A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park

Bibliography
Park, Linda Sue. 2001. A SINGLE SHARD. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0395978270

Plot Summary
Set in the 12th-century Korea, an orphan named Tree Ear is raised by an older gentleman named Crane-man in a potter’s village. The pair lives under a brigde, and survives off of rubbish and rice. Tree Ear begins to follow the work of a talented potter who catches him snooping around his house after breaking some of his work. To repay his debt, Tree Ear begins to work for the potter, and then stays on to work for food and the hopes to learn the trade. Through very hard work and much selflessness readers will see Tree Ear grow through his experiences and know what it is like to live in this time period.

Critical Analysis
In Ch'ul'po, a potter’s village, an orphan named Tree Ear is raised by Crane-man who has one shriveled leg, which is how he got his name. The pair lives under a bridge when the weather is nice and in an old kimchee cellar during the winter months. They are able to survive off of rubbish and rice that has fallen on the ground. The two work hard for everything they have, because in this time period “stealing and begging…make a man no better than a dog.” Park gives readers vivid images with her writing throughout to allow a true connection with Tree Ear.

Around the age of 12, Tree Ear accidentally breaks a rectangular lidded box by Min, who is considered the most talented craftsman in the town. To repay his dept, Tree Ear will work for Min for nine days completing task like chopping wood and cutting clay. During the nine days he builds a relationship with Min’s wife who is filling up his bowl with more food after he hides half of his lunch for Crane-Man. With completion of paying back his debt, Tree Ear stays on with Min to continue to help and get paid in food. During his work with Min, Tree Ear learns and experiences many new things. Including his biggest challenge of being sent on a journey to deliver two pieces of pottery created for Emissary Kim, but only arriving with a single shard due to trouble he runs into a long the way. Throughout the novel readers will be amazed with the determination Tree Ear has. Park does an award winning job in portraying a boy who must over come many obstacles to achieve his goal, and readers will be engaged throughout the book as Tree Ear encounters the ups and downs of his life.

Review Excerpts
Newbery Award
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Linda Sue Park's 2002 Newbery Award-winning story (Clarion, 2001) about Tree-ear, a 12th century Korean orphan who finds his future through his intuitive interest in the potter's trade, is nicely rendered.”
PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY: “Park (Seesaw Girl) molds a moving tribute to perseverance and creativity in this finely etched novel set in mid- to late 12th-century Korea.”

Connections
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