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By: Janet Wong,
on 5/8/2006
Hi-YAH! Girls:
Crave sushi and taro bubble tea
Buy lots of clothes
Use the pen as a weapon
Sleep all day Sunday
Blog
Read a novel every week
Write poems at the dentist’s office
Make ‘ugly’ hip
Get what they want
-janet wong
By: Janet Wong,
on 5/8/2006
Hi-YAH Girls are:
Not afraid to be silly.
Not afraid to be fat.
Loud enough to make the ground shake.
Pretty without makeup.
Pretty with makeup.
Shy about bragging, but brilliant when they brag.
Bargain-hunters.
Tough negotiators.
Hopeless romantics.
Hungry all the time.
-janet wong
By: Janet Wong,
on 5/8/2006
What makes a Hi-YAH! Girl?
The Hi-YAH! Girl is not just Your Mother’s Woman Warrior: the Hi-YAH! Girl is sassy, irreverent, and generous; clever, kind, and determined; creative, courageous, and sweet. She has the strength to be herself, whether that means red lipstick and a laptop or shouting out the window like a cigar-smoking truck driver. Wait a minute: Why not shout out the window like a truck driver with red lipstick?
Hi-YAH! Girls are smashing stereotypes and giving “tough” a whole new spin.
-janet wong
By: Janet Wong,
on 5/7/2006
Asian American Writers Workshop
New York Public Library, Seward Park Library
Borders Bookstore
By: Janet Wong,
on 5/7/2006
Radio and TV Studio interview, South Orange, NJ
New York Public Library, Jefferson Market Library
By: Janet Wong,
on 5/7/2006
By: Janet Wong,
on 5/7/2006
By: Janet Wong,
on 5/1/2006
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, May 2, 2006
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. – Simmons College
Center for the Study of Children's Literature
300 The Fenway
Boston, MA 02115
Phone: 617-521-2915
Wednesday, May 3, 2006
8:15 a.m.
"Imagination Parade", a children's radio show on WFDU
Fairleigh Dickenson University
10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. - Kent Place School
42 Norwood Ave.
Summit, NJ 07902
Phone: 908-273-0900 or 908-273-5764 ext. 256 for kdg
2:00 p.m.—TV Studio interview, South Orange, NJ
4:30 p.m. – New York Public Library
Jefferson Market Library
425 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10011-8454.
Thursday, May 4, 2006
4:00 p.m. - New York Public Library
Seward Park Library
192 East Broadway (at Jefferson St.)
New York, NY 10002
Phone: 212-477-6770
7:00 p.m. - Asian American Writers Workshop
16 West 32nd Street, 10th Floor
New York City
*Panel discussion with David Yoo and Jenny Han
By: Janet Wong,
on 5/1/2006
Hi-Yah! at Charlesbridge Publishing
Hi-Yah! at the Boston Chinese Neighborhood Center
By: Janet Wong,
on 5/1/2006
Hi-YAH!: As children's book authors, we are subverting stereotypes and populating our stories with Asian characters that reflect reality. We will discuss the transformation of "Aiyaaa... to Hi-YAH!" in our own experiences and writing. The traditional "Aiyaa!" of our grandmothers, our mothers, and even ourselves is becoming a resonating "Hi-YAH!"--for ourselves, our younger sisters, and our daughters. Our mothers and grandmothers would say "Aiyaa," when they meant "oh, no--how stupid, how embarrassing, how awful." Aiyaa means "How could this have happened to me?" Aiyaa is a sigh, a complaint, an expression of self-pity. "Hi-YAH!" on the other hand means "Stand back--I'm not taking that nonsense." It is a battle cry, fair warning, an expression of spirit and power.
Aiyaa… to Hi-YAH!
Aiyaa… is:
I miss him...I feel rotten. I wish he would call.
Hi-YAH! is:
Stupid jerk, he should have treated me with more respect. He didn't know
what he had. If he calls, he had better have a really good apology.
Aiyaa… is:
My friend just told me that she wants to date that guy I've been crushing on for the last two years. She is sooo much cuter than I am with her blonde hair and blue eyes; of course I'd never stand a chance with him.
Hi-YAH! is:
Who needs friends like that? Just watch me go and talk to that guy myself. Right now.
Aiyaa… is:
Those kids just hung-twung-wung'ed me. Maybe if I smile and giggle they'll stop making fun of me.
Hi-YAH! is:
No comprendo stupidese.
Aiyaa… is:
That guy just took credit for my work...again. That's OK. My boss will know that I work hard. Wait a second; that guy just got promoted?! Over me?! Well, I guess I'll just have to work harder.
Hi-Yah! is:
I'd love to book some time with you, Manager, to go over the results from my plan.
By: Janet Wong,
on 5/1/2006
Hi-YAH! Asian American Writers Speak Out!
To kick off Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May, three children's book authors are embarking on a nationwide tour entitled Hi-YAH! Asian American Writers Speak Out!
Award-winning poet Janet Wong (center), the author of 15 books for children and teens, is a former lawyer who has been featured on Oprah and at the White House. She will be joined by the critically acclaimed author-illustrator of over a dozen picture books Grace Lin (left) and debut author Justina Chen Headley (right) whose young adult novel, NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH (and a few white lies), was sold at auction between 4 major publishers, resulting in a 2-book contract with Little, Brown.
The Hi-YAH! tour will visit the east coast on May 1-5, 2006, and the west coast on May 10-13 and May 21-23, 2006.
Hey girls! Love the Hi-Yah girls concept. I am also Asian American author, although I don't look it. I rep the Fil-Am community - Filipino American. Thanks for keeping it real. Have a great year!