Eyes tap-dance as Linda Sue Park explains the spur-of-the-moment decision to give her Newbery medal for A Single Shard to her dad at the ALA awards ceremony in 2002. The auditorium went from noisy to dead silent as I walked to the edge of the stage to hand Dad the medal. "I'm thinking to myself, why is it so quiet?" and wondered if the audience didn’t like the gesture so I joked at the podium, “Dad, you had better leave that to me in your will.” Later she found out it was quiet because people were so moved they were crying. "I heard Bruce Coville blew his nose in the tablecloth," she laughs. Some time later, Linda Sue’s mom called to complain that her dad was “out-of-control,” still showing everyone The Medal. Linda Sue told her mom that it was okay and the excitement would soon wear off to which her mom said, “No Linda. You don’t understand... He just showed the UPS man!”This is just one of many unforgettable stories Linda Sue Park shared at a recent visit to our school where she inspired kids to read and write. A master storyteller who drops a trail of historical breadcrumbs, I learned that the Japanese kidnapped Korean potters because they would not share their trade secrets around the 1600's; the Thousand Crane vase that inspired her to write, A Single Shard, is owned privately by a museum that opens two times a year (and even then there is no guarantee you can see it because it is only shown during a ceramics exhibition); that first-time authors have to sell a minimum of about 5,000 books after publication in order to get a second printing, and more. Now take a close look at the actual Thousand Crane vase on the left. The potters used an incising technique to carve out the intricate patterns, filling in each incision with different colored clay during the 12th century. The complex firing process is simplified for her book, but you get the idea. This craft required a high level of skill. A Single Shard is about celadon pottery and focuses on the story of an orphan boy, Tree-ear, who desperately wants to learn this craft. He secretly watches the master potter, Min, then sneaks a peak at a piece of Min's work only to break it. The two come to an agreement that Tree-ear will work for Min to "pay" for the broken pottery. Thrilled, Tree-ear nurtures the hope that Min will teach him the craft, but this is a trade that is closely guarded and a potter doesn't share his skills with anyone, especially an orphan. Tree-ear puts up with Min's verbal abuse and works hard to be respectful even when he wants to shout back at Min, instead focusing on the kindness of Min's wife, who gives him extra food. As thanks, Tree-ear does small chores for her around the house. At one point he loses hope of ever learning anything about becoming a potter, "How much slower the work when the joy of it is gone," but later he finds a new outlet. The homeless Crane-man is a cripple who has raised Tree-ear since he was a toddler under a bridge. Crane-man's wisdom and love help Tree-ear deal with the reality that the potter doesn't want to teach him his trade. "My friend, the same wind that blows one door shut often blows another open." Tree-ear's determination to make his dream come true is not completely extinguished, "The flame of hope that burned in him was smaller now, but no less bright or fierce, and he tended it almost daily with visions of the pot he would make."Min is such a perfectionist he only makes a dozen pieces of pottery a year. In order to make a living, he needs a royal commission. When Tree-ear travels to court on his behalf, all sorts of things go wrong starting with him spotting a fox, a symbol of bad luck to Crane-man and Tree-ear. The fox foreshadows Tree-ear's future suffering and through his experiences, Tree-ear decides to face the true meaning of family, courage, and responsibility. The plot is beautifully written with interweaving action, symbolism and emotional turmoil. All the characters grow and change. Tree-ear's character is like the best Korean pottery that reflects the "radiance of jade and clarity of water." Tree-ear is like a shard of pottery; his family is broken but his character radiates all that is good in a person and he chooses kindness over hate, honesty over stealing, courage over fear, and respect over anger. Tree-ear could hate Min and feel betrayed that he won't teach him, but he chooses to focus on kindness in others. He could tell Min about Kang's new design but he got the information from spying, so he doesn't say a word. He could have given up going to Songdo but doesn't give into fear. Crane-man offers comic relief and changes internally by swallowing his pride to help Min's wife. Even the supporting characters such as Kang are likable and interesting. He does things fast, is not meticulous, and takes risks with his designs. He's not as good as Min because of his personality. I am struck by Tree-ear's efforts to make his world a better place, and to make himself a better person. After spending the week with Linda Sue Park, this is a message she stresses to the kids. She ends all of her talks telling students to read because reading will give them knowledge and that they can use that knowledge to make their part of the world a better place. I know she makes the world a better place. Read her books - the simplicity and straightforwardness make for much thought and while that sounds contradictory it is also the magic of children's literature. Reading level 6.7Fountas and Pinnell: U
Set in 12th Century Korea, A Single Shard spins the tale of Tree-ear. His life, his emotions, his dream. Park's Newbery Award winning book tells the story of Tree-ear's desire to sit before a potter's wheel and one day hope to create a vase so beautiful and detailed that it is worthy of suceeding his master's unreachable level of skill. And so the story begins with Tree-ear bringing home a small sack of rice - a feast he hasn't had the honor in having in months. Tree-ear is probably one of the most realistic characters I've ever come across in any book, not just in one particular genre or subgenre. His emotions are so raw that sometimes it manages to slap me in the face like a wake-up call. Here I am, lazy as can be, and there is Tree-ear. Working as hard as he could without pay. I couldn't help but marvel at his determination because I most certainly would not hike up into the mountains and cut wood without insurance, good pay, and a man to do all the work for me. Those are reasonable requests, no? Ha. The hardships, and consequently the bonds established through them, was if anything...beautiful. And although the way the characters spoke was a bit too out of place for me, as I'm too accustomed to YA literature these days, I couldn't help but keep turning the pages. It's been far too long since I've read a story that flows this well. The secondary characters were every bit as realistic and contributed every bit as much as Tree-ear did to the story. Crane-man who was wise and kind and whom certainly did not deserve his unhappy ending, Min who was stubborn and proud, and his wife who was kind and supportive. They served only to add to the brilliance that is A Single Shard. If anything, this is what a real 'journey book' should be like. A Single Shard comes highly recommended, a work that deserves every award it's received. If you, dear reader, come across this title in your list of required reading for school - fear not. This book is so damn awesome it has Snape's approval.
What do You think about A Single Shard (2003)?
What a beautiful book. It is far more accessible than I had imagined knowing only that it was set in twelfth-century Korea and that the main character is called Tree-ear. But it could be thought of as a coming-of-age novel, as it tells a timeless story about taking a journey. The writing is lyrical in places, which brings the art and nature in this story alive. I feel like I can picture the Thousand Cranes Vase without ever having seen it. The plot is compelling, too. The basic outlines of the journey and the related contest might seem predictable, but a flurry of developments at the end of the book caught me by surprise. And I love a book where the title conveys so much meaning--once you reach a certain point in the book. A Single Shard won the Newbery Medal in 2002. I can now see why. The book takes you to another time and place, it gives you some unforgettable images, and it engages important themes in a most satisfying fashion.
—Ross
, جاءت فكرة النص للكاتبة وهي تبحث عن تاريخ كوريا القديمة فلفتت نظرها بعض العبارات عن الفخار الكوري والذي ينظر له في تلك الحقبة على إنه من أروع الأعمال في العالم .على الرغم من قلة عدد صفحات هذه الرواية الشيقة حيث أنها تحوي 147 صفحة فقط إلا أنها استغرقت أربعة أعوام لإنجازها منذ انبثاق فكرة الرواية وحتى كتابتها مرورا بتنقيحها تدور الرواية حول طفل يتيم يعيش تحت جسر مع رجل مشلول تستهويه صنعة الفخار يقف مفتونا أمام أعمال أحد معلمي صانعي الفخار ويحاول أن يصل إلى السر الذي يجعل أعمال مين تتميز بالدقة التي لا تضاهى مين يفاجىء تري إير وهو يسترق النظر في معمله دون إذن ويكسر إحدى أجمل أعماله يستغل الطفل الموقف ويعرض عليه تعويضا وهو أن يعمل لديه بلا أجرة مين رجل عجوز مغرور ومتوحد مع أعماله بوافق على العرض لكنه يوكل لتري إير أعمالا مرهقة بعيدة تماما عن تعليم الفخار , غير أن تري إير لايبالي ويستمر على الرغم من جروحه الدامية في قطع الحطب وجر العربات الثقيلة في العمل على أمل أن يتحقق حلمه يوما ما فيصبع صانعا محترفا , في أحد الأيام يزور القرية مبعوث ملكي ليختار أجمل وأتقن أعمال صناع الفخار ويكون مكلفا باختيار أحد الصناع ليعمل في القصر الملكي كصانع فخار القصر تنقلب القرية رأسا على عقب ويحاول جميع الصناع إبهار المبعوث للفوز بهذا العرض ومن هنا تبدأ المغامرات الرواية كتبت بأسلوب رقيق ومشوق ممتلىء بكم زاخر من المعلومات وتبدو الكاتبة أنها قد أبحرت طويلا في البحث عن أساليب صنع الفخار وليس ذلك فقط بل دخلت في تفاصيل جماليات الفخار الألوان المتناسقة وكما تذكر الكاتبة استعانت بنحات متمرس لإبداء ملاحظاته على الأمور الخاصة بصنعة السيلادون , يبدو لي أن الكاتبة بذلت جهدا فاخرا في هذا الجانب لدرجة أنها أشعرتني كقارئة بأهمية هذه الصنعة كما لو أني رأيت تلك التماثيل والأواني رؤي العين الرواية ترتسم فيها كمية مذهلة من البراءة والمشاعر الجياشة والتي فاضت عندي شويتين وولا أخفيكم أني ذرفت كمية من الدموع مع النهاية : )
—mai ahmd
I don't understand how this won a Newbery award. The plot and characterization were mechanical and simplistic. You could see the ending a mile away -- sure, it's a kid's book, but I haven't found clunky obviousness to be the norm with high-quality children's fiction. It felt like the kind of multi-culti book that committees like because they think it will be Good for You, as opposed to it simply being good. I think the prize committee might've been suckered in by the simple prose style. Pointedly-simple prose is apparently supposed to be some kind of hallmark of deep "Asian" writing. Ah, so spare and graceful! So much is left unsaid! Nope, it's just dull writing. And no, it's not like Hemingway either, that's a whole other kind of simplicity (the good kind). I didn't like Ha Jin's "Waiting" for the same reason. I've found that the Japanese people I've asked similarly don't like reading authors like Kawabata Yasunari in the original (e.g., "Sound of the Mountain"). It's too mannered / self-consciously "Oriental" mystical / bang the goooooooooonnnng. Anyhoo--- Won't be keeping this for the kids. Next!
—Manzoid
