Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear by Lensey Nomiok

Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear by Lensey Nomiok is a chapter book that explores cultural issues through the life of character, Yintao. Yintao, or “fourth child” as his family refers to him, recently moved from China to America with his family. Cultural barriers separate Yintao from other students, yet musical barriers distance him from his family. Yintao does not have the natural gift of an ear for music. Music is a way of life for his family and Yintao and his brother and two sisters prepare throughout the book for a recital his father is putting on. When Yintao seems to feel he has no talent at all, he becomes friends with Matthew, who introduces him to baseball. Yintao is faced with pressures from his family to practice for the big recital, yet his heart is with baseball.

This novel intricately parallels Yintao’s family with Matthew’s family to introduce cultural similarities and differences. Both families place value on distinctly different aspects of their children’s lives. While Yintao’s family emphasizes school and music, Matthew’s focuses on sports and money. Additionally, Namioka speaks directly of Chinese culture and the shock Yintao experiences when presented with American culture. For example, in American schools, children run in the hallways, slouch in their chairs, are embarrassed to talk about money, and speak in idioms that sometimes do not make sense.

Namioka was born in Beijing, but moved to America. Like Yintao, she grew up in a very music-focused family. Thus, Namioka is an insider to both the situation and cultural exploration. This book was recommended in “Asian Pacific American Children’s Literature: Expanding Perceptions About Who Americans Are” by Sandra S. Yamate. This book was also selected in 1993 by the Horn Book Fair as one of the best books of the year. A second piece of literature written by Namioka about a Chinese American girl won the 2008 International Reading Award.

"Horn Book Fanfare Best Books of the Year." The Horn Book. 2008. The Horn Book, Inc. 2 Nov. 2008 .
Namioka, Lensey, and Kees De Kiefte. Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear. 1st ed. Boston: Little Brown & Company, 1993. 3-134.
Namioka, Lensey. "Lensey Namioka's Web Site." Lensey Namioka, Writer. 2008. Dec. 2008 .
Yamate, Sandra S. "Asian Pacific American Chlidren's Literature: Expanding Percpetions About Who Americans Are." Using Multiethic Literature in the K-8 Classroom. 95-128.