Anna May Wong was a lauded film star working during the Golden Age of Hollywood, considered to be the first Chinese-American film star in Hollywood as well as the first Chinese-American actress to gain international recognition. Recently so, she has been receiving attention in numerous ways including an exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, a Barbie doll, and is even featured as one of the notable women on the reverse of the U.S. quarter.
Gail Tsukyama’s The Brightest Star offers a novelization of Wong’s story, depicting her friendships, relationships, successes, and challenges. Wong often found herself typecast and stereotyped in addition to being limited in the types of roles she received. After many disappointments in Hollywood, she did achieve success internationally. Tsukyama’s novel gives readers the chance to indulge in Wong’s story in order to better understand the ups and downs of her career in addition to the frustrations she experienced in the film industry.
The Brightest Star is sure to be enjoyed by fans of classic films as well as fans of Wong.
The Brightest Star is available for purchase via HarperCollins.
Hometowns to Hollywood 