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Nim and the war effort
1997
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A Chinese-American schoolgirl, Nim proves to all her classmates that she can be true to both her country and her heritage when she collects the most papers for a war-effort paper drive during World War II. - (Baker & Taylor)

In her determination to prove that an American can win the contest for the war effort, Nim does something which leaves her Chinese grandfather both bewildered and proud. - (Baker & Taylor)

Nim's determination to prove that an American can win the contest for the war effort, leaves her Chinese grandfather both bewildered and proud - (Baker & Taylor)

During World War II, children everywhere worked hard to help the war effort. When they organize a paper drive at Nim's school, Nim is determined to prove that she, a Chinese American, is patriot enough to collect the most papers, though she faces stiff competition from school bully Garland Stephenson and disapproval from her very traditional grandfather In this tender and funny story, Milly Lee and Yangsook Choi give us a true and glowing slice of life in San Francisco's Chinatown as spunky, resourceful Nim shows that she can be true both to her country and to her heritage.
- (Holtzbrinck)

Set in San Francisco's Chinatown during World War II

During World War II, children everywhere worked hard to help the war effort. When they organize a paper drive at Nim's school, Nim is determined to prove that she, a Chinese American, is patriot enough to collect the most papers, though she faces stiff competition from school bully Garland Stephenson and disapproval from her very traditional grandfather In this tender and funny story, Milly Lee and Yangsook Choi give us a true and glowing slice of life in San Francisco's Chinatown as spunky, resourceful Nim shows that she can be true both to her country and to her heritage.
- (McMillan Palgrave)

During World War II, children everywhere worked hard to help the war effort. When they organize a paper drive at Nim's school, Nim is determined to prove that she, a Chinese American, is patriot enough to collect the most papers, though she faces stiff competition from school bully Garland Stephenson and disapproval from her very traditional grandfather In this tender and funny story, Milly Lee and Yangsook Choi give us a true and glowing slice of life in San Francisco's Chinatown as spunky, resourceful Nim shows that she can be true both to her country and to her heritage.
- (McMillan Palgrave)

Author Biography

Milly Lee grew up in a large, extended family in San Francisco's Chinatwon. She is a retired school librarian and lives in Sonoma County, California.

Yangsook Choi grew up in Korea and holds and M.F.A. from the School of Visual Arts in New York City, where she now lives.
- (McMillan Palgrave)

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Booklist Reviews

Gr. 2^-5. Based on Lee's experiences growing up in San Francisco's Chinatown during World War II, this quietly told, handsome picture book tells what it was like for a child on the home front trying to help her country win the war. Nim is firmly rooted in her Chinese culture and the traditions of her extended family. Her loving grandfather, who works in the bank, is strict with her. She goes to Chinese classes every day after school. At the same time, she is proud to be born American and is caught up in the school competition to see who can collect the most for the newspaper drive. Her main rival jeers that an "American" will win the contest, "not some Chinese smartypants." Nim dares to leave Chinatown and finds an unexpected hoard of newspapers. She calls the police for help, and the confrontation is comic (You called us to move newspapers to your school?), but at home she faces shame and punishment for breaking the rules. Choi's large acrylic-like paintings in warm shades of brown capture the child's perspective of the family intimacy and the neighborhood adventure. The jacket flap provides brief information about victory gardens and other civilian war efforts, but kids will need more historical context for the story. Pair this with James Stevenson's autobiographical Don't You Know There's a War On? (1992). ((Reviewed February 1, 1997)) Copyright 2000 Booklist Reviews

Publishers Weekly Reviews

Nim, the protagonist in this sweetly nostalgic trip to San Francisco's Chinatown of 1943, wants desperately to bring in the most newspapers for her school's paper drive-especially after a classmate takes papers that were meant for her. Her eagerness to help in the war effort (and win the contest) vie with her obedience to her Grandfather, as she riskily leaves the neighborhood to collect more papers. But her determination pays off in winning both the contest and the respect of her Grandfather for her patriotism. Lee and Choy, each making a publishing debut, are paired with enormous success: their work has a clear symbiosis. Choi paints with a soothing clarity of line and a rich palette infused with yellow, "aging" undertones. The seasoned visuals enhance Lee's text, which, while lengthy for the picture-book format, offers thought-provoking insights into Chinese American family life and the stresses of having an Asian heritage during the war with Japan. Ages 6-up. (Mar.)

School Library Journal Reviews

Nim, a young Chinese-American girl, lives with her multigenerational family in San Francisco's Chinatown. World War II is ongoing, and she is absorbed in the last day of a competition to gather more newspapers for her school's paper drive than Garland Stephenson, the class bully. Taking her red wagon into the ritzy Nob Hill area for a last search for newsprint, Nim discovers a treasure trove of collected papers, finds a way to transport them to school, and wins the contest. The plot is well structured; the warm affection and unquestioned respect for authority in Nim's home lend even more appeal. Scenes from the family's daily life are effectively described in the narrative and illustrated in the soft contours and muted earth tones of the full-page paintings. Grandfather's morning Tai Chi practice, Grandmother's bound feet, the polite rituals of the family meal, and the scheduled lessons at Nim's late-day Chinese school all take readers into life in Chinatown in the mid-20th century. Based on the author's childhood memories, Nim's story celebrates the patriotism of Asian family members in embracing their new home and country and their efforts to maintain their cultural traditions. A fine addition. Copyright 1998 School Library Journal Reviews

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