A STEP FROM HEAVEN

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Na, An. 2001. A STEP FROM HEAVEN. Asheville, N. C.: Front Street. ISBN 978188690584

2. PLOT SUMMARY:
This is a story of survival. Young Ju is a Korean immigrant whose family left Han Gook to come to America (specifically California) for a better life. Young Ju is suspended between adopting American ways and keeping her Korean heritage alive. Young Ju adjusts to school and a little brother as well as the rules, the words and the accents of a new country. Her parents work multiple jobs in order to fulfill their dreams of owning their own home and living the American dream. The pressure on her father pushes him to drinking and physical abuse of Young Ju and her mother. Her father becomes abusive and an alcoholic. Her mother is obedient but strong. Young Ju is trying to cover up her reality and her brother is rebelling against everything. What becomes of this family makes a compelling story of how much a family can endure and overcome.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
An Na’s tale of poverty, acculturation and abuse is told in first-person present-tense narration. Na uses brief sections that are more like titled anecdotes than chapters. Her inclusion of Korean terms requires the reader to employ the use context clues and possibly some rereading at the beginning but they then become almost unnoticed as the story continues. She also allows the reader to experience what it is like to be in a new situation and not being able to understand what is being said, like when Young Ju first arrived at school (“Tees es Yung,” the witch teacher says. “Wah ko um, Yung,” they say.) Nu integrates each character’s development into the unfolding of the story. It is clear that Apa’s temper and expectations for his son affect the boy’s ability to show emotion, and his desire to escape and avoid anything he doesn’t like as he grows into a young adult. Young Ju is portrayed as an intelligent girl who continues to thrive despite her situation. She receives moral support to succeed from her mother (“I am proud of you, Young Ju, Uhmma says, looking down into my eyes. You are a smart girl and someday you will be a smart woman.”) As the story ends, the reader sees the connection between Young Ju and her mother and fully understand where they have come from. It taught us about Korea's culture and about the challenages of immigration. Over all it was a great book to learn both a little Korean and about how hard it is to immigrate or move to a different place.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S):
*Starred review in Booklist
"As in the best writing, the particulars make the story universal.”
*Starred review in Publishers Weekly
“Equally bright are the prospects of this author; readers will eagerly await her next step.”
*Starred review in School Library Journal
“A beautifully written, affecting work.”
*Review in Horn Book
“Each of these vignettes displays an astonishing and memorable force.”
*Review in VOYA
“This beautifully written book, a tale of both tragedy and eventual triumph, is likely to bring tears to the eyes of any reader.”

5. CONNECTIONS:
*Discuss questions raised by immigration with students and have them write a response to how they feel about immiration.
*Other Korean American fiction titles:
Lee, Marie G. Finding My Voice. ISBN 9780395621349
Recorvits, Helen. My Name is Yoon. ISBN 9780374351144
Shin, Sun Yung. Cooper’s Lesson. ISBN 9780892391936
Son, John. Finding My Hat. ISBN 9780439435383