A STEP FROM HEAVEN

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Na, An. 2001. A STEP FROM HEAVEN. Read by Oh Jina. New York: Random House ISBN: 0-8072-1612-7 Reading level: age 12 to UP

PLOT SUMMARY

Young Ju’s family left 'Han Kook’ (Korea in English) for ‘Mi Gook’ (The United States in English) when she was four years old. 'Mi Gook' looked like heaven to Young Ju, but as time went by, she realized that the life in the United States was far from being in a heaven. Apa (Young Ju’s dad in English) had to work hard to earn a small amount of money, and had a hard time understanding and speaking English. Even worse, as 'Park Joon Ho’ (Young Ju’s younger brother), was born, a burden was added to the family to raise him. Although Apa and Uhmma (Young Ju’s mom) had several jobs to improve their life, their financial status didn't get better. Uhmma sacrificed herself to her family, and as Young Ju said in the book, 'Uhmma's hands worked hard to make sure our hands would not resemble hers.' Apa, represented as a typical authoritarian Korean dad, felt frustrated as his American dream rarely came true although he worked hard and did his best. Finally he became addicted to alcohol. Even worse, the family got a call from Korea that Apa’s mother, Halmoni had been passed away, but the family couldn’t go to Korea because of the high airfare. Apa was becoming violent to his family, and Young Ju witnessed that he often beated Uhmma. Apa even beated Youn Ju severely during her playing with Amanda, her best friend who he disliked. Uhmma shouted Apa saying “you were going to kill her!...Worthless dog! Hoodlum! Drunken bastard!” And Uhmma got slammed by Apa. Threatened by Apa, Young Ju called 911 to get some help, and Apa arrested by the police. Several days later, Young Ju heard from Uhmma that Apa decided to go back to Korea. But, Young Ju, Joon Ho, and Uhmma did’t go with him. They moved to new home, and started a new life without daddy.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This book is the first work of An Na and won the Michael L. Printz Award in 2002 which is for excellence in literature for young adults. The author was born in Korea and is the daughter of an immigrant, so she was able to employ some direct experiences from her life and surroundings. This story represents all families who migrate from Korea to the United States for a better life. The description of the conflicts and hardships in the book is so vivid that readers may share the feelings of the characters. Especially, the protagonist, Young Ju was struggled to find her identity in America as a Korean-American is sympathetic to young adults in similar situation. This book is read by Jina Oh in a first person narrative, and according to the cover of the CD, she has been appeared in numerous regional stage productions and on television in Sex and the City and One life to Live. Her voice is very stable and calm, but she tries to use various tones of voice for each characters. As a Korean, she is the best narrator in the pronounciation of many Korean words such as 'Apa' 'Uhmma', and 'Ahjimma.' The unabridged version of this audiobook has 4 CDs playing 4 hours and 14 minutes. If there were sound effects or background music for the climactic scenes, it would be perfect.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Publishers Weekly (February 4, 2002)

Oh's appropriately girlish voice and measured reading bring to life Young Ju, quiet heroine of debut novelist Na's dark tale of a family of Korean immigrants, which just won the ALA's Printz Award for teenage literature. At age four, Young Ju is not happy to be leaving her Korean home and loving Halmoni (grandmother) to move with her parents to Mi Gook (America), believed to be the land of great promise. Through Young Ju's experiences, listeners hear the family unravel as difficulties mount for them in the States. Young Ju's parents struggle with several low-paying jobs, handicapped by their language barrier. Young Ju's alcoholic and bitter father abuses his wife and children and forbids Young Ju to socialize with American friends. And when her father crosses a frightening line in his cruelty, Young Ju bravely takes action that sets her mother, younger brother and herself on the path to yet another new life in America. Oh's characterization, which realistically captures this powerful contemporary story and gives authentic crispness to Korean words and phrases, will keep listeners in its grip. Ages 12-up. (Jan.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Horn Book Guide (October 1, 2001)

Young Ju tells of her family's immigration from Korea to the United States and their subsequent struggles in a new country. The brief chapters have the intimacy of snapshots, and images of reaching and dreaming poignantly convey Young Ju's desire to survive her father's brutality. Mother and daughter exhibit a quiet strength; similarly, each of these vignettes displays an astonishing and memorable force. Copyright 2001 of The Horn Book, Inc. All rights reserved.

CONNECTIONS

*Discussion lists
-What is the meaning of Heaven in this book? Think about your heaven.
-As a immigrant, what kinds of problems the Park family are suffering from?
-Think about the image of the book cover. If she is Young Ju, why the half of the face covered with fabric?
-If you were Young Ju, what would you do when her father beats Young Ju and her mother.

*Books of Immigration for YA
Atwell, Debby. The Thanksgiving Door. ISBN: 0-618-77124-7
Gallo, Donald R (Editor). First Crossing: Stories about Teen Immigrants ISBN: 0-7636-3291-0
Hobbs, Will. Crossing the Wire. ISBN: 0-06-074140-6
Saturen, Myra. Journey to a New World: Mystic River of the West. ISBN: 0-88092-495-0

*Books of Korea Society
Kubota, Makota. South Korea. ISBN: 1-55532-168-2
Yi, David Korean Youths Lost in America. ISBN: 1-58244-102-2

THE GIVER

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lowry, Lois. 1993. THE GIVER. Read by Ron Rifkin. New York: Random House Audio Publishing Group ISBN: 0-8072-8609-5 Reading level: age 10 to up

PLOT SUMMARY

To Jonas, where he lives seems very calm and safe, an ideal world. There is no poverty, divorce, injustice, or inequality. People in the community can’t decide everything on their own, even their families are chose by the committee in a ceremony. The community is ruled by some extraordinary rules such as the “Ceremony in December”, when children become Twelves and are assigned their roles in the community, and the “Ritual of Telling Dreams”: each morning, every member of the family shares their dreams of the previous night. Each family has one girl and one boy, and each year, fifty infants are born to birthmothers. ‘New children’ are raised in the Nurturer at the Nurturing Center until they become Ones. Recently, Jonas has been wondered about what profession he would be assigned. At the Ceremony in December, Jonas is selected as a Receiver of Memories who is the most honored and respected Assignment in the community. Role of a Receiver of Memories is to keep all the memories of the past until new Receiver was selected to pass his memories. Unlike other community members, he would feel fear, grief, sorrow, rage, and pain that the memories bring, and ‘The Giver’ is responsible to train Jonas. As he experiences new memories and feelings, Jonas comes to realize that it is not right that the freedom of the community members to decide their feelings is not permitted and he talks this to The Giver. When Jonas hears that Gabriel, who is being taken care of by Jonas’ family, is in danger of being released, Jonas decides to take Gabriel somewhere. Gabriel has not grown well and slept well, and The Giver says that ‘release’ from the community means ‘death.’ With Jonas’ escape, all the memories release and the community members can feel all the feelings they didn’t experienced before. What about Jonas and Gabriel? The last paragraph of the book left that to the reader’s imagination; “Downward, downward, faster and faster. Suddenly he was aware with certainty and joy that below, ahead, they were waiting for him; and they were waiting, too, for the baby. For the first time, he heard something that he knew to be music. He heard people singing.”

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

As a representative modern fantasy novel for young adults, The Giver won the 1994 Newbery medal and includes elements of the “impossible,” yet probable, as mentioned in Dr. Vardell’s lecture material. These elements stimulate young adults’ imagination. If the book had been narrated by a boy the same age of the young protagonist, Jonas, it would have acquired more sympathy from young adults. This audio book has four CDs and plays for 4 hours and 48 minutes. The CD jacket includes a detailed summary about the author and audio book reader. The book was read by Ron Rifkin who has been appeared on various films and drama series such as ER. His various experiences help him voice male and female characters. The voice of The Giver is very realistic and sounds like he is a real old man. The background music provides dramatic effects, especially the scene when Jonas experiences his father’s memory, and he is about to escape from the community. Compared to reading the book, I felt the audio version is better to appeal young adult reader’s attention. Although the author Lois Lowry is mentioned as one of most challenged authors, The Giver is worthy to read by young adults.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Booklist (September 15, 1998)

Gr. 7^-9. Lowry's simple, powerful prose creates an anti-utopian world where the lack of hardship, war, and poverty only covers the citizens' deeper lack of freedom. A Booklist Editors' Choice and Newbery Medal Winner.

Publishers Weekly (August 8, 1994)

Winner of the 1994 Newbery Medal, this thought-provoking novel centers on a 12-year-old boy's gradual disillusionment with an outwardly utopian futuristic society; in a starred review, PW said, ``Lowry is once again in top form... unwinding a tale fit for the most adventurous readers.'' Ages 10-up. (Sept.)Horn Book Guide (September 1, 1993)Fiction: O In a departure from her well-known and favorably regarded realistic works, Lowry has written a fascinating, thoughtful science-fiction novel. The story takes place in a nameless, utopian community, at an unidentified future time. Although life seems perfect -- there is no hunger, no disease, no pollution, no fear -- the reader becomes uneasily aware that all is not well. The story is skillfully written; the air of disquiet is delicately insinuated; and the theme of balancing the values of freedom and security is beautifully presented. Horn Rating: Outstanding, noteworthy in style, content, and/or illustration. Reviewed by: aaf

CONNECTIONS

*About the Lois Lowry http://books.scholastic.com/teachers/authorsandbooks/authorstudies/authorhome.jsp?authorID=55&collateralID=5219&displayName=Biography

*Book Quiz
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/giver/quiz.html
http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading17/giver.htm

*Discussion Lists
List the extraordinary rules of the community.
What is the role of The Giver and a Receiver of Memories?
Why Jonas is different from other children?
What happen if Jonas escapes from the community?
What profession do you consider to have in the future? Why?
Make your own story after Jonas leaves the community.
What is different between our world and the community where Jonas lives?

HOLES

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sachar, Louis. 1998. HOLES. Read by Kerry Beyer. New York: Random House. ISBN: 0-8072-8162-X Reading level: age 10 to up

PLOT SUMMARY

As Stanley stated in the book, “I’m not exactly the luckiest guy in the world.” Stanley and his family have always suffered from bad luck, and now it was the curse from his great-great-grandfather. One day, with the false accusation of stealing the shoes of Clyde "Sweetfeet" Livingston, Stanley is sent to ‘Camp Green Lake,’ a juvenile detention camp. It has no lake or greenery, and the evil Warden, who is the camp director, makes the boys "build character" by digging holes five feet wide and five feet deep. One day, Stanley found a golden lipstick tube with the initials, K.B. on it, and he thought the Warden was looking for something about ‘Kissing Kate Barlow.’ Stanley learns that his great-grand father’s money was stolen by Katherine Barlow who buried the money somewhere in the camp. The Warden was trying to find the money, forcing the boys in Camp Green Lake to dig holes every day. Stanley and his friend, Zero started to search for the treasure secretly. One day, they found a suitcase in the hole they were digging. The Warden saw this and tried to take the suitcase from them. Then, Stanley’s lawyer arrived at the camp to inform that Stanley was innocent of the shoes stealing, and free to go to home. Also, he can have the suitcase because his name ‘Stanley Yelnats’ was on the suitcase.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

An example of contemporary realistic fiction, Holes won several awards including the Newbery Medal in 1999, the National Book Award, and the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award. As Dr.Vardell mentioned in her lecture note, contemporary realistic fiction novels contain events that could really happen. Holes set in the Camp Green Lake which is a boy's juvenile detention center in Texas, but, episodes with courage, friendship are very familiar theme to young readers. The unabridged cassette version has three tapes and plays for 4 hours and 30 minutes. The book is read by Kerry Beyer who is a writer, actor, and director. He used different voices for each character, the pronunciation is very clear, but the speed of his reading is somewhat fast. The jacket has book summary and information about the author and narrator.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Publishers Weekly (May 15, 2000)

PW's starred review of the 1999 Newbery Medal winner described it as a "dazzling blend of social commentary, tall tale and magic realism." Ages 10-up. (May) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal (September 1, 1999)

Gr 4-7-Stanley Yelnats is an unusual hero-dogged by bad luck stemming from an ancient family curse, overweight, and unlikely to stick up for himself when challenged by the class bully. Perpetually in the wrong place at the wrong time, Stanley is unfairly sentenced to months of detention at Camp Green Lake (a gross misnomer if ever there was one!) where he's forced to dig one hole in the rock-hard desert soil every day. The hole must be exactly five feet in diameter, the distance from the tip of his shovel to the top of the wooden handle. Each boy is compelled to dig until his hole is completed, no matter how long it takes. According to the warden the digging "builds character." Stanley soon begins to question why the warden is so interested in anything "special" the boys find. How Stanley rescues his friend Zero, who really stole Sweet Feet's tennis shoes, what the warden is desperately looking for, and how the Yelnats curse is broken all blend magically together in a unique coming of age story leavened with a healthy dose of humor. Kerry Beyer's narration of Louis Sachar's Newbery Award-winning novel (FS&G, 1998) brings each of the characters vividly to life, and his pensive portrayal of Stanley brings out all that's most appealing about this unlucky loser who becomes a winner by the story's end. A first purchase for all public library collections.-Cindy Lombardo, Orrville Public Library, OH Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

CONNECTIONS

*Author Website

http://www.louissachar.com/

*Book Quiz
http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading39/holes.htm
http://www.kidsreads.com/wordscrambles/word-holes.asp

*Activities
-Have children select their favorite part of the books and summarize that.
-Have children select one theme in the book and research of that.
+Juvenile Justice and Detention
+Texas
+Friendship
+Courage
-The name Stanley Yelnats is a palindrome. Have children find other examples of palindrome.
-Have children watch the film of Holes and compare the two.