated
to Spanish: No
Translated to other
languages: No
Other formats: None
How might you use this book as a springboard for writing in your classroom?
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