See Saw Girl by Linda Sue Park
Reviewed by KeriRatings
Content Ratings based on a 0-5 scale where
0 = no objectionable content and
5 = an excessive or disturbing level of content
LANGUAGE
VIOLENCE
SEXUAL CONTENT
ADULT THEMES
Ratings Explanation
Violence: Foreigners are brought as prisoners to the king. Many citizens want them to be beheaded.
Adult Themes: Women and girls, especially from wealthy families, were not permitted to leave the inner courts of their homes. This was to protect them from being looked at by strange men. When Jade escapes, the servant that finds her quickly grabs a bolt of fabric from the market and wraps her in it to protect her from the eyes of the common people.
Synopsis
Jade Blossom is a member of a wealthy family in seventeenth-century Korea. She has never ventured from the inner courts of their home and will only be allowed to do so when she is married. Instead, she spends her days learning to embroider, sew, do the laundry and help in the kitchen. Jade has heard stories from her brother Tiger as he accompanies their father on errands. She is fascinated by the descriptions of the King’s Court, the mountains where her ancestors are buried, and trips to the market. She longs to see them for herself. Jade is determined and spends days plotting a way to get a glimpse of the outside world. When her plans fall through, she must find a safer way to satisfy her curiosity.
A beautifully written story of a time when women had little freedom, especially the wealthy. Jade is a lively and endearing character. My heart ached for her. I have gained a greater appreciation for the freedoms that I have today, even having to do laundry. Did you know that the wealthy families of Korea at this time, actually unpicked all of their clothing before washing? The purpose was to prevent dirt from hiding in the seams. This would bring bad luck and misfortune to the family. After the clothing pieces were dry, they were stitched back up again, ready to wear. I will never complain about doing laundry again. The author is a Newbery medalist for her book, A Single Shard.