Worthy: The Brave and Capable Life of Joseph Pierce

Andrea Wang

Book cover for Worthy: The Brave and Capable Life of Joseph Pierce
Book cover for Worthy: The Brave and Capable Life of Joseph Pierce

Worthy: The Brave and Capable Life of Joseph Pierce

Worthy: The Brave and Capable Life of Joseph Pierce

Andrea Wang

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Description

Written by the author of the Caldecott and Newbery honor-winning picture book Watercress, and marking the impressive debut of illustrator Youa Vang, here is the true story of a man of indomitable spirit. In the mid-nineteenth century, an impoverished father from Canton, China, sold his young son to an American sea captain, Amos Peck. The boy, dubbed "Joe," worked on the ship for months, not knowing if his fate was to do so forever. Or would he be sold again? When the ship returned to America, Captain Peck brought the young boy to his family, who raised him with the other children. Joe Pierce grew, gave distinguished service in the Union Army, married, had children and ultimately became an American citizen--all at a time when anti-Chinese prejudice was rampant.

About the Author

Andrea Wang is the author of Watercress, which was the recipient of a Caldecott Medal, a Newbery Honor, the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, a New England Book Award, and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor. Her other books include award winners such as The Many Meanings of Meilan, Magic Ramen, and The Nian Monster. Andrea holds an MS in environmental science and an MFA in creative writing for young people. She lives in Colorado with her family.

Youa Vang is a a visual developing artist and designer. He has worked on projects such as Princess and the Frog, Lego, and Phineas and Ferb, but Worthy is his first book for children. He resides in California (maybe with a partner or pet).

Critical Reviews

[STAR] "Wang's well- researched writing, including a timeline and supporting resources, and Vang's evocative illustrations illuminate Pierce's life as an inspirational testament to the enduring struggle for human dignity and worth."

"Vang's handsomely rendered acrylic paintings offer solemnly realistic depictions of Joseph's life, while Wang's text combines artfully crafted prose and historical quotes to juxtapose the dignity of the individual against the racism of his era. A thought-provoking account of courage and integrity in the face of discrimination."

Publishing Information

Publisher: Levine Querido
Pub date: 2025-08-26
Length: 64 pages

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