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vasilisav's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
tball333's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
cdjdhj's review against another edition
3.0
A young Korean orphan boy named Tree-ear watched a master potter in his village take a lump of clay and shape it into a thing of beauty. Tree-ear wants nothing more than to learn to create beauty in this way himself. Tree-ear wants to prove himself worthy of being taught by Min, the master potter, but first Tree-ear must prove himself worthy by helping with hard mundane tasks like chopping wood for the kiln and harvesting clay to be used in making the beautiful vases and pots.
This is an uplifting and positive story by award winning children's author, Linda Sue Park. It has a good message with some Korean and art history thrown in. This would be a good one for 5th-7th grade children.
This is an uplifting and positive story by award winning children's author, Linda Sue Park. It has a good message with some Korean and art history thrown in. This would be a good one for 5th-7th grade children.
eggjen's review against another edition
5.0
This was a wonderful story. I really got wrapped up in the main character's world and now know a lot more about pottery than I did before!
qwer8qaz8's review against another edition
5.0
A Single Shard was one of the best books I have read. I highly recommend it.
_quincy_'s review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
protoman21's review against another edition
5.0
Brilliant. I saw this book a hundred times but never gave it a second thought, but I am glad I finally decided to read it. It shows that a simple life sometimes holds the greatest rewards.
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
In 12th-century Korea the orphan Tree-Ear longs to become a potter and learn the art of creating the much-sought exquisite celadon pottery his village is known for. His big chance comes when he begins to work for the master potter Min, and a competition for a royal commission.
This middle-grade novel is a beautiful introduction to the Korean culture, as well as to the art of pottery. Park gives us a wonderful cast of characters, starting with the main character, Tree-Ear, an orphan who wound up in the care of the homeless Crane-man, who was crippled from birth and lived under a bridge. I love their relationship, how they care for one another, and give to one another so selflessly.
I also really appreciated the complex relationship of Tree-Ear to his mentor Min, and to Min’s wife, Ajima. The cultural barriers to truly bringing him on as an apprentice were as shocking to Tree-Ear as they were to this reader.
I learned much about celadon pottery, and particularly the uniqueness of the inlay process. The Author Notes expand on the culture and the art, and sent me to Google to look up the Thousand Cranes vase.
The novel was awarded the Newbery Medal for excellence in Children’s Literature.
This middle-grade novel is a beautiful introduction to the Korean culture, as well as to the art of pottery. Park gives us a wonderful cast of characters, starting with the main character, Tree-Ear, an orphan who wound up in the care of the homeless Crane-man, who was crippled from birth and lived under a bridge. I love their relationship, how they care for one another, and give to one another so selflessly.
I also really appreciated the complex relationship of Tree-Ear to his mentor Min, and to Min’s wife, Ajima. The cultural barriers to truly bringing him on as an apprentice were as shocking to Tree-Ear as they were to this reader.
I learned much about celadon pottery, and particularly the uniqueness of the inlay process. The Author Notes expand on the culture and the art, and sent me to Google to look up the Thousand Cranes vase.
The novel was awarded the Newbery Medal for excellence in Children’s Literature.
sleepy_giraffe's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0