Maya Lin (born Oct. 5, 1959 in Athens, Ohio) is perhaps best known for the design of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. and the children’s book Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines tells the inspirational story of just how that came to be. Her childhood and young adulthood are beautifully detailed by author Jeanne Walker Harvey. Her words come alive with the illustrations of Dow Phumiruk. The crisp, yet soft, black outlines of objects and figures have a drafting quality. They are shaded in muted colors of blues, greens, and browns - the calming colors of nature.
In the story, we learn about Maya’s love of nature and the nurturing home that she grew up in where creativity was encouraged. At a young age, she decided to become an architect who would create “buildings with art, science, and math.” In 1981, during her last year of college, Maya enters a competition to design the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The story takes the reader on a journey of her design process (including a model of mashed potatoes!). Many entries were received, including those of famous artists and architects, but it was Maya’s design that won! The judges didn’t know the names of the entrants and were shocked to learn that it was Maya - “She wasn’t famous. She was a young woman still in school.” More criticism would follow from the public. Some even wanted to change the design. Maya may have been young, but she was also strong, and fought for her design. In the end, the memorial is built per her design and it continues to welcome visitors to experience Maya’s vision for a place that honors the veterans of the Vietnam War.
Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines is a wonderful book about the architectural design process and going after and fighting for your dreams. It teaches any child that you are never too young to do something amazing and impactful! This is a book that has been a part of our home library for years and we continue to enjoy it. We highly recommend the book for any child especially those interested in design and construction. And be sure to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial the next time you are in D.C.