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Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines
As a child, Maya Lin loved to study the spaces around her. She explored the forest in her backyard, observing woodland creatures, and used her house as a model to build tiny towns out of paper and scraps. The daughter of a clay artist and a poet, Maya grew up with art and learned to think with her hands as well as her mind. From her first experiments with light and lines to the height of her success nationwide, this is the story of an inspiring American artist: the visionary artist-architect who designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published May 2, 2017
4 people are currently reading
639 people want to read
About the author
Jeanne Walker Harvey
14 books286 followersJeanne loves finding a true story (especially about an inspiring creative person) that is engaging and fascinating, and then using her creativity to tell the story. She hopes children will have a love of words and understand the power and beauty of words.
Ever since she was a child, Jeanne dreamed of being a childrens book author. Along the way she has had many jobs, ranging from being a roller coaster ride operator to an attorney for high-tech companies to a writer of magazine articles to a teacher of Language Arts and writing workshops at a public middle school. She studied literature and psychology at Stanford University, and volunteered for many years at the local public school library, the Marin County Literacy Program, as a docent for school groups at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and as a board member for both the Sausalito Public Library and Sonoma Valley Museum of Art.
She lives in Northern California. She has two wonderful grown sons and an adorable adopted cat. As she prefers silence when she is writing, her cat is a perfect companion because she sits on her papers and only walks across her laptop when she wants to be petted. Jeanne loves to take breaks by dancing in classes, hiking in nature, and gardening (especially growing flowers).
Ever since she was a child, Jeanne dreamed of being a childrens book author. Along the way she has had many jobs, ranging from being a roller coaster ride operator to an attorney for high-tech companies to a writer of magazine articles to a teacher of Language Arts and writing workshops at a public middle school. She studied literature and psychology at Stanford University, and volunteered for many years at the local public school library, the Marin County Literacy Program, as a docent for school groups at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and as a board member for both the Sausalito Public Library and Sonoma Valley Museum of Art.
She lives in Northern California. She has two wonderful grown sons and an adorable adopted cat. As she prefers silence when she is writing, her cat is a perfect companion because she sits on her papers and only walks across her laptop when she wants to be petted. Jeanne loves to take breaks by dancing in classes, hiking in nature, and gardening (especially growing flowers).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
February 28, 2021
I love this description of artists: "Maya, too, thought with her hands as well as her mind."
June 6, 2017
How wonderful to have a picture book featuring Maya Lin, whose design for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was chosen over all other submissions when she was 21! I'm old enough to remember the controversy that erupted over her selection and over her design as well as all the turmoil associated with the Vietnam War. I didn't know very much about her, though, until I read this well-written and engaging book. The author makes it clear that this girl, the child of a clay artist and a poet, drew early inspiration from nature and that she "thought with her hands as well as her mind" (unpaged), a reminder of the theory of multiple intelligences described by Howard Gardner. Readers are likely to feel as though they are being provided a peek into how her family lived and to her formative years. I loved having so much detail describing her creative process and how she came up with her design for the memorial. Although there were many naysayers about this black granite wall featuring the names of the 58,000 soldiers killed or missing during the war, after it was completed, visitors were moved. It's hard to imagine any other structure that could be as effective as this one. Not only does the book identify some of Lin's other work, but the illustrations complement her own minimalist artistic style. An Author's Note offers additional information about Maya as well as a photograph of her and her winning design when she was 21. I appreciated the careful detail in the images on that page too since the illustrator shows many of the tools of an artist/architect like this one. This is an excellent addition for any classroom teacher compiling a collection of books related to art and artists as one featuring strong women or young people who made a difference in the world around them. Even the book jacket is stunning, featuring Maya touching the wall and the name of a lost soldier while glimpses of healing green foliage and grass soften the stark effect of the monument.
May 9, 2018
A wonderful biography about the woman behind the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
August 15, 2021
This is a beautifully told story of a young lady who thought outside of the box and created an amazing monument to the Vietnam War veterans. The artwork is engaging for readers and has interesting perspective in several scenes. I really loved the story and the art in this book. Since I have been to this memorial it really made an impact on me. I highly recommend it to students in Grades 3-5 or anyone who wants to know more about the inspiration and creation of this memorial and its artist.
July 4, 2017
An excellent picture book biography of Maya Lin, the architect who designed the Vietnam Memorial her senior year in college. The story is told simply and lyrically, and the illustrations are beautifully done, bringing the story to life. The muted palette with bursts of color, the varying perspectives, and artistic vision all complement the story of a young woman of extraordinary talent.
May 15, 2022
Maya Lin is an inspiring artist, who entered a contest in college that changed the landscape of Washington DC. Her concept for the Vietnam Memorial is truly an astounding sight.
February 10, 2018
An absolutely gorgeous illustrated biography of Maya Lin.
Each two-page spread covers one aspect of her childhood, education, creative process, or work. I remember when she won the design contest for the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC, and the controversy that ensued.
This book attributes the controversy to her age; she was 21. Personally, I think Jeanne Walker Harvey is being kind to those narrow-minded Americans who could not conceptualize that anyone Asian might have something positive to contribute to a war memorial for the soldiers who fought and died in Vietnam.
Overall, this book focuses on Maya Lin's connection with nature, her vision of a knife wound in the ground around the memorial and how that vision shaped her design, and ultimately the impact the Vietnam War Memorial has had on visitors.
Any teacher covering the Vietnam War could use this book in a lesson or with a veteran guest speaker. If you're an art teacher trying to diversify which artists you highlight, this book is perfect. If you're planning units centered around memorials, add this book to your collection. If you're discussing people who persevere, this book highlights Maya Lin's grit. This biography offers a great deal within 32 pages.
Each two-page spread covers one aspect of her childhood, education, creative process, or work. I remember when she won the design contest for the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC, and the controversy that ensued.
This book attributes the controversy to her age; she was 21. Personally, I think Jeanne Walker Harvey is being kind to those narrow-minded Americans who could not conceptualize that anyone Asian might have something positive to contribute to a war memorial for the soldiers who fought and died in Vietnam.
Overall, this book focuses on Maya Lin's connection with nature, her vision of a knife wound in the ground around the memorial and how that vision shaped her design, and ultimately the impact the Vietnam War Memorial has had on visitors.
Any teacher covering the Vietnam War could use this book in a lesson or with a veteran guest speaker. If you're an art teacher trying to diversify which artists you highlight, this book is perfect. If you're planning units centered around memorials, add this book to your collection. If you're discussing people who persevere, this book highlights Maya Lin's grit. This biography offers a great deal within 32 pages.
January 7, 2018
During our 6th grade "Social Responsibility and Leaving a Legacy" unit when I was in the classroom, the kids would read biographies and design unique monuments/memorials for the people they read about, writing about their rationale for the design, the mood and tone of the memorial, symbolism included, the person's accomplishments and legacy, etc.. This book would have been great to use! I think the Vietnam Memorial is one of the most moving I've ever been to. Their is such power in its simplicity. I loved the explanation of how Lin insisted the names be placed in order of each one's death or missing in action date as opposed to alphabetical order. The Author's Note states, "The names begin in the middle of the memorial and loop back, creating a circle of time, or a sense of closure." Beautiful - I didn't know that and will pay attention to that next time I visit it. It's also amazing that the names go from 1959 to 1975. Maya Lin's story of success, creativity, and perseverance is inspiring, especially since she was so young when she won the contest.
June 21, 2017
With the help of a bookish "friend" on Instagram, I found this little gem hidden among the overcrowded stacks of biographies. What makes this one so special is that we don't hear about many Asian people's remarkable lives, though surely there are too many to tell. My youngest son, not one to gravitate toward books (I know, I know...) saw it on my bed, picked it up, read it cover-to-cover, and then we talked about his recollection of when we went to the Vietnam Memorial in DC with his grandfather-himself, a Vietnam veteran. I look forward to sharing this with my students in the fall when we begin the year with our look at biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs!
May 10, 2018
1. I loved this book!
2. I visited the Vietnam Memorial before I knew Maya Lin's story, so it makes me have a deeper appreciation for her work.
3. I love that her parents let her be who she was made to be.
4. The book said that she would sit in the forest and wait for animals to talk to her. I did the same thing as a kid.
5. I love the tiny towns she made from scraps and paper.
6. It's amazing that she was in college when she won this contest.
7. I googled her work after reading this book. Breathtaking.
8. I love storybooks that encourage children to be themselves and to reach for their goals.
2. I visited the Vietnam Memorial before I knew Maya Lin's story, so it makes me have a deeper appreciation for her work.
3. I love that her parents let her be who she was made to be.
4. The book said that she would sit in the forest and wait for animals to talk to her. I did the same thing as a kid.
5. I love the tiny towns she made from scraps and paper.
6. It's amazing that she was in college when she won this contest.
7. I googled her work after reading this book. Breathtaking.
8. I love storybooks that encourage children to be themselves and to reach for their goals.
May 24, 2017
Beautifully crafted introduction to Maya Lin's childhood, her creative process and the design of the Vietnam War Memorial. At first glance as simple in design as Lin's architecture, but also just as complex on examination.
Lovely illustrations by Dow Phumiruk mirror the text in spare thoughtful use of line and space. Author's note and two suggested websites for back matter. A bibliography and list of source suggestions would have made this a 5 star for me.
Lovely illustrations by Dow Phumiruk mirror the text in spare thoughtful use of line and space. Author's note and two suggested websites for back matter. A bibliography and list of source suggestions would have made this a 5 star for me.
November 9, 2017
I am a little biased, because Maya Lin is one of my favorite artists, and the Vietnam Memorial one of the most affecting art experiences I've had. I'm so happy to see this beautifully realized book about an improbable, against-the-odds choice in design for this most distinctive monument. Hats off to Harvey for further exploring the life and other artworks of Lin. The cover art, with its stark clarity, perfectly captures the chilling beauty of the Vietnam Memorial.
May 24, 2017
Great introduction to the architect with a text and illustrations that mirror Lin's minimalist style.
November 7, 2018
Beautiful picture book biography about Maya Lin, the architect behind the Vietnam Wall. If you're looking for something to pair with or replace Eve Bunting's The Wall, this is it.
December 3, 2024
In Maya Lin Artist-Architect of Light and Lines, we meet Maya, a young girl who loves nature, chess, and the arts. She grows up with a brother and her parents who fled China during the Communist Revolution and raised her with the opposite ideology that she is free to live and think anyway she wants. She falls in love with the art of sculpting and poetry with the help of her parents who were artists themselves. She goes to college for architecture and studies different types throughout history when traveling and studying abroad. In her senior year, she was introduced to a contest to make a memorial for the soldiers who died in the Vietnam War. She planned on making a wall with all of the names of the soldiers believing that a name can bring back memories of the person from the dead. After much drafting, she eventually comes up with the design and submits it into the contest among many other anonymous entries. She wins and her design is met with backlash but she does not back down despite the harsh opinions of others. The memorial was built with her directly involved with the process and touched the hearts of many. She then goes on to create more art such as The Wave Field, Topo, and 10 Degrees North. Throughout the book there are illustrations along the sides of some pages of different types of sculpting artforms, small facts about Maya Lin, and her other works. The major themes in the book were perseverance and symbolism. Maya Lin overcomes much hardship and doubt from others to come out on top after winning the contest. Her success comes from proving the doubters wrong and allowing a deep emotional connection to be present with her art and its viewers. The different types of creative symbolism that Maya Lin uses in her artwork is another way of connecting her simple and quiet art piece that is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to those who visit. Coming from her upbringing, her interests in nature, art, sculpting, and poetry provide more context to her designs. The main genre of this book is a biography. Through reading this book, I learned the importance of persevering through hardship and how to inspire others in art with creative symbolism. This book was a WOW book for me because it helps readers realize the true meaning and struggle behind one of the most important visited monuments in American history and how Maya Lin’s upbringing shaped her to be the inspiring artist she becomes.
Two of the literary devices the author used in writing this book were imagery and juxtaposition. The vivid imagery is used to enhance the story in the descriptions of Maya’s designs, such as the way the Vietnam Veterans Memorial "appears to rise out of the earth," adds depth and clarity to the narrative, helping readers visualize her work past the illustration. Juxtaposition is used when contrasting Maya’s quiet and humble nature with the huge impact of her memorial design. This contrast highlights the significance of her work and underscores the idea that great things can come from humble beginnings. I would consider this book to be an anti-bias book because it highlights Maya Lin’s achievements as a woman of Asian descent in a society where both women and people of color were not as represented at the time. The story tackles the stereotypes about who can succeed in architecture and design and inspires readers from all backgrounds to pursue their dreams.
Two of the literary devices the author used in writing this book were imagery and juxtaposition. The vivid imagery is used to enhance the story in the descriptions of Maya’s designs, such as the way the Vietnam Veterans Memorial "appears to rise out of the earth," adds depth and clarity to the narrative, helping readers visualize her work past the illustration. Juxtaposition is used when contrasting Maya’s quiet and humble nature with the huge impact of her memorial design. This contrast highlights the significance of her work and underscores the idea that great things can come from humble beginnings. I would consider this book to be an anti-bias book because it highlights Maya Lin’s achievements as a woman of Asian descent in a society where both women and people of color were not as represented at the time. The story tackles the stereotypes about who can succeed in architecture and design and inspires readers from all backgrounds to pursue their dreams.
April 23, 2024
Incredible story of an Asian American Memoir or biography of Maya Lin, and very informative of her life as well back from the beginning up to the point of her memorial sculpture. The backstory of Maya Lin as a kid I could relate with drawing houses. I would also draw them on maps of houses. I never knew the story behind the person who designed the statue for the memorial wall for the Vietnam War that happened in my parents home country so this book was a full circle book of learning. In this book, it is based on a real person Maya Lin built this statue for honoring the Veterans who fought in the Vietnam War. This book was very much a reflection book for me as an Asian American, someone like me whose parents also was an immigrant from Vietnam, Maya Lin's parents left China when the country started to control and oppress people as the communist regime happened I’m assuming. She became an architecture major in college and entered a contest to design a memorial and fit into the park setting with every person's name war. I also knew someone who was going into Architecture major which seemed very interesting to me. When they announced the winner “Maya Lin '' She didn’t back down the design and stood up on what she believed in and her design was finally approved. The judges were shocked and they looked at Maya Lin and objective and disagreed and criticized it. Maya was young but she didn’t back down and insisted and got her way. The two components or format was narrative dialogue and backstory or sequence of events of Maya Lin’s life when she was a girl through college to her work. The sculpture is a black reflective wall with all the names of the casualties of people who fought in the Vietnam war. The major themes in the book were being resilient and having the courage to stand in what you believe in, for example Maya Lin was resilient by studying Architecture and pursued it and worked hard on her sculpture for the contestant. Through reading this book, I learned that standing your ground by defending what you believe in is important, no matter what others say. Another thing I learned was to fight for what you believe in even if you are smaller or younger. It doesn't matter because other critics told Maya Lin to not go through with the process but she ignored them and went ahead and held on to the belief that she won for a reason. The main genre of this book is a biography based on a real life person.
The author portrayed Unique and true-to-life characters in this book by representing an Asian-American woman whose parents were immigrants specifically to China, and she was in college as a first generation student which I can relate to as a first generation student. It was a unique story because Maya Lin’s life story was interesting because it is a well diverse book to understand the characters point of view and see her struggles that she faces such as backlash from her sculpture or architecture work and standing behind the things that she is proud of.
The author portrayed Unique and true-to-life characters in this book by representing an Asian-American woman whose parents were immigrants specifically to China, and she was in college as a first generation student which I can relate to as a first generation student. It was a unique story because Maya Lin’s life story was interesting because it is a well diverse book to understand the characters point of view and see her struggles that she faces such as backlash from her sculpture or architecture work and standing behind the things that she is proud of.
April 23, 2024
In "Maya Lin", by Jeanne Walker Harvey, take on the read of how the Vietnam Memorial came to be! This book takes the reader on a journey through Maya Lin's life, the artist who designed the Vietnam Memorial. The story starts from her childhood back in Ohio to the process of what she did to be the winner of the memorial. It also references what other people thought of her work as an architecture and the backlash she received. The major themes in the book were identity and creativity. The story touches base about Maya Lin's identity where she learns to manage her American upbringing alongside her Chinese heritage. In addition, being a young woman of color in a competition where it is dominated by white men and women makes her inclined to find her self worth within a group of people who gave backlash for her work. The other theme of creativity is highly illustrated in the story as it explains Maya Lin's thought process to how she designed the memorial. Maya Lin proves that a strong imagination and unique ideas can essentially lead to great works of art. It inspires readers to step out of their box and embrace their own creativity. The main genre of this book is biography. Through reading this book I learned how competitive memorial competitions are and how creativity can play a big role in leading to honoring. This was a WOW book for me because it was engaging to read Maya Lin's inspiring story and it made me reflect back to my own creative pieces of art.
A few of the writing craft techniques the writing used that enhanced the writing quality of the book were sentence variety and detailed imagery. Some sentences in the store were more simplified and short while others were lengthier. This was a strategic move by the author because the lengthier texts contained more information while the rest added simplicity to the story making it easier to follow along. Imagery was included throughout the story, for example, when describing the idea for the memorial the author added phrases like, “the cut in the earth healing over time to a polished edge covered from top to bottom with names”. This allows readers to use their imagination and visualize the memorial leading to an increased overall engagement with the story. I would consider this book to be an anti-bias book because it includes conversation about diversity and different cultures in a positive light and challenges stereotypes having to do with age.
A few of the writing craft techniques the writing used that enhanced the writing quality of the book were sentence variety and detailed imagery. Some sentences in the store were more simplified and short while others were lengthier. This was a strategic move by the author because the lengthier texts contained more information while the rest added simplicity to the story making it easier to follow along. Imagery was included throughout the story, for example, when describing the idea for the memorial the author added phrases like, “the cut in the earth healing over time to a polished edge covered from top to bottom with names”. This allows readers to use their imagination and visualize the memorial leading to an increased overall engagement with the story. I would consider this book to be an anti-bias book because it includes conversation about diversity and different cultures in a positive light and challenges stereotypes having to do with age.
May 2, 2023
Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines by Jeanne Walker Harvey is a biography about Maya Lin, an American artist-architect! Before reading this book, I already knew a few facts about Maya Lin and how she was behind the design of the Vietnam Memorial, but this book gave me insight into how her life as an artist-architect started. I've always loved art and architecture, in fact, being an architect was my dream job, so listening to her story sparked my interest in architecture once more. The book follows Lin's journey from childhood to becoming an accomplished artist-architect and highlights her most famous work, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
The primary themes of the book are perseverance, creativity, and the power of art. The author emphasizes the importance of pursuing one's passions and staying true to one's artistic vision, even in the face of criticism and adversity. Through Lin's story, children can learn the value of hard work and determination in achieving their goals, as well as the power of art to create meaning and express emotions. Her story can inspire children to pursue their passions and explore their creativity, even if they encounter challenges or obstacles.
In terms of the author's writing/literary craft, Jeanne Walker Harvey does an excellent job of presenting Lin's story in a way that is engaging and informative. The narrative flows smoothly and the text is well-organized, effectively sharing the journey Maya Lin took to become the artist-architect she is now. The book is bias-free as the book does not highlight any particular cultural stereotypes, biases, or controversies; the book is purely informative.
The primary themes of the book are perseverance, creativity, and the power of art. The author emphasizes the importance of pursuing one's passions and staying true to one's artistic vision, even in the face of criticism and adversity. Through Lin's story, children can learn the value of hard work and determination in achieving their goals, as well as the power of art to create meaning and express emotions. Her story can inspire children to pursue their passions and explore their creativity, even if they encounter challenges or obstacles.
In terms of the author's writing/literary craft, Jeanne Walker Harvey does an excellent job of presenting Lin's story in a way that is engaging and informative. The narrative flows smoothly and the text is well-organized, effectively sharing the journey Maya Lin took to become the artist-architect she is now. The book is bias-free as the book does not highlight any particular cultural stereotypes, biases, or controversies; the book is purely informative.
March 22, 2019
A moving portrait of Maya Lin, a Chinese American woman who designed the Vietnam War Memorial as a college student at Yale University. Her family were refugees from China and were artists in pottery and poetry. Maya decided to be an architect and chose to travel to look at buildings and enter college as an architectural student. She enters a contest to design a war memorial for the Vietnam War. It requires that she include the names of the dead and missing. Maya prevails when the names of the entrants are hidden and judges work on deciding which design is best. She meets resistance after it is found out who she is but her design prevails. A very beautiful war memorial stands now - hers.
January 8, 2025
This is a story that every young aspiring artist should know. When the government commissioned a Vietnam Veterans Memorial, they held a contest which was open to the public. Major architects and designers of the time entered, but the proposal which won was submitted by a college student.
Maya Lin is the daughter of Chinese immigrants to the US. They were both artists and college professors, so she grew up with a good foundation for expressing herself. In college she submitted to and won the contest to design the Vietnam Veterans memorial. She continues to be an artist-architect (her term).
Maya Lin is the daughter of Chinese immigrants to the US. They were both artists and college professors, so she grew up with a good foundation for expressing herself. In college she submitted to and won the contest to design the Vietnam Veterans memorial. She continues to be an artist-architect (her term).
March 22, 2020
The story unfolds like a flower in the way that introduces the reader to both Maya Lin as she grew up but about the importance of architecture in our every day lives to evoke meaning. The fact that she was so young and inexperienced but beat out over a thousand applicants was phenomenal, yet she also had to persevere after push-back of her design as well. And now, it's one of the most-visited and most-discussed monuments at the National Mall.
March 21, 2021
I love this! I love the way it treats and respects art, love hearing her story, love the way the monument is described and portrayed, love the reminder that she was NOT who anyone was expecting to design this monument but she was the perfect choice. Wonderful book.
November 11, 2017
I was so pleased to find a book introducing young readers to the architect Maya Lin.
Maya was born in 1959 in Athens, Ohio. Her parents were both artists who encouraged Maya to be whatever she wanted. When Maya was a little girl, she liked to build tiny towns out of paper and scraps. She decided to be an architect, and studied overseas, looking at all the different buildings and learning all she could.
In 1981, her last year of college, she entered a contest to design a memorial honoring the American soldiers who died in the Vietnam War. She imagined a polished edge covered with names, reflecting the sky, the grass, and the the people who came to see the memorial. The names of the nearly 58,000 American servicemen who died would be listed in chronological order of their loss, etched in a V-shaped wall of polished black granite sunken into the ground.
As she later recalled, while studying at Yale, whenever Maya walked through the university’s Memorial Rotunda, she was so impressed by the engraving of the names of those alumni who died in service of their country: “I think it left a lasting impression on me,” Lin wrote, “the sense of the power of a name.”
As the author tells us, Maya sculpted a model first out of mashed potatoes, then with clay. She sent in sketches for her entry along with an essay explaining her vision. Out of 1,421 entries, Maya’s design was chosen. (Somewhat humorously, since her design only earned her a B in her architecture seminar at Yale, she had no expectations of winning the contest.)
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was the first of her many works. The author writes:
“Each piece is different, but all share Maya’s vision. She wants people to be a part of her art. Look. Touch. Read. Walk around. Sit by. Think about.”
An Author’s Note at the back of the book adds that Maya has received many awards, and in 2005, she was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. The author also provides some website addresses for more information. At Maya Lin’s own website for example (which has incredible design features), you will learn that Maya considers herself not only an artist and designer, but an environmentalist as well: “Her works merge the physical and psychological environment, presenting a new way of seeing the world around us.”
Lovely artwork by Dow Phumiruk features a muted palette and crisp illustrations done by using Photoshop. As a bonus, in the margins around the page containing the Author’s Note, the illustrator has depicted labeled tools of an architect.
Evaluation: I have always been impressed with the Vietnam War Memorial. It seems to me to be the quintessential expression of postmodernism, which posits that knowledge and truth are products of social, historical or political discourses or interpretations. When you look at the monument, you see yourself reflected, along with the names of those who died. It suggests to me we all are responsible for the war, and we are all its victims.
Maya was born in 1959 in Athens, Ohio. Her parents were both artists who encouraged Maya to be whatever she wanted. When Maya was a little girl, she liked to build tiny towns out of paper and scraps. She decided to be an architect, and studied overseas, looking at all the different buildings and learning all she could.
In 1981, her last year of college, she entered a contest to design a memorial honoring the American soldiers who died in the Vietnam War. She imagined a polished edge covered with names, reflecting the sky, the grass, and the the people who came to see the memorial. The names of the nearly 58,000 American servicemen who died would be listed in chronological order of their loss, etched in a V-shaped wall of polished black granite sunken into the ground.
As she later recalled, while studying at Yale, whenever Maya walked through the university’s Memorial Rotunda, she was so impressed by the engraving of the names of those alumni who died in service of their country: “I think it left a lasting impression on me,” Lin wrote, “the sense of the power of a name.”
As the author tells us, Maya sculpted a model first out of mashed potatoes, then with clay. She sent in sketches for her entry along with an essay explaining her vision. Out of 1,421 entries, Maya’s design was chosen. (Somewhat humorously, since her design only earned her a B in her architecture seminar at Yale, she had no expectations of winning the contest.)
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was the first of her many works. The author writes:
“Each piece is different, but all share Maya’s vision. She wants people to be a part of her art. Look. Touch. Read. Walk around. Sit by. Think about.”
An Author’s Note at the back of the book adds that Maya has received many awards, and in 2005, she was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. The author also provides some website addresses for more information. At Maya Lin’s own website for example (which has incredible design features), you will learn that Maya considers herself not only an artist and designer, but an environmentalist as well: “Her works merge the physical and psychological environment, presenting a new way of seeing the world around us.”
Lovely artwork by Dow Phumiruk features a muted palette and crisp illustrations done by using Photoshop. As a bonus, in the margins around the page containing the Author’s Note, the illustrator has depicted labeled tools of an architect.
Evaluation: I have always been impressed with the Vietnam War Memorial. It seems to me to be the quintessential expression of postmodernism, which posits that knowledge and truth are products of social, historical or political discourses or interpretations. When you look at the monument, you see yourself reflected, along with the names of those who died. It suggests to me we all are responsible for the war, and we are all its victims.
January 4, 2019
A wonderful book about Maya Lin who designed the Vietnam Memorial. She was only 21 and a senior at Yale University.
March 7, 2018
This book has been on my "to-read" list for quite some time now, and honestly the only reason for this is that I just couldn't bring myself to read it. I have very strong feelings about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial both good and bad. I have visited this destination myself and did not love the design, I understand now what the artist was going for and I give her all the credit in the world for designing it. Personally, it just wasn't my cup of tea because it was too dark, depressing, and almost felt as if we were walking down into a hole while viewing the names. My grandfather was a Vietnam veteran that died in the 90's due to Agent Orange exposure from being in Vietnam. I do not agree that the memorial does not honor those that have fallen due to Agent Orange exposure. I wish that she would be called back in to make another memorial for the TONS of people that were affected by Agent Orange. That would be a great added tribute to this destination. Regardless of my opinions, I have always been curious about the designer of this wall and how it came to be. This book is a very quick read and doesn't provide a ton of information like a biography should (in my opinion) thus the lower star-rating. Overall, and insightful read about the designer, but I would still like to know more.
December 31, 2018
This book is beautiful and tells her story in such an inspiring way.
October 4, 2017
I know of the controversy when Maya Lin's submission was chosen as the architect of the Vietnam Memorial. She was a student! And she was a woman, and unknown! Thank goodness, she persisted, a trait we are all admiring lately! Jeanne Walker Harvey writes that that beautiful memorial is just what Maya Lin wanted, "a quiet place to remember all those who died during the war." There is a beautiful page where Dow Phumiruk illustrates that first day of visitors, who did touch names special to them, and who cried.
What I didn't know was of Maya Lin's childhood, that her father was an artist and her mother was a poet, that Maya played chess with her brother and drew and built tiny towns with paper scraps. Harvey tells the story simply, touching the highlights of Maya Lin's life. And Dow Phumiruk fills the pages with realistic scenes, including the architectural inspirations of Maya, and the tools she uses in her work. There is a small part about her memorials designed since the one for Vietnam and an added author's note. I enjoyed it very much.
What I didn't know was of Maya Lin's childhood, that her father was an artist and her mother was a poet, that Maya played chess with her brother and drew and built tiny towns with paper scraps. Harvey tells the story simply, touching the highlights of Maya Lin's life. And Dow Phumiruk fills the pages with realistic scenes, including the architectural inspirations of Maya, and the tools she uses in her work. There is a small part about her memorials designed since the one for Vietnam and an added author's note. I enjoyed it very much.
May 19, 2017
Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines begins quietly as Maya plays with her brother in the woods near their home. On other days, “she searched for birds in the forest.” From its first pages, this picture book biography explores the habits of mind that lead Maya to become one of the world’s foremost architects. Her parents were artists who encouraged freedom of thought after fleeing oppression in China and Maya learns to think “with her hands as well as her mind.” The creative process that led to Maya’s design of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D. C. is highlighted as a natural extension of her on-going artistic development.
Dow Phumiruk’s quiet, subdued illustrations support Jeanne Walker Harvey’s story of a contemplative young girl who embraces challenges as she innovatively seeks to build structures and shape spaces where people can live, work, think, and explore.
Dow Phumiruk’s quiet, subdued illustrations support Jeanne Walker Harvey’s story of a contemplative young girl who embraces challenges as she innovatively seeks to build structures and shape spaces where people can live, work, think, and explore.
June 25, 2017
This is an appealing picture book biography of Maya Lin, who, as a college undergraduate, won the competition to design the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 1981. I remember the controversy around her youth and inexperience. Lin's childhood, her design inspirations, and the controversy are treated in a way which makes sense for the intended audience. The realistic digital illustrations are spare and architectural, and, together with the horizontal orientation of the book, reflect the shape of the Memorial itself. An author's note at the end includes a photograph of Lin, drawings of the tools of an architect, and more biographical information.
This book is the illustrator's picture book debut. I loved her rendering of people; I though that many of the interior and exterior spaces lacked the appearance depth.
This book is the illustrator's picture book debut. I loved her rendering of people; I though that many of the interior and exterior spaces lacked the appearance depth.
October 4, 2017
What an incredible book! Maya Lin's life story is so extraordinary and so eloquently told and beautifully illustrated in this book.
In reading this book, young readers will learn so much about art, thinking with both their minds and hands, and the importance of being brave and standing by their convictions despite numerous negatively charged criticisms.
Thank goodness Maya stood up to all of her negative critics for had she not done so, we would have lost an amazing piece of art that not only tells of all the ultimate sacrifices made by the men and women of the Vietnam War but also makes you feel the magnitude of those lives lost for our country.
Bravo Jeanne Walker Harvey on a marvelously written biography and bravo Dow Phumiruk on such spectacular art work the beautifully reinforces the story.
Thank you for the loan Franklin Public Library!
In reading this book, young readers will learn so much about art, thinking with both their minds and hands, and the importance of being brave and standing by their convictions despite numerous negatively charged criticisms.
Thank goodness Maya stood up to all of her negative critics for had she not done so, we would have lost an amazing piece of art that not only tells of all the ultimate sacrifices made by the men and women of the Vietnam War but also makes you feel the magnitude of those lives lost for our country.
Bravo Jeanne Walker Harvey on a marvelously written biography and bravo Dow Phumiruk on such spectacular art work the beautifully reinforces the story.
Thank you for the loan Franklin Public Library!
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