41. A Single Shard

Title: A Single Shard
Author: Linda Sue Park
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Copyright Date: 2001
Number of Pages: 148
Reading Level: 11+
Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary
Tree-ear saw a man walking in front of him, rice was slowly flowing out of his pack and the man had no idea. Tree-ear had to decide whether to let the man keep walking or tell him and possibly not get any rice. He waits a while longer and then tells the man. He says that Tree-ear can have all that fell from his pack. Tree-ear goes home happy that he and Crane-man will be able to eat well that night. Tree-ear came to Crane-man as a little child and he was supposed to go to the monastery as soon as a sickness there passed. The child would not leave Crane-man and they ended up living together under a bridge. Crane-man believed that men who begged were no better than dogs. Tree-ear has a distinct knowledge of right and wrong and is always concerned that he may be doing wrong. Tree-ear is interested in pottery and sometimes spies on a master potter named Min. Tree-ear sneaks into his yard to examine some of the pottery one day and is surprised by Min. He drops the piece he was holding and Min is furious. Tree-ear begs to repay him the debt by helping him. Min agrees and for the duration of Tree-ear’s service he cuts and hauls wood to the kiln. Tree-ear is frustrated that he hasn’t been able to do anything with clay and when his time is up Min says he’ll take him on to work. Tree-ear is excited although he is not paid because he will get a meal each day. He takes half the meal home each day so that he and Crane-man can have dinner. Min’s wife notices and starts filling his bowl when Tree-ear isn’t around so he will have more. Tree-ear is taught to make fine clay and slip but isn’t taught to use the wheel. A royal commission is announced and all the potters start making their finest work. Tree-ear sees that Kang has a new technique but doesn’t tell anyone until Kang has presented it himself. Min tries to recreate the process better before the emissary leaves. The pieces have oxidation marks on them and Min destroys them. The emissary says that if Min can recreate the process with his perfect pots he will have a commission for him. Tree-ear volunteers to take the new pots to Songdo to see the emissary. They pack the pots and Tree-ear leaves. He left a small clay monkey with Crane-man before he left. Tree-ear visits a special sight and is ambushed by thieves, they throw the pots off the cliff and Tree-ear is distraught. He takes a single shard to Songdo to show the emissary. At first the emissary is angry but then he tells Tree-ear that Min has the commission. They send him back by sea. When he returns home Tree-ear finds out that Crane-man died but Min and his wife take Tree-ear in and give him a new name. Min promises Tree-ear a wheel of his own and to teach him the trade.

Recommendation
I would recommend this book to kids who want to learn about Korea or have an interest in ceramics.

Problems/Conflict
Tree-ear does steal sometimes but only when he has to. The mount of falling flowers is in commemoration of women who jumped off the cliff rather than be taken prisoner. Their suicide is viewed as courage.

My Reaction
I was really disinterested at first. I didn’t know how a book about pottery was going to be interesting or fun to read. It took me a little while to get into this book but eventually I really liked it. Its interesting that there are not many beggars in Korea, or at least that’s what I interpreted. Orphans were also thought to be unlucky and were avoided. Pride plays a big role in this book. It can not only create beautiful things but also destroy the entire life of a man. This book is multifaceted and interesting once you get going.