Bibliography
Park,Linda Sue.2001.A Single Shard.New York,NY:Clarion Books.ISBN:0395978270
2.Plot Summary
As an orphan living under a bridge with his father figure Crane Man in Twelfth- century Korea,Tree Ear must be resourceful,resolute and full of curiosity in order to survive. Crane Man adopted him as a little boy and has taught him how to be an exemplary human being, as well as the basics of survival in the potter's village where they live. But, Tree Ear longs to learn how to do more:he wants to create the luminous celadon ware that the village is famous for,even though this opportunity is only open to potter's sons.
3.Critical Analysis
Although the story is slow moving at times and the characters are somewhat flat,A Single Shard remains a very memorable and involving story.
Modern day readers may have difficulty relating to the almost saintly Tree-ear.Living according to the Korean ideals of filial duty and self-sacrifice,Tree-ear ,the ultimate goody two-shoes, always puts the needs of Crane Man first and seldom thinks of himself or has an unkind thought. Still,Tree-Ear's resourcefulness and determination will win over many young readers.
Ch'ulp'o, a potter's village famous for its Celadon ware,is vividly brought to life as a place full of cold,hunger, competition and uncertainty. The poor are so desperate that they eagerly scrabble for discarded rice grains in the fields.
Meanwhile,the potters compete with each other and take delight in the misfortune of their fellow craftsmen.
The cold of the Korean winter and the villages of the landscape of the Korean countryside are also well-described and seem very real. The reader becomes well aware of the fact that the landscape seems forbidding and scary to a village boy.
However the truly captivating aspect of A Single Shard is is the detailed and very focused portrayal of the coming of age of a crafstman. This novel succeeds because it is a fascinating portrayal of curiosity and creativity. Tree-ear's restless and insatiable curiosity leads him on the path to mastery of his chosen craft as an apprentice to the taciturn and crochety master potter Min.
Park's style successfully conveys the cadences, and saying of the Korean language while being written in English. The language flows well and never sounds stilted or false.
4.Review Excerpts
Starred Review Publisher's Weekly
"The author molds a moving tribute to perseverance and creativity in this finely etched novel set in mid- to late-12th-century Korea. Readers will not soon forget these characters or their sacrifices."
School Library Journal
"This quiet story is rich in the details of life in Korea during this period. In addition it gives a full picture of the painstaking process needed to produce celadon pottery. However, what truly stands out are the characters: the grumpy perfectionist, Min; his kind wife; wise Crane-man; and most of all, Tree-ear, whose determination and lively intelligence result in good fortune."
5.Connections
This book could lead to a discussion about the different attitudes towards authority and parents in Korean and American culture.
An exploration of Korean life and culture can be found in Simon Winchester's Korea: A Walk Through the Land of Miracles. ISBN:0135166268
Readers who enjoyed A Single Shard will want to seek out other books of historical fiction by Linda Sue Park.
Seesaw Girl ISBN:0395915147
The Kite Fighters ISBN:0395940419
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