A Single Shard

A Single Shard
Linda Sue Park
Random House Children's Books
Copyright 2003
Pages: 192
Reading Level: 10 and up
Genre: Historical Fiction
Summary:
Tree-ear is an orphan boy who loves to watch Min make pottery, but lives with Crane-man under the bridge. One day, he goes up close to look at Min's work and breaks one of his pots. Tree-ear offers to work to pay off his debt, and Min puts him to work cutting wood for the communal kiln. After his debt is paid, Tree-ear asks Min if he can continue to work for him, and Min agrees, saying that he can't pay Tree-ear. Tree-ear starts to collect clay and his duties rotate between collecting clay and cutting wood. Tree-ear wants to learn how to make a pot, and one day Tree-ear asks Min to teach him, Min refuses because Tree-ear is not his son. Tree-ear takes two of Min's pots to the King's court to show off Min's work and on the way is ambushed by bandits. They break both Min's pots and leave Tree-ear without money. Tree-ear looks for the pots and all he can find is a pile of fine shreds and a shard that shows the beauty of Min's work that is the size of his palm. Tree-ear takes this shard to the Royal Emissary who gives Min a commission then and there. Tree-ear is given a ride home on a boat and when he gets there, Min tells him that Crane-man drowned, when he was pulled out of the river, he was holding the clay monkey that Tree-ear had made for him. Min and his wife adopt Tree-ear and rename him so that he is part of their family (and Min teaches him how to make pottery).
Recommendations and Conflict:
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read. The conflicts in this book is the main character seriously considering suicide, Crane-man dying, and Min's refusal to teach Tree-ear
Reactions:
I fell in love with the characters in this book, when Min refused to teach Tree-ear, I understood the feeling of loss that Min felt over the death of his son, Crane-man became a mentor to me and I cried when he died. Tree-ear fills me with hope and courage, because that is what he showed in the face of all his trials.