Finding My Voice

Written by Marie G. Lee

About the Book In the small Minnesota town of Arkin, Ellen Sung is the only Asian student in her high school. Pressured by her parents' expectations that she attend Harvard, as does her high-achieving sister, Ellen struggles to assert her own identity. Finding the balance between her studies, the gymnastics team, parties, and dating is made more painful by the racism Ellen confronts at school. One of few young adult books about a Korean American, this story reflects a resonating experience of adolescence that is very accessible to readers. ©The Horn Book, Inc., 1993 (Houghton Mifflin Company, 1992. 165pp. Interest Level: Young Adult.) About the Author Marie G. Lee grew up in the small Minnesota town of Hibbing and read Seventeen magazine, where she was first published at sixteen, religiously. Like Ellen Sung, she was the only Asian – only minority – teen in her high school. She is passionate about multi-cultural literature. Finding My Voice was her first young adult novel. Also by the Author Saying Goodbye (the sequel to Finding My Voice) If It Hadn’t Been for Yoon Jun Necessary Roughness F is for Fabuloso Night of the Chupacabras

Before Reading Activity Find Someone Who… Copy the included worksheet and allow the class to mingle to complete the questions and discover who has what in common with Ellen Sung. Internet Activity Using the internet, have students locate information about Hibbing, Minnesota and the people who live there, and make notes about what the find out. As the book is read, compare Hibbing to Ellen’s town of Arkin. How are the similar? How are they different? After Reading Activity Topic Discussion Divide the class into two groups (more if needed). Each student has 20 seconds to respond to the question. After 10 minutes, the groups switch questions. 1. Is participating in gymnastics really what affects Ellen’s calculus grade? Consider what was really bothering Ellen. If her parents had known, would they have allowed her to continue in gymnastics? 2. Are Ellen’s parents too strict? Should cultural background and racism really be an issue in their decisions about Ellen’s social and academic life? True/False Puzzle Sheet Copy the included puzzle sheet for extra fun and discussion.

Find Someone Who…

Find out if members of your class have something in common with Ellen Sung in Finding My Voice. Find a different person in your class for each experience listed below and write the person’s name on the appropriate line.

Find someone who…

1. Has been to Minnesota.

2. Is a gymnast.

3. Has a brother or sister who goes to college.

4. Has strict parents.

5. Has parents who were not born in the United States.

6. Studies very hard.

7. Plans on going to college and where.

8. Enjoys going to the movies.

9. Has had stitches (for any reason).

10. Has been called a name that was hurtful.

Puzzle Activity

What does Ellen want from her peers? Answer the true/false

questions and then fill in the corresponding letter in the boxes below.

	T	F
Tomper’s real name is Tom?	A	W
Ellen goes to Harvard?	C	E
Ellen’s family speaks Korean at home?	U	C
Ellen’s mother’s name is Joyce?	E	S
Ellen earns her letter in gymnastics?	A	P
Tomper is Korean?	H	T
Ellen and Jessie met at a music recital?	A	B
Ellen was born in Korea?	V	N
Ellen presses charges against Marsha Randall?	D	C
Ellen reads for The Bell Jar in English class?	E	O

After completing the puzzle, break into small groups and talk about

what the hidden word means to you.