Historical Fiction/Biography--A Single Shard

REVIEW: HISTORICAL FICTION/BIOGRAPHY

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Park, Linda Sue. January 2002. A Single Shard. Read by Graeme Malcolm. New York, NY: Listening Library, Random House Audio Publishing Group. Unabridged Tape. ISBN 0807207012.

2. PLOT SUMMARY

This historical fiction book is a narrative through the eyes of a young orphan named Tree-ear. The setting is in 12^th Century Korea. Tree-ear lives with his lame friend, Crane-man, under a bridge during warm weather and in the pit in the winter. They find food wherever they can, including the garbage. Tree-ear dreams of becoming a potter one day. The story is about how he tries to convince the master potter, Min, to teach him how to throw a pot. Min, is the maker of the finest celadon ware in Ch'ul'po, a village renowned for its pottery. Tree often surreptitiously watches the master potter working. One day, while Tree-ear is admiring Min’s work, Min attacks him thinking he is a thief. As a result, Tree-ear accidentally drops one of Min’s creations. Tree-ear has to work for Min for ten days to pay for the broken box. At the end of ten days Tree-ear asks Min if he can be Min’s assistant. Min agrees gruffly. Tree-ear helps Min by carrying wood and digging clay. The best part of the assistant’s job is a free meal. Tree-ear shares his meal with Crane-man every evening.

Over time, Tree-ear wins the heart of Min’s wife. She asks him to call her Ajima. The word Ajima is similar to the word aunt in English.

Tree-ear spies a rival potter, Kang, performing inlay work using a chrysanthemum pattern. The Royal Emissary visits Ch’ul’po and another village, Kangjin, to assign commissions for the palace. The emissary prefers Min’s meticulous work but he likes Kang’s inlay work. Kang receives the royal commission. He tells Min that he will be happy to assign him a commission if he can see sample pieces with inlay work. Tree-ear offers to go to the ancient capital, Songdo, to deliver the pots.

The journey is long and arduous. Tree-ear is attacked by robbers and the pots are broken as a result of the fight. Tree-ear retrieves a single shard that shows the clarity of the glaze and the design of the inlay work. He succeeds in getting the royal commission and returns by sea to Ch’ul’po. On his return, Tree-ear feels sad and guilty when he finds out that his friend Crane-man has had a fatal accident. Ajima wants Tree-ear to live in her house. Min finally concedes that Tree-ear is worthy enough to learn the art of creating pottery.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The author ingeniously presents the comparison between the two different men who influence a teenage orphan’s life. Crane-man is poor and homeless. However, he uses his common sense to survive. In addition, he teaches Tree-ear about honesty and pride. Min, the master potter is a grumpy and bitter old man who has lost his son. Min teaches Tree-ear about patience, persistence and hard work.

There are many instances in the story where Tree-ear struggles to make the right choice. He remembers Crane-man’s words, “Work gives a man dignity, stealing takes it away”.

Here is an instance where he sees a farmer walking away with his “jiggeh” (bat). Rice is falling in a trail from the hole in his “jiggeh” . Tree-ear’s thoughts wrestle with each other. “Tell him—quickly! Before he loses too much rice! No! Don’t say anything—you will be able to pick up the fallen rice after he rounds the bend….’

Tree-ear watches and hears everything that goes on around him. He finds out that another potter, Kang, uses inlay work to make his pottery more interesting. Tree-ear has to make an ethical decision to keep this information secret. Crane-man tells him: “If a man is keeping an idea to himself, and that idea is taken by stealth or trickery—I say it is stealing. But once a man has revealed his idea to others, it is no longer his alone. It belongs to the world.”

Park has captured the essence of the ancient Korean culture by portraying a young man who is polite to his elders in spite of their unfair behavior. Tree-ear’s patience with Min’s outbursts and rudeness is remarkable. The fictional story is interspersed with authentic pottery. For instance, in the story Tree-ear creates a pot with inlaid with cranes in memory of his friend Crane-man. In fact, there is a work of art that is named “Thousand Cranes Vase”.

Listening to “A Single Shard” on cassette was enjoyable. The reader, Malcolm Graeme, used his superb acting skills to change his voice to reflect the various characters in the story. His Scottish/English accent made the story even more fascinating.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Publishers Weekly, 02/04/2002

British actor Malcolm initially seems an odd choice of narrator for Park's novel set in 12th-century Korea, but he proves to be a compelling performer on this adaptation of the book that was recently named winner of this year's Newbery Medal. Tree-ear, a 12-year-old orphan, spends most of his time rummaging in trash heaps for food for himself and his friend and protector, the crippled Crane-man. But Tree-ear longs for much more; he wants to become skilled like the potters of his village, Ch'ulp'o, famous for its prized celadon ceramic ware. Tree-ear begins his path by accident, watching master potter Min in secret. Before long, Min grudgingly takes Tree-ear on as an assistant, having the boy fetch wood and do other menial tasks. Eventually Min entrusts Tree-ear with a most important job: delivering two specially crafted vases to the palace in hopes of securing a royal commission for Min's fine pottery work. The vases meet with disaster on Tree-ear's journey, but he persists on his mission, with only a single shard to show the royal emissary. Though Malcolm's performance slows a bit when reading passages describing the routines of the potters and Tree-ear's travels to the palace, listeners will likely be hooked by Tree-ear's perseverance and fascinated by a look into this craftsmen's colony from Korean history. Ages 10-14. (Jan.). Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal, 06/01/2002

Gr 5-8 –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 by Graeme Malcolm. Tree-ear's early years have been spent in the care of the homeless but inventive Crane-man, who has taught him to find a meal among what other villagers have rejected as scrap and shelter beneath a bridge or in an old kimchee cellar, as the season dictates. Now about 12 years old, Tree-ear extends his social and labor habits to an elderly and idiosyncratic potter, first because Tree-ear must repay Min for a pot he damaged when he touched it without permission, and then as Min's helper, a job for which he is paid in food and the motherly affection of Min's wife. In a village renowned for its pottery, those in the trade eagerly anticipate a visit from the representative of the Korean court, each potter hoping that his designs will be selected for royal use. Tree-ear discovers a rival potter's invention of a new surface design technique that he knows Min could use to better effect than does the inventor. Eventually, the technique is revealed and Min is able to adapt it to his excellent work, sending Tree-ear on a long and dangerous journey to court with two sample pieces. By the time Tree-ear arrives, he has but a single shard to show the court's pottery expert. Malcolm's light British accent is clear and adds a sense of "another place, another time" to this tale. However, many of the issues transcend centuries and cultures: What is home? Can one own a creative idea? How much of an art object must be seen in order to judge its quality? This book will engage both individual readers and discussion groups; the audio version makes it accessible to a broader audience, while giving style and substance to those who have read the print version.–Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA School Library Journal, A Reed Business Information Publication

Kirkus Reviews, 01/15/2001

A homeless boy in a 12th-century Korean village makes himself surprisingly useful to a master potter. Tree-ear has been living with Crane-man under a bridge, scavenging for food and comfort until one day he watches Min, the potter, becoming so fascinated he later creeps back to look at the finished pots. Surprised in the act, one of the pots is broken and Tree-ear must work to pay for the damage. The work is strenuous. Tree-ear aches and bleeds, but gradually he becomes accustomed to the work. Min allows him to continue to help in exchange for food from the master's kind wife. It is in the details that the story lays claim to a sort of Zen quality. Ethical decisions regarding acceptance of lunch and his responsibility to Crane-man are decided with fastidiousness and rectitude. Each choice of Tree-ear's shows an awareness of pride and dignity—not just for himself, but for Crane-man, Min, and his wife. Obtaining a royal commission to make pots worthy of the palace is at the heart of the plot. Intrigues, danger, and the same strong focus on doing what is right turn a simple story into a compelling read. Important details of the times are folded into the narrative without being obtrusive. Tree-ear's story conveys a time and place far away and long ago, but with a simplicity and immediacy that is both graceful and unpretentious. A timeless jewel. (Fiction. 10-14) Copyright 2003, VNU Business Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved

5. CONNECTIONS

Use historical fiction and biography books in the classroom to supplement regular textbooks. Ask students to compare the Korean culture to another culture in the 12^th Century.

Other similar books by Linda Sue Park:

The Kite Fighters 0440418135

If you liked this book, try:

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The Sign of the Chrysanthemum by Katherine Paterson 9780064402323

Year of Impossible Goodbyes by Sook Nyul Choi 9780440407591

Other historical fiction books:

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The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak 0375831002

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