Laurence Yep
Encyclopedia
Laurence Michael Yep is a prolific, award-winning Chinese American
modern author
.
to Yep Gim Lew (Thomas) and Franche. His older brother, Thomas named him after studying a particular saint in a multicultural neighborhood that consisted of mostly African Americans. Growing up, he often felt torn between both American
and Chinese culture
, and expressed this in many of his books. A great deal of his work involves characters feeling alienated or not fitting into their surroundings and environment, something Yep has struggled with since childhood. Most of his life, he has had the feeling of being out of place, whether because he is the non athlete in his athletic family or because he is Chinese and once lived in Chinatown but does not speak the language. As it says in his autobiography, "I was too American to fit into Chinatown, and too Chinese to fit in anywhere else." As a boy, Yep attended a bilingual school in Chinatown. Just like Casey Young, a character in Child of the Owl, Yep was placed in the lower level Chinese class where he was able to pass without learning how to speak the language. He later entered a Catholic high school in San Francisco where he continued his interest in chemistry and became equally intrigued with writing. His first writing was done in high school
, for a science fiction
magazine
. His teacher, a priest
, told him and a couple of his friends that to get an A, they had to get a piece of writing accepted by a magazine, and that's when he started to realize that a career in writing was meant to be.
Yep attended Marquette University
and graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz
. He earned a Ph.D
in English
at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
While working in his family’s store, he “learned early on how to observe and listen to people, how to relate to others. It was good training for a writer.” However, as a child, he thought of himself as a scientist and he “was going to be a chemist. Like my father, I was fascinated by machines.” His decision to become a writer did not come until the time he entered college at Marquette.
During his time at Marquette University, he met and became friends with the literary magazine editor, Joanne Ryder. She introduced him to children’s literature and later asked him to write a book for children while she was working at Harper & Row. The result was his first science fiction novel, Sweetwater. According to Yep, his relationship with Joanne began as friends and progressed into love (Yep, 1991). Yep and Ryder are married and live in Pacific Grove, California
.
, to 1995, in America. He received the Newbery Honor for two books in the series, Dragon's Gate and Dragonwings
, the latter of which has been adapted into a play. Other notable books are the Dragon series and The Chinatown Mysteries. In addition, Child of the Owl won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award
in 1977 and The Rainbow People, Yep’s collection of short stories based on Chinese folktales and legends, received the same award in 1989. He was awarded the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal
in 2005 for his contributions to children's literature.
One of Yep’s central topics is individuals who feel alone and as if they do not belong in their surroundings—a feeling common to young readers. Many of his characters, through their journeys, are able to find who they are and where they belong.
A live-action/CGI TV movie of The Tiger’s Apprentice, adapted by Finding Neverland
writer David Magee
, is currently being developed by Cartoon Network
.
Chinese American
Chinese Americans represent Americans of Chinese descent. Chinese Americans constitute one group of overseas Chinese and also a subgroup of East Asian Americans, which is further a subgroup of Asian Americans...
modern author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
.
Background
Chinese-American, Yep was born in San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
to Yep Gim Lew (Thomas) and Franche. His older brother, Thomas named him after studying a particular saint in a multicultural neighborhood that consisted of mostly African Americans. Growing up, he often felt torn between both American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Chinese culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
, and expressed this in many of his books. A great deal of his work involves characters feeling alienated or not fitting into their surroundings and environment, something Yep has struggled with since childhood. Most of his life, he has had the feeling of being out of place, whether because he is the non athlete in his athletic family or because he is Chinese and once lived in Chinatown but does not speak the language. As it says in his autobiography, "I was too American to fit into Chinatown, and too Chinese to fit in anywhere else." As a boy, Yep attended a bilingual school in Chinatown. Just like Casey Young, a character in Child of the Owl, Yep was placed in the lower level Chinese class where he was able to pass without learning how to speak the language. He later entered a Catholic high school in San Francisco where he continued his interest in chemistry and became equally intrigued with writing. His first writing was done in high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, for a science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
. His teacher, a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
, told him and a couple of his friends that to get an A, they had to get a piece of writing accepted by a magazine, and that's when he started to realize that a career in writing was meant to be.
Yep attended Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
and graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz
University of California, Santa Cruz
The University of California, Santa Cruz, also known as UC Santa Cruz or UCSC, is a public, collegiate university; one of ten campuses in the University of California...
. He earned a Ph.D
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in English
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
While working in his family’s store, he “learned early on how to observe and listen to people, how to relate to others. It was good training for a writer.” However, as a child, he thought of himself as a scientist and he “was going to be a chemist. Like my father, I was fascinated by machines.” His decision to become a writer did not come until the time he entered college at Marquette.
During his time at Marquette University, he met and became friends with the literary magazine editor, Joanne Ryder. She introduced him to children’s literature and later asked him to write a book for children while she was working at Harper & Row. The result was his first science fiction novel, Sweetwater. According to Yep, his relationship with Joanne began as friends and progressed into love (Yep, 1991). Yep and Ryder are married and live in Pacific Grove, California
Pacific Grove, California
Pacific Grove is a coastal city in Monterey County, California, USA, with a population of 15,041 as of the 2010 census, down from 15,522 as of the 2000 census...
.
Work
Yep's most notable work is his series, the Golden Mountain Chronicles, which documents the story of the fictional Young family from 1849, in ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, to 1995, in America. He received the Newbery Honor for two books in the series, Dragon's Gate and Dragonwings
Dragonwings
Dragonwings is an award-winning children's novel written by Laurence Yep. The book won the IRA Children's Book Award and is a 1976 Newbery Honor Book...
, the latter of which has been adapted into a play. Other notable books are the Dragon series and The Chinatown Mysteries. In addition, Child of the Owl won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award
The Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards were first presented by The Boston Globe and Horn Book Magazine in 1967. They are among the most prestigious honors in the United States in the field of children’s and young adult literature...
in 1977 and The Rainbow People, Yep’s collection of short stories based on Chinese folktales and legends, received the same award in 1989. He was awarded the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal
Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal is a prize awarded by the American Library Association to writers or illustrators of children's books published in the United States who have over a period of years made substantial and lasting contributions to children's literature...
in 2005 for his contributions to children's literature.
One of Yep’s central topics is individuals who feel alone and as if they do not belong in their surroundings—a feeling common to young readers. Many of his characters, through their journeys, are able to find who they are and where they belong.
A live-action/CGI TV movie of The Tiger’s Apprentice, adapted by Finding Neverland
Finding Neverland
Finding Neverland is a 2004 semi-biographical film about playwright J. M. Barrie and his relationship with a family who inspired him to create Peter Pan, directed by Marc Forster. The screenplay by David Magee is based on the play The Man Who Was Peter Pan by Allan Knee...
writer David Magee
David Magee
David Magee is an American screenwriter who was nominated for a 2004 Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Finding Neverland. Along with Simon Beaufoy he wrote the screenplay for Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day starring Frances McDormand and Amy Adams, which was released in 2008.His screen...
, is currently being developed by Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
.