The Reader’s Heart | Guest: Paula Yoo

Summary

In this conversation, Jennifer and chat's with Paula Yoo about her love for writing narrative non-fiction and how her background in journalism influences her work. They also explore the power of literature for young people in shaping their hearts and understanding the world. Paula shares her experience as a reader, starting with her childhood love for Charlotte's Web and how it influenced her writing style. They discuss the importance of tackling tough topics in books for young people and the need for nuance and context in storytelling. Paula also talks about her latest book, Rising from the Ashes, which explores the 1992 LA uprising, and the importance of amplifying lesser-known stories and challenging stereotypes in media coverage.

Show notes, including a discount code for purchasing Paula's books from Bookelicious, can be found here. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Paula's Writing Journey

04:42 Charlotte's Web and the Influence of Setting

08:19 Tackling Tough Topics in Books for Young People

15:02 The Importance of Nuance and Context in Storytelling

26:34 Protesting Unfair Media Coverage

28:52 The Power of Collective Action

33:01 Exploring 'Han'

36:32 Emotional Journeys: Han, Hwa, and Jung

45:18 Future Projects