A Single Shard

Lauren Fawcett
6th Grade Math and Science
Founders’ Hall Middle School, McKeesport Area School District
A Single Shard
This novel would be appropriate for a fourth or fifth grade classroom. The content is easy to read, but obtains robust vocabulary which is a great way to expand students’ vocabulary skills. In addition, there are only a few characters within the story which keeps it simple for the reader. The novel is a page turner and gets to the point of the scenes within the chapters. The chapters are not lengthy which is great for a 4th or 5th grade reader, so he or she will not become discouraged if they are a struggling reader. In addition, this novel is great for a classroom because it states that it is set in the 12th century in Korea in the beginning of the novel. This brings in culture and geography if you were teaching about world history or about Asia in general by elaborating through a story what it was like during that time of Asian history. As an educator, I would want to know the ins and outs of this novel and about the author to make sure I can touch upon all the important details of the story and to connect it to the history of Asia and to the students’ prior knowledge.
The story is about a boy named Tree-ear and his passion and determination to learn how to throw pots. Tree-ear is an orphan boy who lives under a bridge with an old man named Crane-man. Tree-ear watches a potter named Min who throws pots. Tree-ear eventually gets caught by Min and starts working for Min for about a year and a half everyday mainly cutting fire wood and retrieving clay for free. Emissary Kim is a man from China who decides who gets a potter commission job. Emissary Kim analyzed Min’s pots along with a fellow named Kang. Emissary Kim asked that Min travels to China to show his pots one more time because Emissary Kim loved Potter Min’s creations. Tree-ear volunteered himself to travel from Korea to China with the two vases that Potter Min wished Emissary Kim to see; since Potter Min was very old he could not travel too far. On the journey, Tree-ear ran into a couple of robbers and the vases broke. Tree-ear found a single shard big enough to show Emissary Kim, so he did.
I did not want to spoil the end of the story, although, I would use this specific novel in my classroom multiple ways. One way would be to elaborate on how art and ceramics came from Asia; I would bring in clay and paint for the students to make their own pots and to practice their art skills. Another way would be for the students to make a timeline of the story to make sure the students understood the sequence of the story to build upon their comprehension skills. Also, this book would be a good way for students to understand who orphans or homeless people are if they did not already know and that this still happens today and what we as a community can do to help those in need. This book is a great way to connect to children who live in a more poverty stricken area as well because of the similar connection to Tree-ear. This novel is also age-related because children at the age of 10 are still curious about the world around them, just like Tree-ear was. My class can then begin a classroom project or food drive for the local community. Lastly, simply discussing about Tree-ear’s determination by wanting something so badly that he did whatever it took to do that even if that meant traveling for days alone to reach a different country.
In conclusion, I would recommend this novel to any reader. I feel it has a main idea of determination or passion like I previously stated. Students’ need a mixture of genres and this novel has many different emotions that run through it. It is exciting yet sad and that is why the novel is a page turner. I highly enjoyed it and I am sure you will as well.

Jenna Kerstetter
Intervention Specialist
Reading and Mathematics
Grace S. Beck Elementary School
A Single Shard Book Review
Linda Sue Park is an amazing writer who once again produced an amazing novel. A Single Shard tells a compelling story of an honest, trustworthy, young boy names Tree- Ear and his disabled friend Crane-man and the friendship they endure while living homeless. These two characters teach one another life lessons that one can only hope they learn throughout their lives.
When the story begins in the village of Ch’ulp’o, Tree-Ear has a great interest in watching a magnificent pottery named Min work endlessly producing pottery. Tree-Ear would hide outside his pottery shop and watch him, while being careful not to be caught. One day he decides he is going to go into Min’s shop to look at his finished pottery. When Tree-Ear is startled by Min, he drops a piece of pottery. Thus where the true heart of the story begins. Tree-Ear begins to work for Min to work of his debt from the broken piece of pottery. This is where his relationship with Crane-man begins to change. Since Tree-Ear is spending hours at Min’s shop doing all kinds of work for him, Crane-man is left alone.
This book would be a great read for advanced 4th grade students as well as students in grades 5 and 6.
This book has endless possibilities to be incorporated into classrooms. Students could create a web about a time when something drastically changed in their lives. They would then use this web to write an essay about how they felt when this event happened and how the event changed their lives. Another way you can use this book is to have your students write a new ending to the story. They could also incorporate the arts by illustrating their ending scene. This gives the students a chance to use what they have learned throughout the story to give the ending a new, exciting twist.
Overall, this novel tells a great story about a hardworking boy who never gave up until he achieved his ultimate goal.

James Gouker
6 – 12 Art
Pittsburgh SciTech
A Single Shard, Linda Sue Park
Linda Park’s lovely little book, A Single Shard is a story that is not only accessible cross-culturally, but also cross-gender for middle school students. The book allows for ceramics to be understood through the lens of Korean artists, but not in a way that is not overwhelming or overly technical. There is a truth about the story and the main character, Tree-ear, which goes beyond the youthful language for which it is written and allows for readers of a much older age to enjoy and treasure.
The novel is written in a language that is very basic and easy to understand, though it is not simplistic. It has a naturalness that is befitting Tree-ear, the protagonist. Tree-ear is a poor boy that lives with a monk who dreams of becoming a potter’s assistant (more so, a potter). The poverty and simplicity of Tree-ear’s aspirations fits with the level of vocabulary and sentence structure. It also allows for a more general accessibility and lends to a very easy read.
Tree-ear is not a gender specific hero, even though he is male. He is written to be a very hard working character that seizes upon a wish and a dream and a mistake to change the course of his life. The humbleness and struggle of Tree-ear is universal. He gets angry when his work is overlooked, he lies to shield his best friend from injury, he makes big mistakes, but he works impossible hours and travels impossible distances for his belief in an artist and his potential as a creator, himself.
The art language is accurate and interesting, but not over informative. Ms. Park discusses the intricacies of throwing and hand building in an over-simplified way. But so much so that a non-ceramicist could easily understand the process. She gets into the business of the clay and the work of preparing it fairly deeply, but that information drives the story. The firing and glaze work explanation is well done, as it adds to the rising action and overall, the general essence of the novel. Generally, the art jargon is well explained and kept to a minimum. The appreciation of the arts, especially the beauty of ceramics is obvious and overarching.
This book could be used as an extension of ceramics study or as inspiration for narrative tiles or prints.

The setting for this book takes place in a small village in Korea during the twelfth century. The story is about an orphan boy named Tree-ear who was initially taken in by the local monks but ended up living with a homeless man named Crane-man because of a disease that was spreading throughout the monasteries at that time. Crane–man and Tree-ear lived under a bridge and barely survived off of scraps of food. Crane-man was only supposed to look over Tree-ear until the monasteries could take him, but it ended up that Tree-ear stayed with Crane-man due to the friendship that developed between them. Everything was going well until Tree-ear got caught spying on a master potter (Min) and watching him make beautiful pottery. This put a desire in Tree-ear’s heart to make similar pottery one day, using a “real” potter’s wheel.
Tree-ear ends up working for Min. Initially, Tree-ear worked to pay Min back for breaking one of Min’s special pottery pieces; however, over time Tree-ear ends up staying as Min’s helper. Tree-ear quickly discovers there is more to making beautiful pottery than meets the eye. He digs and hauls clay and puts up with Min’s hot temper for a very long time. One day as Tree-ear is delivering potter to the kiln, he watches a local potter and sees him using a new inlay technique. He follows the local potter and discovers that he also uses various types of special clay that brings out a unique purple hue in the pottery. Tree-ear wants desperately to tell Min about this new technique; however, he waits until after the local potter breaks the news to the village before he shares the information with Min.
Shortly thereafter, Min asks Tree-ear to deliver samples of his pottery to the royal court using the new inlay technique; Min is hoping that his pottery will be selected for a royal commission. Tree-ear has never left the village before and is very nervous. He travels by himself on a long journey that took several days, barely surviving after being attacked by robbers who smashed the pottery, leaving Tree-ear with a single shard of pottery. It turns out that Min’s work gets selected for the royal commission. In the end, Tree-ear’s dreams come true: Min invites him to become a part of his family so the tradition of making pottery can be passed on from one generation to the next.

I am a 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade resource teacher at Falk Laboratory School at The University of Pittsburgh.
This book is ideal for grades 5,6,7, and 8. It is also appropriate for older students.
A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park was very enjoyable to read, even as an adult. It tells the story of a boy named Tree-ear who is orphaned and lives under a bridge with a kindly, old, crippled friend named Crane-man. The sparse simplicity of the two friends’ homeless lifestyle highlights the beauty of their unusual and beautiful friendship.
Taking place in 12th century Korea, the story of Tree-ear and Crane-man incorporates a lot of well-researched and historically accurate details. The small village of Ch’ulp’o, where the major action of A Single Shard unfolds, is known for its fine Celadon pottery. Quickly after the story begins, the young Tree-ear starts observing the great potter Min between food-scavenges in the small villages trash heaps. When Tree-ear snoops in Min’s studio and accidently breaks a pot, he must work for Min to pay off his debt to the skilled artisan. This new work takes the reader on an interesting journey into the daily life of a Korean Potter in the 1100’s. Unfortunately as Tree-ear spends more time with Min in the pottery studio, his relationship with Crane-man, his surrogate father, begins to change.
Not only is this a coming-of-age novel that highlights the painful process of young people keeping ties to their loved ones while discovering a sense of independence, but it is wrapped with interesting historical details on every level. If you are teaching a social studies unit on Korea or Asia, this book would bring up many interesting discussion topics, such as:
“How did Buddhism affect the lives of people in Korea?” and “How did the Korean social structure affect Tree-ear and his outlook on life?”
This book is ideal for grades 5,6,7, and 8. It is also appropriate for older students.
A Single Shard would also be a fabulous addition to an art class with a clay/sculpture focus or a cross-curricular connection that could be made between Art and Language Arts teachers. Because there are detailed descriptions of collecting and working with clay, as well as working on a potter’s wheel and loading a fire-powered kiln, art students will make a lot of connections with their own work, and will be able to compare and contrast modern ceramics work with traditional methods. If I was using this in a Language Arts class, I would definitely collaborate with the art teacher to bring ceramics experiences into the classroom while students are reading this book.

Ann Marie Kern
Grade:5
Subjects:All
Chartiers Valley Intermediate School
Book Review: A Single Shard
Grades: 5 – 8
Grade Level Equivalent: 6.8
Lexile Framework: 920L
Guided Reading Level: U
AR: #49768
Genre: Historical Fiction
Subject: Crafts, Determination and Perseverance, Loyalty, Achievement and Success, Korean
Newbery Award Winner 2002
Subjects it can be used in:
*Reading *LanguageArts *Social Studies
A Single Shard is based on a thirteen-year-old orphaned boy named Tree-ear in 12th Century Korea. Tree-ear lives under a bridge in Ch'ulp'o, potters' village famed for celadon ware. He is taken care of by another outcast of the time, Crane-man. As Tree-ear grows his interests go far beyond what Crane-man can provide. Tree-ear is drawn to a new interest, pottery. He becomes fascinated with watching a particular potter by the name of Min. Tree-ear returns daily to watch in secret the brilliance of the potter, until Tree-ears admiration gets the best of him and he enters Min’s pottery. He is discovered and Tree-ear’s hidden adoration is met with Min’s temper.
To pay for his trespass and disrespect, Tree-ear is put to work as Min’s helper. It is a dream that Tree-ear has wanted, to learn to make pots of his own. But it does come with a price: the backbreaking labor of digging and hauling clay, Min's sour temper, and his own ignorance. Tree-ear’s determination to prove his capability provides him with the opportunity to absorb everything that allows one to be a remarkable potter.
A Single Shard allows for detailed questioning, visualization, prediction, inferences, and evaluation. The book can be connected in the curriculum through reading, art, social studies. When using a trade book, I create a learning unit that is integrated into other subject areas. I draw in history of the region that is the setting of the book, culture, and main theme. This book allows for many opportunities to discuss and learn of the Korean culture in the 12th century through the eyes of a 12 year old boy. Through this reading most students find that they have some commonalities with Tree-ear, even though he is from another time and place. He wants to be respectful, but respected. This is a story that guides students to realize that one has to be patient and can learn through a multitude of means.
Resources to assist in teaching:
Guide for Using a Single Shard in the Classroom
pages 48 Teacher Created Resources, ISBN 978-0-7439-3158-8
Web pages with resources: (check, some links can be taken down) http://www.neiu.edu/~gearup/units/yal/TMMS_Single_Shard/
http://www.merrybee.info/ba/single.html
http://www.lessonplanet.com/search?keywords=single+shard&media=lesson
http://www.edhelper.com/books/A_Single_Shard.htm?gclid=CNvj3cfH_qgCFUWA5...

Timothy A. McVeagh
Pittsburgh Central Catholic HS
StudioArt/ Art Appreciation 9 - 12
A Single Shard is a compelling story of a young orphan boy named Tree-ear and his struggle to find meaning in his life with the help of others. He is mentored by a small cast of characters, each of which helps to provide for the boy, a variety of life lessons and necessities for survival and development. Crane-man is an old, crippled, man who befriends the boy and teaches him practical and philosophical life lessons which span from the making of soup to the development of his pride and dignity through lessons of honesty and truthfulness. Min is the master potter and craftsman. His relationship with Tree-ear begins by scolding and punishing him for an honest mistake. Min eventually comes to find the boy worthy enough to be taken into his household from the streets and given the necessary status to fulfill his dream of becoming a master potter. Ajima is the wife of the master potter Min. Ajima provides for Tree-ear a loving care and compassion that can only be provided by a mother figure. This care helps Tree-ear continue to find the courage and perseverance to complete a journey that is filled with obstacles. The book provides us with many examples of life lessons of pride, dignity, discipline and perseverance. In my own experience of studying to be a potter in a college environment, I was reminded of being taught that being able to raise the clay into pottery was only possible with focus and discipline. Preparing one’s self and the clay were synonymous with success. This seemingly simple lesson has been adopted by me in my coaching and in the classroom as the critical element to quality performances and success later in life. This book provides a viable means of learning about this concept through an interesting and enjoyable story. Although it may be written at the grade school level, it is a lesson that many high school students and adults would benefit from learning.

Malia Bennett
Trinity Area High School
Ceramics 9-12
‘A Single Shard’ by Linda Sue Park is a engaging novel set in Korea in the 12th century. Although perfect for middle school students, this novel could be used with high school students if used as a guide to encourage deeper exploration of the many concepts within. The novel follows the story of Tree-ear, a twelve year old orphan who lives under a bridge with his friend and mentor, Crane Man. Crane Man, although old and partially lame, is full of wisdom and good humor and teaches Tree-ear how to survive without the support of a community. This is a good lesson on social strata and could start an interesting conversation on populations in the students own community who may be homeless. As a ceramics teacher, this concept is a great lead-in to our annual Empty Bowls fundraiser which benefits a local food pantry.
Tree-ear begins to spend time watching a local potter, Min, whose seeming magic with clay has fascinated him. One day Tree-ear sneaks in to take a closer look and ends up breaking a piece of pottery. Determined to work off his debt to the potter, Tree-ear becomes an apprentice to Min. This part of the story is a chance to discuss social status and apprenticeship patterns in Korea and to contrast them to the students own culture. Another possible tie-in at this stage, depending on the age of the students, would be Chapter one of ‘Apprenticeship: From Theory to Method and Back Again’ by Michael W. Coy entitled ‘Japanese Folkcraft Pottery Apprenticeship: Cultural Patterns of an Educational Institution’ by John Singleton. This reading, although complex, could be broken down and discussed as a class and perhaps contrasted with apprenticeship programs and unions today.
The book continues to give a wonderful description and history of Korean celadon pottery. Any art or ceramics teacher would be encouraged to take this opportunity to pull out of the readings a description and understanding of the chemical processes involved in firing the kiln and attaining the correct reduction atmosphere.
‘A Single Shard’ is packed full of opportunities to engage, enlighten, and challenge students in a variety of disciplines. I recommend this book as a continuing thread in a conversation that covers that wide variety of topics. The students will connect with Tree-ear and make comparisons between his world and his challenges and their own.

Erin Diehl
A Single Shard would a great book to be read by fourth to twelfth grade students. In late elementary school it can be used to compare and contrast the Korean culture and the European cultures they are familiar with. This could be used easily in a reading class and a social studies class, even to the point it can be a collaborated effort between the two. It could be used in comparison with Oliver Twist, even though the time periods are a few centuries different. There are many differences as well as many similarities in the two texts.
This book goes through the life of a poor orphan, and how he survives with a disabled man, living in poverty. He knows he is ‘unnoticeable’ to the upper levels of society, so he watches people and becomes obsessed with an old potter, which leads a naturally curious boy to snooping around the potter’s house when he thinks no one is home. This leads to a travesty in which the boy needs to repay a debt, which he does, and then hopes to become an apprentice. It brings in other aspects of forgiveness, compassion, and leads to the acceptance of a young boy whose life completely changes after he makes a terrible mistake.

Veronica Kennedy, Winchester Thurston School
6th, 7th, 8th grade World Mythology and Spanish
Review: A Single Shard, by Linda Sue Park.
I could not put down this book once I started reading it. The story is compelling. Through the eyes of Tree-Ear, an orphan boy, we see and hear the goings on in a small Korean village of potters in the 11th century. The book does a very good job of showing what life was like in that period, but the essence of the book is the lesson that Tree-Ear learns about perseverance and absolute dedication to the pursuit of his goal: To become a potter.
The grueling work and the slow process of learning when the clay is ready teaches Tree-ear patience and the pride that comes when he can tell by touch when the clay is perfect for throwing. Love, mutual dependency and sacrificing for another is the lesson in the relationship he has with Crane-man, who takes him in to his “home” under the bridge and pushes him to succeed. The journey to the emperors palace in a coming of age saga in which persistence and sense of duty pay off well. We are glad at his overcoming the obstacles to becoming a potter and finding in the end a family.
This is a perfect book for the 5-8th graders, and a book that can be read by the whole family for home discussion. The Confucian value of “honor your elders” is present in every page. Particularly touching is the final acceptance by the potter Min of Tree-ear as his adopted son, whereby Tree-ear gains the status he must have to be a potter. I heartily recommend the book for classroom use.