A Single Shard

emilyflame789 - This story was sad, exciting, and happy at the same time. It begin with a little boy named Tree-Ear who lives with a man called Crane-Man. Crane-Man and Tree-Ear live under a bridge because they are both orphans, though Crane-Man is much older. Tree-Ear was left here because his parents both died. Crane-Man became an orphan because he was born with a shriveled leg and no foot. They lived happily, though the only food they had were little scraps they found in the forests and mountains, like berries, mushrooms, and sometimes stolen things. Tree-Ear loves to watch potters make pottery! His favorite one to watch is Master Min. One day, Tree-Ear is caught breaking a pot! He has to work for him for 9 days. 9 days turn into months, and the months turn into a year. Tree-Ear is sent to send 2 beautiful pots to the royalties one day. Will he survive and succeed in the journey? Or will he be robbed and sent back? Find out now!

March 10, 2003

In a starred review of this Newbery Medal winner, PW
wrote, "The author 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." Ages 10-up.