A Step from Heaven by An Na

ISBN: 0-14-250027-5
Speak, NY, 2002 (first edition, Front Street, 2001)
154 pages

Plot Summary

Four-year-old Young Ju is excited to come to America (Mi Gook) from Korea because she is told that she will be "a step from heaven;" that everyone in America is rich and lives in a big house. However, her parents struggle to make ends meet and her father cracks under the strain. He becomes an alcoholic and is abusive to his family members (his wife, Young Ju, and her brother Joon) when he is drunk. He eventually returns to Korea and Young Ju's mother becomes the strong one and the breadwinner in the family.

Critical Evaluation

This sweet story serves to explain how difficult it must be to start over in a new country, with language and cultural barriers. The writing is deceptively simple and flows with grace and fluidity.

Reader's Annotation

Young Ju arrives in America from Korea with her younger brother and parents. They expect to find riches here but her father has difficulty keeping a job and the family struggles financially. Eventually Young Ju and her mother and brother Joon are able to find their way in the United States but her father returns to Korea a broken man.

Author Info

An Na's debut YA novel won the Michael L. Printz award and was a National Book Award finalist. Her recent YA books are The Fold and Wait for Me (also in this blog).

An Na moved to the US from Korea as a child like Young Ju in the book but her family did become successful here. She grew up in San Diego and now lives in Vermont with her husband and daughter.

Genre

YA novel

Curriculum Ties

multicultural tie-in, immigration

Booktalking Ideas

1. Young Ju starts school in the US. She is upset because she had her hair curled because she was told that Americans had curly hair. However, the only other child in her class with curly hair is a boy and she doesn't want to be mistaken for a boy. Discuss.

2. Young Ju doesn't want her friend Amanda to know that her family is poor so she has Amanda's parents drop her off in front of a strange house.

Reading/ Interest Level

Middle/High School for both

Challenge Issues and Defense

alcoholism and spousal abuse, but not graphic

Realistic portrayal.

Awards including Printz and National Book Award finalist

Why I Included This Book

I read all of An Na's books when I did the author report. I particularly wanted to read this one as it won so many awards.