A Single Shard facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
A Single Shard

First edition
Author	Linda Sue Park
Cover artist	Jean and Mon-sien Tseng
Country	United States of America
Language	English
Genre	Historical novel
Publisher	Clarion Books
Publication date	April 23, 2001
Media type	Print (hardback & paperback)
Pages	148
ISBN	0-395-97827-0
OCLC	44803112
LC Class	PZ7.P22115 Si 2001

A Single Shard is a novel written by Linda Sue Park. It tells a story set in Korea during the 12th century. This book won the prestigious 2002 Newbery Medal. This award is given for excellent children's literature. The book also received a special mention from the Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature.

Discovering the World of Pottery

The story follows Tree-ear, an orphan boy. He lives under a bridge with Crane-man, who has cared for him since he was very young. Tree-ear is fascinated by the potters in his village. He especially loves watching Min, a skilled potter, at work.

Tree-ear's Curiosity and a Costly Mistake

Tree-ear often watches Min from a special paulownia tree. He sees Min shaping clay into jugs, vases, and cups on his pottery wheel. One day, Tree-ear goes into Min's yard. He wants to see Min's latest work drying in the sun.

Min suddenly appears, startling Tree-ear. Tree-ear accidentally drops and breaks a clay box. He was amazed by how Min could fit smaller boxes inside bigger ones. To make up for his mistake, Tree-ear offers to work for Min. He promises to work for three times the days it took to make the box. This turns into eighteen months of work.

Working for the Master Potter

Tree-ear is excited on his first day. He hopes to learn the art of pottery. However, Min first asks him to cut wood for the village kiln. Tree-ear works hard cutting wood for nine days.

After this, Tree-ear asks Min for more work. Min says he can only pay Tree-ear with meals. But Tree-ear only wants to learn the pottery trade. So, he agrees to work without pay. Min then sends him to the river to collect clay.

The Royal Emissary and New Techniques

News spreads that a royal emissary named Kim is coming. He will offer special pottery orders to the best potters. Potters in Tree-ear's village and another nearby village prepare their finest work.

Kang's Secret Pottery Method

During this time, Tree-ear notices strange things about another potter, Kang. Kang is as experienced as Min but seems more impatient. Tree-ear sees Kang secretly carrying bowls of colored liquid clay. He also sees Kang moving jars and cups to and from the kiln very early.

One day, Kang trips and spills some colored clay. Tree-ear sees two different colors: red and white. Later, Tree-ear secretly watches Kang. He sees Kang carving flowers into a vase. Then, Kang fills the carved parts with colored clay. This technique is called inlay work. Tree-ear wants to tell Min but worries it would be like stealing from Kang. So, he waits.

The Emissary's Visit and Min's Challenge

When Emissary Kim arrives, all the potters display their work. Min's display is small, but his melon-shaped jug catches the emissary's eye. The emissary leaves, promising to return in a month to place orders.

Tree-ear finally tells Min about Kang's inlay work. Min immediately starts trying this new technique. But after firing, his pottery comes out with brown stains. Min breaks them all and plans to start over. Unfortunately, the emissary returns too soon. Kang is chosen for a commission.

The emissary visits Min's house. He hears Min's story. He then offers Min a commission if Min can bring a sample to the capital city. Min feels he is too old for such a long journey.

A Journey to the Capital

Tree-ear overhears the conversation. He offers to take Min's sample to Songdo, the capital city. He wants to do this as a gift to Min's wife, who has been kind to him. Min quickly creates two melon-shaped vases. They have beautiful, inlaid flowers.

Crane-man builds a special basket to protect the vases during the trip. After making sure Crane-man will be safe, Tree-ear begins his journey alone.

Dangers on the Road

Tree-ear walks for many days. He sleeps in strangers' homes or alone in the woods. When he reaches the city of Puyo, he visits a mountain cliff. This cliff is known as the Rock of Falling Flowers.

At the top of the cliff, two robbers attack Tree-ear. They steal his money. They also take the precious vases and throw them over the cliff. Tree-ear rushes down to the river. Both vases are broken. But one vase has broken into large pieces. Tree-ear finds a single shard from it and continues his journey.

A Single Shard and a New Beginning

When Tree-ear arrives in Songdo, he sees familiar chrysanthemum designs on pottery at a stall. The stall owner says this pottery is already a favorite of the King. Tree-ear manages to get a meeting with the emissary at the palace.

Tree-ear explains the robbery. Then, he shows the single shard from Min's broken vase. Even though the emissary's assistant is doubtful, Min is offered a commission. Tree-ear is given a safe ship ride home.

Back home, Tree-ear goes straight to Min's house. He shares the good news about the commission. Min also has news for Tree-ear. Crane-man had died a few days earlier. A farmer's cart broke the old bridge railing, and Crane-man fell into the cold water. Tree-ear is very sad and worried about his future.

However, Min's wife tells Tree-ear that he will now live with them. Later, Min announces that he will teach Tree-ear the art of pottery. Tree-ear is given a new name, Hyung-pil. The story ends by mentioning that Tree-ear, or Hyung-pil, later created the "Thousand Cranes Vase." This vase became a famous example of inlaid celadon pottery.