Module 5: A Step from Heaven

As I mentioned in my previous post, Module 5 dealt with award-winning novels in children and young adult literature.  The Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature is given by the Young Adult Library Services Association each year for the best teen novel.  I read one Printz Award winner - A Step from Heaven, written by An Na.

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A Step from Heaven is the story of Young Ju Park and her family.  At the beginning of the novel, the Parks immigrate from Korea to the United States, where they settle in California.  As Young Ju grows up, she faces challenges in life, including an alcoholic and abusive father, living as a low-income immigrant, and being "different" from the children she attends school with.  Young Ju wishes her life was different - at one point she tells her elementary school classmates that her infant brother has died, and later continuously lies about where she lives due to embarrassment.  It is a poignant tale of growing up, and in the end Young Ju experiences a glimmer of happiness and hope.

I thought this was an excellent novel for young adults.  It is not a happy tale, but it is one which I believe teens can identify with, regardless of whether they come from the same background as Young Ju.  The novel deals with identity, domestic violence, alcoholism, and other social issues in a very real, sometimes painful manner.  I can definitely understand why this book won the Michael L. Printz award - it is well-written and impactful, but still highly relatable.

Deborah Stevenson of The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books wrote:
"Even as a little girl, Young Ju understands that there are family tensions, that her father is an unhappy man, and that his wife and his mother are hoping for better things... This is a quietly but effectively told story, with the first-person present-tense narration broken up into brief titled sections that are more vignettes than chapters; they’re sufficiently connected to create a poignant overview of a life undergoing extraordinary change... Na has a streamlined, unaffected style that offers childlike focus without being babyish... A contemporary and personal immigrant tale, this will make an affecting counterpoint to well-worn stories of Ellis Island."

I think this book could be used in a display on immigration and citizenship, as both of those ideas are explored in this book.  Although this can be a hotly debated political topic, I think the social aspects of immigrating as a young person would be an interesting spin to put on the display, which could also be incorporated into a discussion group, particularly if your library is located in an area with a high percentage of immigrants or second-generation Americans.

References:
Na, A.  (2001).  A Step from Heaven.  New York: Speak.  
Stevenson, D.  (2001).  A Step from Heaven.  The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, 54(11).

Module 5: Esperanza Rising

Module 5 focused on winners of other literary awards, such as the Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature and the Pura Belpré Award.  Each of these awards is given for a book which makes a significant contribution to children and young adult literature.  In the case of the Pura Belpré Award, the book must portray, affirm, and celebrate the Latino culture.  I read the novel Esperanza Rising, a winner of the Pura Belpré Award written by Pam Muñoz Ryan.

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Esperanza Rising is the story of a young girl who lives a life of privilege on a ranch in Mexico, until her father is killed by bandits.  Although her uncle tries to force Esperanza's mother to marry him, her mother chooses to escape, moving Esperanza and herself to California.  There they work as farm laborers, a far cry from Esperanza's former life.  She learns how to do household and farm chores, and ultimately, the value of family and friends over position and wealth.

I thought this was a very moving novel that captures the spirit of Mexican immigrants during the Great Depression.  Pam Muñoz Ryan's writing is full of descriptive language that helps the reader to picture the scenes in her mind.  There are a lot of lessons to be learned from the novel, as well.  The historical setting allows readers to understand a piece of American history that is often overlooked by textbooks.

One reviewer wrote of Esperanza Rising: 

"Set during the Great Depression, the story weaves cultural, economic, and political unrest into Esperanza's poignant tale of growing up: she witnesses strikes, government sweeps, and deep injustice while finding strength and love in her family and romance with a childhood friend. The symbolism is heavy-handed, as when Esperanza ominously pricks her finger on a rose thorne just before her father is killed. But Ryan writes movingly in clear, poetic language that children will sink into, and the books offers excellent opportunities for discussion and curriculum support."

I think librarians could use this book in a display about the Great Depression.  This, along with the book discussed in my last posting (Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry), is a wonderful depiction of how an American subculture lived during that time period.  Book clubs could also compare and contrast different novels about the Great Depression and the various issues surrounding that time period for different racial and ethnic groups.

References:

Enberg, G.  (2000).  Books For Youth: BOOKS FOR MIDDLE READERS.  Booklist, 97(7), 708.

Ryan, P.M.  (2000).  Esperanza Rising.  New York: Scholastic Press.