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A Single Shard
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From: Monica R. Edinger <edinger>
Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 05:44:26 -0500
I was surprised, but delighted to see A Single Shard receive the Newbery. Surprised only because I didn't see the title mentioned much recently as a possible winner. Delighted because I really loved the book when I read it last summer. It was quite a sleeper for me. The cover art frankly put me off (which it did for teachers I showed it to yesterday as well, unfortunately). I'm probably offending someone, but it just looked dated and dull to me. The book flap information didn't entice me either. However, as I began to read I was drawn into Tree?r's 12th century Korean world. Quietly and beautifully. Appropriate as the book is about the creative process which is so often slow and hard. Children may think it is about bold bursts, but not always. This book provides another image of the artist. One that is as true today as it was, no doubt, in 12th century Korea. I found it an exquisite read, as lovely as one of the celadon works of which the single shard of the title is related.
I also was pleased with the author's historical materials at the end of the book which gives interested readers thorough information about the historical aspects of the story. I am a great worrier about the overuse of historical fiction in classrooms, used uncritically with children to learn about history. This book I feel is a marvelous example of well-done historical fiction. I had planned to use it this year with my students later in the year when I invited them to select any work of historical fiction to read and then determine if it is a good work of historical fiction based on earlier work. They have just now read works in groups and are beginning to consider what makes a work of historical fiction good. They will be writing their own works soon (on the Pilgrims) and are otherwise emmersed in this genre. While our focus is US history, I feel that A Single Shard will be a wonderful model for them. In fact, I may now read it aloud to them so we can look closely at how an author balances historical accuracy with creative authority.
And lastly, the author has a nice touch on her web site. After reading and imagining the works in the book, you can see the actual works that inspired the author. Very neat.
Monica Edinger The Dalton School New York NY edinger at dalton.org monicaedinger at yahoo.com
Received on Wed 23 Jan 2002 04:44:26 AM CST
Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 05:44:26 -0500
I was surprised, but delighted to see A Single Shard receive the Newbery. Surprised only because I didn't see the title mentioned much recently as a possible winner. Delighted because I really loved the book when I read it last summer. It was quite a sleeper for me. The cover art frankly put me off (which it did for teachers I showed it to yesterday as well, unfortunately). I'm probably offending someone, but it just looked dated and dull to me. The book flap information didn't entice me either. However, as I began to read I was drawn into Tree?r's 12th century Korean world. Quietly and beautifully. Appropriate as the book is about the creative process which is so often slow and hard. Children may think it is about bold bursts, but not always. This book provides another image of the artist. One that is as true today as it was, no doubt, in 12th century Korea. I found it an exquisite read, as lovely as one of the celadon works of which the single shard of the title is related.
I also was pleased with the author's historical materials at the end of the book which gives interested readers thorough information about the historical aspects of the story. I am a great worrier about the overuse of historical fiction in classrooms, used uncritically with children to learn about history. This book I feel is a marvelous example of well-done historical fiction. I had planned to use it this year with my students later in the year when I invited them to select any work of historical fiction to read and then determine if it is a good work of historical fiction based on earlier work. They have just now read works in groups and are beginning to consider what makes a work of historical fiction good. They will be writing their own works soon (on the Pilgrims) and are otherwise emmersed in this genre. While our focus is US history, I feel that A Single Shard will be a wonderful model for them. In fact, I may now read it aloud to them so we can look closely at how an author balances historical accuracy with creative authority.
And lastly, the author has a nice touch on her web site. After reading and imagining the works in the book, you can see the actual works that inspired the author. Very neat.
Monica Edinger The Dalton School New York NY edinger at dalton.org monicaedinger at yahoo.com
Received on Wed 23 Jan 2002 04:44:26 AM CST
