Formal review- A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park

Park. L.S. (2001). A single shard. New York, NY: Clarion Books.

Grade level: 5-8

Review: A Single Shard is a story of perseverance about a young orphan named Tree-Ear who is enamored with the artistry and craft of pottery. After he accidentally breaks a piece of Min’s pottery, Tree-Ear begins to work as a helper for Min, a master potter, to repay his debt. His caretaker, Crane-Man, mentors Tree-Ear while he works under the tutelage of Min. During his young life he faces many obstacles but perseveres on his quest to prove himself. A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park received the Newbery award for children’s literature in 2002. Throughout the novel Park seamlessly develops compelling, three dimensional characters, particularly Tree-Ear. He is a determined and tenacious young boy that grows and learns over the course of the story as he works for Min. Tree-Ear’s steadfast character and positivity contribute to the overall theme of persistence and hard work in the story. While I enjoyed the characterization and theme of the book, I was not as taken with the setting simply because it was hard for me to relate to initially. The story is set in 12th century Korea making the novel a work of historical fiction. Overall, though, the positive message of this novel makes it a worthwhile read especially for upper elementary and middle school aged children.  

Recommendation: Recommended

Byline: Marcy Singson, Graduate Student, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA

(Image retrieved from amazon.com)

Formal Review- The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Gaiman, N. (2008). The graveyard book. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishing.

Grade level: 5-8

Review: The Graveyard Book is a highly imaginative fantasy novel with a fast-paced, exciting plot. It is written by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Dave McKean and won the Newbery award in 2009.  The Graveyard Book is about a young boy, Nobody ‘Bod’ Owens, who is raised  by ghosts after escaping a grisly murder scene at his own home. The story follows Bod into adolescence as he learns the truth about what happened to his family. As he grows, he faces new dangers and perils while learning life lessons from his ghostly protectors.  Gaiman has a captivating style of writing that entices and intrigues the reader. I also enjoyed the fantasy aspect of the book, particularly  the graveyard setting, because it is an especially unique setting for a work of children’s literature. Additionally, the idea of graveyard residents creating a sense of community and raising a living boy is fresh and ingenuous. While the book was enjoyable, there were parts of the plot that were somewhat disjointed which detracted from the overall flow of the story. For instance, Gaiman only briefly mentions “the ghoul gate” early in the novel without much further development or description later in the book. Even with some faults in the plot, this was an entertaining, charming novel that would be great for upper elementary and middle school aged children.

Recommendation: Recommended

Byline: Marcy Singson, Graduate Student, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA

(Image retrieved from amazon.com)