Biola University alumna Marie Chan (’00) is a recipient of the 2024 Eureka! Gold Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for her new children’s book, Mamie Takes a Stand. In November, the School of Education graduate received word from the California Reading Association that Mamie Takes a Stand won this year’s Eureka! Award, which seeks to identify exceptional nonfiction children’s literature as valuable resources for schools and educators. 

Image shows the book cover
Cover art for "Mamie Takes a Stand"

“I am amazed and grateful that the California Reading Association awarded Mamie Takes a Stand with the Eureka! Gold Award for Excellence in Children’s Nonfiction,” said Chan. “When I was a child, I rarely saw Asian Americans represented in the literature I read at school or on the shelves of my local library. I’m excited that now Asian American children can access a book that highlights a heroine like Mamie Tape, affirms their cultural heritage, and expands students’ perspectives about U.S. history.”

Mamie Takes a Stand tells the true story of an eight-year-old Chinese American girl — Mamie Tape — who must fight discrimination for the right to attend public school in San Francisco during 1884. It seeks to bring to light a lesser known part of American history while teaching children about empathy and respect for others’ cultures.

Chan submitted her book to the California Reading Association with hopes of them seeing the same value she saw in it.

“I hoped they would see my book as a valuable resource about this hidden figure that teachers would want to highlight in their classrooms to broaden perspectives about school integration and racial discrimination,” said Chan.

With a Master of Arts in Education from Biola, Chan’s passion for teaching as well as her background as a Taiwaneese immigrant inspired her to develop a curriculum for children that educates young minds through exposure to diverse children’s literature. In particular, Chan sought to highlight overlooked members of Asian American history and give voice to their stories. Mamie Takes a Stand was born from this desire to promote inclusivity and cross-cultural awareness for children.

Through several interactions with children who have read her book, Chan has already witnessed the impact of her efforts. She recalled a book-signing event at Barnes & Noble where a young girl who had immigrated from China hugged the book to her chest because she was so excited that Mamie looked like her.

“Seeing the enthusiasm that students from the next generation have for my book and their heart for understanding the importance of equality, justice, and civil rights makes me hopeful that there will be change for the better that will lead to people having greater love, empathy, and respect for one another,” said Chan.

For more information on Marie Chan and Mamie Takes a Stand or to purchase a copy, visit Chan’s website.

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Written by Grace McBride, writer for the office of University Communications. For more information, contact media.relations@biola.edu.