"Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds"
Illustrator: Dom Lee
Awards: New Voices Awards Winner
Ages: 2nd-4th Grade
Pineapple Points: 4/5
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Summary:
A Korean boy, Sammy Lee, was infatuated with diving, but he was only allowed at the public pool on Wednesdays due to his skin color. Sammy's father saved money in hopes of his only son to become a doctor, but Sammy wanted to be an Olympian. To become one he practiced. At 18 he entered competitions and snuck into the pool to dive. One day a stranger at the pool began to yell at him like a coach. This man, Jim Ryan, became his dive coach. To practice, he would dive into a sand pit and do gymnastics. In school Sammy was successful, but unfortunately because he was not white, he was excluded. His freshman year in college was rough, and so was relationship with his dad. To honor his dad he became a doctor and an Olympian.
Evaluation: This book is an awesome biographical rendition of Sammy Lee. The Korean diver was often held back due to his skin, but he pushed past all the doubtful and racists and became not only an Olympic diver, but a doctor too. This would be a great book for a writing assignment. I would read the book aloud then talk have the students write about their goal and how they will overcome possible obstacles in their way.
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