community8 l September 18, 2013 SAMMAMISH REVIEW

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By Neil Pierson

Jennifer DeWhitt planned to be a businesswoman or a banker, but instead she’s penning pop-up books for children.

How she traveled that perplex-ing path is a long story, but it’s one the 2005 Skyline High School graduate is eager to share.

During her childhood, her family moved 13 times before winding up in the Klahanie neighborhood. It was the place she felt most at home.

As it turns out, DeWhitt’s nomadic journey has influenced her in a positive way. She strug-gled to make friends because she was trying to be someone else.

“What you realize is other people are looking to meet you on a genuine level, too, and that’s how you form real friendships,” she said.

Now DeWhitt is trying to pass the lessons she’s learned to young children. She’s self-pub-lishing her first book, “Jervis the Best,” a pop-up story for children entering elementary school and a new life phase.

The fictional tale follows a boy named Zach, who tries to find a new friend to replace his pet tur-tle, Jervis. In his attempts to win human friends, however, Zach’s imagination swerves out of con-

trol and drives away everyone he’s trying to impress.

DeWhitt’s background includes working with children in charter schools. The book’s target audi-ence – ages 5 to 8 – often deals

with issues of judgment and inad-equacy, she said.

“That’s often why children will start lying, although they might think of it as exaggerating,” she said. “The point of this book is

that when you start lying, it’s very difficult for people to like you.”

It wasn’t easy for DeWhitt to get the book published. She first started writing the story during her junior year at the University

of Washington, where she earned a business degree in 2009. She had the help of her grandmother, Barbara Munson, who had pub-lished several books on child development issues.

Before “Jervis the Best” could be finished, though, Munson was diagnosed with breast cancer. She died in 2008, and the story set on DeWhitt’s shelves. It wasn’t until a few years later, when DeWhitt had moved on to Harvard University to pursue a master’s degree in business administra-tion, that she caught the writing bug again.

She tried, unsuccessfully, to find an agent and a publisher. Undeterred, she created a web-site and began soliciting dona-tions from friends, family mem-bers and strangers so she could afford the $5,500 publishing fee.

“One thing my grandmother taught me was perseverance,” DeWhitt said.

Her quest didn’t take long. Starting April 22, it took only 11 days for DeWhitt to raise $5,278. One person contributed $500, which earned them a “Jervis the Best” birthday party replete with a giant banner, streamers, bal-loons and a customized turtle cake.

ContributedJennifer DeWhitt, a 2005 Skyline High School graduate, will become a published author in December with the release of her children’s book, “Jervis the Best.”

For Skyline graduate, new career path ‘pops up’

By Neil Pierson

Since early July, visitors to Sammamish City Hall have been able to view the paintings of Lu Yansheng and the poetry of his sister, Lu Shuangquin, in an exhibit designed to highlight Western influence on China.

Forty years ago, in the midst of the Cultural Revolution, it would’ve been practically impos-sible for the siblings to display their work in their native coun-try. That was one of the mes-sages they tried to impart when they visited Sammamish on Sept. 12 for an educational program on their exhibit, “East Meets West Through Art, Poetry and Revolution.”

The poetry of Lu Shuangquin, and the paintings of Lu Yansheng and Bellevue-based artist Cheryll Leo-Gwin – a fourth-generation Chinese-American – will hang in City Hall through the end of September.

Last week, they spoke about the historical significance of their work alongside Dr. Paul Manfredi, the chairman of Chinese studies at Pacific

Lutheran University.The Cultural Revolution was a

decade-long revision of Chinese civilization starting in the mid-1960s. It was wheeled into motion by Mao Zedong, chair-man of the country’s Communist party, who tried to remove all capitalist influences from Chinese society. In the process, anyone with visions of artistic freedom found themselves per-secuted.

“We should try to understand the reasons for which (the revo-lution) was launched,” Manfredi said. “Some of them are cynical views, that Mao was just trying to establish his hold on power, and he had nothing positive in mind.

“I think those are at least an overstatement, if not simply wrong. There is a degree of which the Cultural Revolution was really something that was the result of a form of inspired leadership.”

Manfredi said part of the rea-son the revolution was so suc-cessful was that so many people bought into Mao’s leadership, meaning they didn’t view the leader as “just an authoritarian

hand.” Mao actually enjoyed cal-ligraphy and poetry, which pre-sented a shade of hypocrisy.

“He had a huge reverence and respect for art and literature,” Manfredi said, “but not for artists and writers, because he had very little respect for them, and the personal experience of artists and writers during that time will bear that out.”

Leo-Gwin, who was born in Canada to American parents, said it took her many years – and, finally, a visit to China – to understand her own heritage, which has greatly influenced her

work.“When I grew up, I only saw

one side of the globe, and that was the western side,” she said.

Leo-Gwin’s family was impact-ed by the Chinese Exclusion Act, which prevented Chinese labor-ers from emigrating to the United States.

Although the act was repealed in 1943, it was much longer before a positive impact was felt. Leo-Gwin explained how wives weren’t allowed to emigrate with their husbands, creating an impoverished “bachelor society.” Some of her work, like “One Child Policy” and “Golden Lillies,” attempts to address those issues.

Lu Yansheng, with transla-tions from his sister, gave a long presentation about his education as an artist. Growing up, he had many friends from intellectual and artistic families, but with the Cultural Revolution in its heyday, it was difficult to find an outlet for his creativity.

“We were in constant fear of political oppression,” he said. “However, that fear taught us how to think, doubt, rebel and view the work with a critical

eye.”With the revolution fully

ended in the 1980s, Lu Yansheng was admitted to study at the pres-tigious Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. There, he began to learn about Western styles and incorporate them into his think-ing. That process can be seen in his “Flower Series,” which fea-tures more than 20 pieces.

“My art is Chinese, created by my Chinese mind, based on my Chinese tastes,” he said. “Many aspects of Chinese culture which are embedded deeply into our genes still strongly influence how we make our choices.”

Barbara Jirsa of the Sammamish Arts Commission, who curated the exhibit, said the siblings’ visit was designed to spark passion in local families and neighbors.

“It’s our hope that by hear-ing the stories that you will hear tonight, we’ll inspire you to tell your stories within your commu-nities as well,” she said.

Reach reporter Neil Pierson at 392-6464, ext. 242, or npierson@SammamishReview.com.

Chinese siblings visit city to discuss art, poetry, history“We were in constant

fear of political oppression, however,

that fear taught us how to think, doubt, rebel

and view the work with a critical eye.”

– Lu Yansheng, Painter –

See BOOK, Page 9

By Neil Pierson

There are few drawbacks in playing a quality, out-of-confer-ence opponent to start the sea-son, even if you lose.

That’s the way the Skyline Spartans volleyball team its view-ing its 3-1 loss to visiting Mercer Island Sept. 9. Skyline’s defense played well early, but the relent-less attack of the Islanders’ star outside hitters eventually wore them down in a 19-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-22 decision.

Both teams entered the sea-son-opener with big expectations – Skyline was ranked No. 8 in Class 4A; Mercer Island was No. 3 in 3A – and nothing changed for the Spartans even though they fell short.

“It’s kind of just motivation. Like, if we lose now, we’ve got to win later,” said Skyline’s Molly Mounsey, a senior middle block-er. “We’re setting ourselves up to become a better team, which we know we are.”

The Islanders finished seventh at last year’s state tournament, and present the kind of challenge the Spartans want. Skyline head coach Callie Wesson said the teams met a few days earlier at Mercer Island’s jamboree, and

the Islanders were “out for blood a little bit” after the Spartans emerged victorious.

“We get to pick our preseason

matches, and I always con-tact Mercer Island when I can, because I always know they’re going to have great squads,”

Wesson said. “It’s great to get that good competition, because that’s when you really see what your team is made of.”

The Spartans opened the match with some spectacular defense and took a 1-0 lead. Starting libero Emily Anne Owen, who finished with a match-high 15 digs, led the way as Skyline kept several points alive and took advantage of five Mercer Island serving errors.

But the Islanders ironed out their mistakes as the match wore on, and they consistently fed their big offensive weapons. Setter Natalie Robinson dished out 36 assists, the bulk of them to Jemma Yeadon (24 kills) and Sara Lindquist (22 kills).

Conversely, Skyline struggled to find its best hitters. Crystal Anderson had a team-high 14 kills, with Hanna Erdahl adding nine and Mounsey collecting seven.

Wesson indicated those num-bers had little to do with how the hitters performed.

“We need to pass the ball bet-ter,” she said. “We have great hit-ters, but if we can’t give them the ball, then it kind of breaks down right from the get-go.”

Mounsey agreed.“That’s the hard part about

being a middle – if the pass isn’t good, you can’t hit,” she said. “I

sports12 l September 18, 2013 SAMMAMISH REVIEW

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By Neil Pierson

Two games into the 2012 season, Matti Thornton tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee, derailing her junior sea-son of soccer with the Eastlake Wolves before it really got start-ed.

Thornton returned to full health just in time for this sea-son’s tryouts, and her first game back was remarkable. The senior forward scored Eastlake’s first three goals, leading the Wolves to a 7-0 rout of the Renton Indians in a non-league match Sept. 10 at Renton Memorial Stadium.

“It just feels good to come back with a hat trick and a 7-0 (win), even though it was harsh on the other team,” Thornton said. “I feel bad about that. But it was good as a team that we played together.”

Eastlake head coach Chuck Krieble said he was surprised by the lopsided score. He scheduled the game because the Wolves were having trouble finding other opponents, and Class 2A Renton seemed like a viable option because it had a winning record last season.

After piling up a 4-0 halftime lead and adding three more goals

in the first 20 minutes of the sec-ond half, Krieble put the brakes on his team’s attack and instruct-ed them to focus on passing and maintaining possession. He said he wasn’t looking to embarrass

the Indians.“That was certainly not our

intent,” Krieble said. “Even though it was our first game, we didn’t know what we were going to be dealing with. They did

some things well, and then as the game wore on, we thought the better of pressing even harder.”

The Wolves controlled the match from start to finish in terms of possession and chances.

Thornton got the only goal they’d need in the ninth minute, latch-ing onto a long ball over the defense and poking the ball past Indians goalkeeper Taylor Farris.

Thornton scored her second goal three minutes later. Melissa Radecke’s shot near the top of the 18-yard box was blocked, but the rebound fell right to Thornton, who finished from five yards.

She completed her hat trick in the 32nd minute with another tap-in that came from a strong crossing pass.

Krieble said it was nice to see Thornton rewarded for the hard work she’s done to return to the pitch.

“We didn’t have her at all last year, and she did everything she was supposed to do (to get healthy),” the coach said. “She has very good instincts in the box. … In the early part of the game, it was still very much a game, and she did well.”

Madison Baugh rounded out Eastlake’s first-half scoring in the 36th minute.

Off an Allie Garrett free kick, the Wolves connected several passes before the ball found Peyton Johnstone for a

Eastlake soccer rocks Renton behind Thornton, Baugh

Photo by Neil PiersonEastlake’s Peyton Johnston tries to slip past a Renton Indians defender during the first half of the Wolves’ 7-0 win in a non-league girls soccer match on Sept. 10.

See SOCCER, Page 13

Mercer Island tops Skyline in early clash of volleyball powers

Photo by Ashtyn EggerSkyline players watch as libero Emily Anne Owen returns a serve during a Sept. 9 volleyball match with Mercer Island, which earned a 3-1 victory in an early-season battle of two quality pro-grams.

See VOLLEY, Page 13