A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park

Reviewed by Jennifer

Ratings

Content Ratings based on a 0-5 scale where
0 = no objectionable content and
5 = an excessive or disturbing level of content

Guide to Rating System

LANGUAGE

VIOLENCE

SEXUAL CONTENT

ADULT THEMES

2002 Newbery Medal Winner

Ratings Explanation

Violence: Min beats Tree-ear with a cane for spying on him.

Adult Themes: Tree-ear is an orphan and homeless. He survives with Crane-man by rummaging through garbage for food.

Synopsis

10-year-old Tree-ear, an orphan since the age of two, and Crane-Man, an older man with a shriveled leg, are unlikely friends who live under a bridge and survive on whatever food they can find. Although the pair has reason to be unhappy, they are not, and although they are poor, they live with self-respect. Crane-man teaches Tree-ear that work gives a man dignity, and stealing takes that dignity away.

12th Century Ch’ulp’o is a pottery making village in Korea. Tree-ear watches the potters on his rounds searching for food and is especially taken with potter Min’s work. After breaking a piece of Min’s pottery, Tree-ear must work off the cost of the piece by serving Min for 9 days. Anxious to learn the art of pottery making, Tree-ear is disappointed when Min sends him to chop wood and cut clay. After his sentence is fulfilled, Tree-ear stays on to help the aging potter in the hope that one day he will teach him to make his own pots.

Tree-ear’s loyalty and dedication are tested to their very limits when he volunteers to make a long and arduous journey to the country’s capital on Min’s behalf. Tree-ear is to show Min’s work to a government official, who, if the pottery pleases him, can secure a royal commission for Min. Beset by robbers, Tree-ear is unable to protect the precious vases and they are shattered by the robbers. Left with only a single shard of the beautiful creations, he contemplates returning home having failed, but that is simply not in Tree-ear’s nature.

We listened to this book on CD on a recent family road trip and we absolutely loved it. After having read several fairly forgettable books recently, I was thrilled to find this gem. Park’s descriptions of the country and the complicated process of creating a work of art were interesting and well written, but the distinct and engaging characters are the heart of this story. The reader will enjoy watching Tree-ear work patiently toward his goal of becoming a potter, but perhaps more importantly, will see him learn the importance of sacrifice. The wise and fatherly Crane-man helps him learn how to become a respectable man and teachesĀ  him to be kind and charitable. Potter Min is crusty and curt, but his gentle wife is the epitome of soft kindness. In the end, even curmudgeonly Min is won over by the brave and loyal Tree-ear. Although the book is set in 12th century Korea, it does not feel like an ancient story. This book will be enjoyed by all.