Amy Tan: Author of the Joy Luck Club

by Barbara Kramer

Explores the life and career of author Amy Tan, from her childhood in Oakland, California, through her struggle to accept her Chinese heritage, to her career as a writer.

112 pages, Library Binding

First published June 1, 1996

About the author

Barbara Kramer began writing biographies for children and young adults after following the advice of another author who said, “Write what you like to read.” She remembered how much she enjoyed biographies when she was a kid, especially stories about trailblazers such as David Crockett, Daniel Boone, and Elizabeth Blackwell. She decided that’s what she wanted to write. Her subjects have included historical figures and people in the news. She and her husband live in Iowa with their cat, Katie. They have two grown children and two granddaughters.

Reviews

[Jumpei Yamamoto · Rating 5 out of 5]

The reason why I chose this book is that I have read one of her book. I was really enjoying reading her book, so I was interested in her life. I was curious that why did she write the this book. As I read this book, I understood that why she wrote this book. I was pretty surprised the reason why she writes it. I thought that she writes this kind of story to tell her own feeling to people, but actually, she was writing this book to rethink about her child memory. Another thing that I was surprised while I was reading this book was that she was living in the America and studied there. Due to she is Chinese, she faced the discrimination, but she did not give up to go to the school. This is a one thing that I thought she is a great person. Moreover, when she decided to be a writer, her mother opposed with her. At that time, Amy Tan and her mother did not talk 6 months at all. This is the thing I cannot do it. The level of this book was good for those of who learn English, so I recommend people who want to learn English.

[Natsuki Nakazawa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose to read the book about Amy Tan because I had read many of her stories. She is amazing writer, however, she had many problems with writing stories. Her first book was very famous, therefore she was afraid that her second book would be not very famous. Besides, she was only Asian in her school at that time. I cannot understand how she felt about it, but she might feel that she is different from everybody in her class. However she always think positively. So I felt that I want to be like her.

This book is pretty easy to read. People who are interested in Amy Tan's book should read this.

[Andrea Wieneke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful information on her and her writing.

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insight into the joys and burdens bestowed upon a terrific author who hit it big the first time she published. (The Joy Luck Club.)

[Zach]

i thought this book was garbage and took forever to get the concept. thsi book was wierd because it litterally talked about how she likes the joy luck club and amy tan.