The Bottom Line
"A Single Shard" is a great book for children 10 and up who enjoy pottery, history, or discovering far away people and places. A really good read.
Pros
- Engaging characters and storyline
- Interesting look at a twelfth-century Korean potting village
Cons
- Certain clay characteristics (such as drying) not taken into account in story
Description
- Winner of the 2002 Newbury Medal and designated a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, plus more awards and honors.
- Juvenile fiction, ages 10 and up.
- The trade size paperback is 155 pages and includes a short essay by Linda Sue Park, "What's so Special about Celadon?"
Guide Review - Review of "A Single Shard"
Written with warmth and understanding, Linda Sue Park captures the story of a young outsider, Tree-Ear, as he discovers the work that will give his life direction and purpose. With courage and honor, Tree-Ear faces each challenge he meets in his quest to become a potter. This includes somehow getting the best potter in the village, crotchety old Min, to take him on as a helper.
