1. Bibliography
Park, Linda Sue. 2001. A Single Shard. New York: Yearling. ISBN 9780440418511
2. Plot Summary
Tree-ear is an orphan living in 12th century Korea in the potter's village of Ch'ulp'o. He lives with an old, handicapped man named Crane-man, to whom he was delivered by monks when a sickness broke out in the monastery. Tree-ear has a great admiration for potters and secretly watches Min, the most skilled potter in Ch'ulp'o. He accidentally breaks one of Min's pots while admiring it and has to work for Min in order to pay for the broken pot. When the royal emissary visits to commission a potter for the king, Tree-ear is certain Min will be chosen. When a small disaster with the pottery forces Tree-ear to make a long, dangerous journey to Songdo to show Min's pottery to the emissary, his life is forever changed.
3. Analysis
Park's attention to the detail of the time period is to be admired. The celadon pottery and potters' traditions are the backdrop for the characters' interactions throughout the book. Tree-ear's longing to learn the art of pottery making is palpable, and the little figure he gives to Crane-man is nice foreshadowing for Tree-ear's future. The tender relationships between Tree-ear and Crane-man as well as Tree-ear and Min's wife, Ajima, show that family doesn't have to be related by blood.
While I felt this book started off a bit dry and slow, it redeemed itself when Tree-ear begins his work with Min. The quest to get the king's commission is the high point of action in the book and the vivid descriptions of the Korean landscape allow the reader to envision the sights and sounds of Tree-ear's journey. A single shard of pottery is all Tree-ear has to show the emissary after robbers break the pots, but his determination and confidence are unwavering. Tree-ear's courage on his quest to Songdo is sure to inspire children to pursue difficult challenges in their own lives.
Also to be appreciated are the author's note and essay about celadon pottery that help the reader put the history and craftsmanship into perspective.
4. Review Excerpts
Newbery Medal Winner
Publishers 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. Readers will not soon forget these characters or their sacrifices."
School Library Journal - "This quiet story is rich in the details of life in Korea during this period. In addition it gives a full picture of the painstaking process needed to produce celadon pottery...this book not only gives readers insight into an unfamiliar time and place, but it is also a great story."
Booklist - "This quiet, but involving, story draws readers into a very different time and place. Though the society has its own conventions, the hearts and minds and stomachs of the characters are not so far removed from those of people today. Readers will feel the hunger and cold that Tree-ear experiences, as well as his shame, fear, gratitude, and love. A well-crafted novel with an unusual setting."
5. Connections
*Students can look at photos of celadon pottery and find more background information about the pottery on Linda Sue Park's website www.lindasuepark.com. Here is the link straight to the pottery page http://www.lindasuepark.com/books/singleshard/singleshardbs.html
*This book would be a great link between literature and the fine arts. The art teacher can have the students make pottery (not celadon) and fire it. This may require a field trip to a ceramic shop, or some schools may have a kiln.
*Students can research ancient Korean history.
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