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A Single ShardBy Linda Sue ParkClarion Books; $15.00
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Twelfth-century Korean pottery is an unlikely topic to capture the attention of young readers, but in the hands of master storyteller Linda Sue Park, it shapes a compelling tale of a young boy’s struggles and triumph. Winner of the 2002 American Library Association’s prestigious Newbery Medal, A Single Shard is a coming-of-age story set in ancient Korea and infused with Korean culture and folktales.
The orphan Tree-ear—nicknamed after a type of mushroom that grows without a parent plant—lives under a bridge with the disabled Crane-man, the two companions barely surviving on single grains of rice. To repay a debt, Tree-ear must work for Min, the master potter of Ch’ulp’o village. Gradually he earns Min’s trust and becomes his helper. Ultimately, Tree-ear takes a new name that identifies him as Min’s apprentice and a member of Min’s family.
Park infuses just enough details about daily life and pottery making to give credibility without weighing the story down. Korean folktales, told by Crane-man, add another layer to this satisfying short novel, which will appeal to students in fifth to eighth grade who enjoy an introspective rather than action-driven story.
–by Susan McCaffrey, Media Specialist at Haslett High School, Michigan, a reviewer for School Library Journal, and the mother of Max (seven) and Megan (five), both adopted from Korea.
Copyright 2002 Adoptive Families magazine. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.Back To Book Reviews |
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