Laura L. Sullivan - Yo-Yo Ma: Cellist

Published in 2020 by Cavendish Square Publishing, LLC

243 5th Avenue, Suite 136, New York, NY 10016

Copyright 2020 by Cavendish Square Publishing, LLC

First Edition

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Sullivan, Laura L., 1974- author.

Title: Yo-Yo Ma: cellist / Laura L. Sullivan.

Description: First edition. | New York: Cavendish Square, 2020. | Series: Barrier breaker bios |

Audience: Grade 1-4. | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019016399 (print) | LCCN 2019017307 (ebook) | ISBN 9781502649713 (ebook) |

ISBN 9781502649706 (library bound) | ISBN 9781502649683 (pbk.) | ISBN 9781502649690 (6 pack)

Subjects: LCSH: Ma, Yo-Yo, 1955---Juvenile literature. | Cellists--United States--Biography--Juvenile

literature. | Chinese American musicians--Biography--Juvenile literature. | LCGFT: Biographies.

Classification: LCC ML3930.M11 (ebook) | LCC ML3930.M11 S85 2020 (print) |

DDC 787.4092 [B] --dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019016399

Editor: Alexis David

Copy Editor: Nathan Heidelberger

Associate Art Director: Alan Sliwinski

Designer: Christina Shults

Production Coordinator: Karol Szymczuk

Photo Research: J8 Media

The photographs in this book are used by permission and through the courtesy of: Cover, p. Hiroyuki Ito/Hulton Archive/Getty Images.

Printed in the United States of America

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 2

YO-YO BREAKS BARRIERS

M a had great success. However, he also faced many obstacles. One came when he was a young man.

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

Playing an instrument is hard on the body. A cellist has to sit in one position. It can be very uncomfortable. Musicians must practice for hours. Playing can hurt the hands and wrists. It can also hurt a persons back.

Scoliosis is a condition that curves the spine.

Ma had . Scoliosis is when the spine curves to the side. It can make a C or S shape. Mas spine had an S shape.

RISKY SURGERY

Scoliosis can cause pain. It can even be disabling. It makes less room for the lungs, which makes it hard to breathe. Ma knew he had to have surgery, but he also knew it would be dangerous. After surgery, hed have to wear a cast. It would cover his upper body. He wouldnt be able to play for a long time. What if something went wrong? He could be paralyzed. This means a person cant move their body. Ma had to think about all these things before his surgery.

Ma had the surgery at age twenty-five. He was in a body cast for six months. All that time, he couldnt play his cello. He had played every day since he was four. This was a hard time for him, but finally, he could play again.

FIGHTING PREJUDICE

Ma also had to fight against . He was one of the first Asians to get famous playing Western classical music.

FAST FACT

When Ma was four years old, he and his sister would wake up at 4: 00 a.m. to practice playing music.