Tree-Ear is about 12 years old, but he cannot be absolutely certain about his age. The young boy has no parents or relatives to tell him about his earliest days. He has spent his life living under a bridge with Crane-Man and that is all he knows. The author’s note indicates that while homelessness was rare in 12th century Korea because family members or monks often took care of the displaced, it was still possible.
Tree-Ear earned his name because as an orphan he is like the moss that grows on trees. No one knows where it comes from and no one planted it. Tree-Ear and Crane-Man scavenge for food but they do not steal. Crane-Man says that stealing makes a man worse than a dog.
Tree-Ear is fascinated by Min, the potter. Tree-Ear watches Min in secret (or so he thinks) dreaming about one day being a potter himself. Min has a reputation for grumpiness, so Tree-Ear is rather afraid when he damages some of Min’s work. Although Min thinks he’ll be of no use, Tree-Ear offers to work to pay off the debt.
Tree-Ear’s early days of working for Min are painful and frustrating. His hand blisters chopping wood and he has a lot of difficulty getting all of the wood downhill. Not once is he allowed near any pottery. Tree-Ear continues to work for Min because for the first time in his life, he has something to do, other than looking for food. All apprentices, no matter how lowly, must at least be given a meal. Each day Tree-Ear saves half of the meal that the potter’s wife prepares, so he can take the rest to Crane-Man. One day he notices that the bowl with half of his meal has been re-filled. The potter may be grouchy, but his wife feels kindly towards Tree-Ear.
Min is a stern master, and he does excellent work, but being a perfectionist slows him down. Tree-Ear learns this by listening. Orphans were considered unlucky, so people pay him little attention, and Tree-Ear uses this to his advantage. Min’s life goal is a royal commission, and when the royal emissary visits, Min does get special notice. When the emissary returns for a further review of promising candidates, Min smashes his work because it is flawed. The emissary offers him the chance to bring pottery to the city before a decision is made. Min feels he is too old, but Tree-Ear offers to make the journey. The trip is dangerous, but Tree-Ear will find that the rewards far outweigh the dangers and that a single shard of pottery can have a huge impact,
Like making pottery or undertaking a dangerous journey, this book takes patience. Young readers who are accustomed to more dialogue may not take to the book immediately. Park won the 2002 Newbery Medal for this quietly gripping tale about life in a Korean potters’ village.
A Single Shard
Clarion Books (2001)
160 pages (hardcover edition)
