The One Thing You'd Save
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
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. Recipient of four starred reviews!
"[Park's] message is powerful: We don’t need a great blazing tragedy to determine what we hold most precious in our lives; we can define what’s vital through our thoughts and memories, always at hand, in our heads and hearts—safe, where the flames don’t reach."—New York Times Book Review
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 kids’ priorities and emotions, Linda Sue Park brings the varied voices of an inclusive classroom to life through carefully honed, engaging, and instantly accessible verse. Elegantly illustrated with black-and-white by Robert Sae-Heng art throughout.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In a classroom, teacher Ms. Chang poses a premise: "Imagine that your home is on fire. You're allowed to save one thing./ Your family and pets are safe, so don't worry about them./ Your Most Important Thing. Any size." The students respond—some share, others contemplate privately—traversing a wide terrain, including the practical ("MY DAD'S WALLET. DUH") and deeply personal remembrances. One child reflects silently about their "total dump" of a home ("Be glad to see it burn down"), while another secretly recalls escaping an actual burning building: "The only thing you worry about saving is your own sorry skin." Readers may not realize that the volume is a collection of poems until they read Park's closing note, which explains her inspiration: traditional Korean sijo verse, which consists of three lines of 13 to 17 syllables and is sometimes broken into six shorter lines. This relatively flexible structure creates a rhythmic variety of declarations, reflections, interjections, and occasional dialogue employed throughout, complemented by Sae-Heng's gray-toned, sketchlike illustrations. While each child's voice isn't entirely distinct, the class's camaraderie and caring spirit comes through clearly, poised to inspire thoughtful classroom discussion. Ages 8–12.
