The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., is one of the most famous memorials in the world. But most people are not as familiar with the college student who won the design competition to build it. This carefully researched volume chronicles Maya Lin's childhood, her battle to create the memorial as she envisioned it, and the incredible body of work she has produced since then. More than simply an art book, this compelling biography of a young woman who became a visionary artist and activist is also a timely celebration of the role of women and minorities in American society--past, present, and future"--