Park, Linda Sue. A Single Shard. Yearling (2003). ISBN-10: 0440418518

Plot Summary

A Single Shard is a story about Tree-Ear, an orphan in 12th century Korea who lives under a bridge. The closest thing he has to a family is another outcast named Crane Man. Tree-Ear longs to make pottery like many of the famous potters of his village, but has little hope, as the trade is passed from father to son. One day, Tree-Ear accidentally breaks a box created by Min, one of the best potters in the village, so he goes to work for him in order to pay him back. Soon, Tree-Ear must go on a long journey on behalf of the potter, which will decide both Min and Tree-Ear’s fates.

Critical Evaluation

I have always loved historical fiction. In this book, the Korean culture is shown through the caladon firing process. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of pottery making, as they were both interesting and intriguing. The characters are easily likable. Although the book does contain a few difficult topics (concubines, suicide, etc.), the overarching history of the people is easy to understand and appropriate for tween readers. This is an awesome book about choices, courage, and friendship!

Reader's Annotation

This is a story about Tree-Ear, an orphan in 12th century Korea who lives under a bridge.

About the Author

Linda Sue Park writes children’s books, which are primarily set in historic Korea. Park was born March 25, 1960 in Urbana, Illinois, to Korean immigrant parents. In the 1950’s both of Park’s parents emigrated from South Korea to the United States, where they met and married. As a child, Park was a voracious reader, and credits her father for taking her to the library every other week. Park became a published writer at the age of 9 when her poem was published by Trailblazer magazine. She received a check for one dollar, which she gave to her dad, who had it framed.

Park has won numerous awards, including the 2002 Newbery Award for A Single Shard, the Jane Addams Honor Book Award for When My Name was Keoko, and the Chicago Tribune Prize for Young Adult Fiction for Project Mulberry. Many of her books have appeared on various “best of” lists as well.

Genre

Historical Fiction

Curriculum Ties

Language Arts, Social Studies, Social Science, Art

Booktalking Ideas

Read aloud page 96:

“Tree-Ear could hardly breathe on his walk home. Min’s words rang in his ears, over and over: ‘orphaned one…father to son…not my son.’ He realized now what he never thought to notice before: all the other apprentices were indeed sons of the potters.

It’s not my fault! Tree-Ear wanted to shout. He wanted to run all the way back to Min and scream the words. It’s not my fault you lost your son, not my fault I am an orphan! Why must it be father to son? If the pot is made well, does it matter whose son made it?”

Will Tree-Ear succeed, and possibly secure a future for himself, or will he fail and return to being an outcast? To find out, read Linda Sue Park’s A Single Shard.

Reading Level/Interest Age

Ages 9-12
Grades 5-8

Reason for Book Selection

This book actually caught my eye one day when I visited the school library. I spoke to our librarian, and she highly recommended I read the book. She was right!