MIDDLE GRADE NOVEL-IN-VERSE: The One Thing You'd Save by Linda Sue Park
ABOUT THE BOOK
If your house were
on fire, what one thing would you save? Newbery Medalist Linda Sue Park
explores different answers to this provocative question in linked poems
that capture the diverse voices of a middle school class. Illustrated
with black-and-white art.
When a teacher asks her class what one thing they would save in an emergency, some students know the answer right away. Others come to their decisions more slowly. And some change their minds when they hear their classmates’ responses. A lively dialog ignites as the students discover unexpected facets of one another—and themselves. With her ear for authentic dialog and knowledge of tweens’ priorities and emotions, Linda Sue Park brings the varied voices of an inclusive classroom to life through carefully honed, engaging, and instantly accessible verse.
When a teacher asks her class what one thing they would save in an emergency, some students know the answer right away. Others come to their decisions more slowly. And some change their minds when they hear their classmates’ responses. A lively dialog ignites as the students discover unexpected facets of one another—and themselves. With her ear for authentic dialog and knowledge of tweens’ priorities and emotions, Linda Sue Park brings the varied voices of an inclusive classroom to life through carefully honed, engaging, and instantly accessible verse.
REVIEW
A class teacher asks her students to participate in a discussion about what they would save if they could save one item from a fire. Some students know immediately what they would save, but some students take more time to decide. One student simply can't decide at all because he has so many things that are precious to him. Cell phones, a laptop, signed baseball program, dad's wallet, sweater knitted by grandma, worn-out sneakers earned personally, and nothing are a few of the items that students pick. The students thoughts are generally shared without the reader knowing who is speaking, which can be confusing, but at the same time doesn't really matter. The theme is what's most important here. Using the line structure from sijo, traditional Korean poetry, Park shows readers how the thinking of others can influence us. Some of the students and even the teacher change their minds after hearing what others say. And the things the students value create an interesting mix of things the world would find valuable and things the world would consider worthless but that are priceless to the students for one reason or another. This book is a quick read but the themes run deep and are well worth discussing. The black-and-white illustrations nicely compliment the brief text highlighting the items and experiences the students are sharing. A beautifully written, thoroughly, thought-provoking read that leaves something with the reader when finished.
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